When Jesus was taken captive by the officers of the Jews, he was brought to the palace of the high priest. The Scriptures record that Peter followed Jesus and was let into the palace by “her that kept the door” at the request of John “who was known unto the high priest” (John 18:15-16). It was in that setting that Peter denied knowing Christ on three separate occasions (Matthew 26:69-75).
Fast forward to the Sea of Galilee after the Lord was resurrected from the dead. Peter and other of the disciples are fishing offshore. Jesus appears on the shore and miraculously makes a futile night fishing profitable with a huge catch of fish. At this point they make their way to join him on shore where they dine with him.
After the meal Jesus ministers to Peter’s failure at the high priest’s palace. He asks Peter three times “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” (John 21:17). Each time Peter responds to Jesus, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee” (John 21:16). It is through this exchange that our Lord tenderly restores Peter to a place of service.
It is interesting to note here that love for Christ manifests itself in love for his children. On each occasion after Peter’s response, Jesus instructed Peter “feed my sheep” (John 21:16). In essence, the Lord said, “Peter, if you love me, love those that belong to me, too”. This admonition extends to all those who have been born again. John stated in his epistle “everyone that loveth him that begat [Jesus] loveth him also that is begotten of him” (I John 5:1).
The Scriptures know nothing of loving Christ apart from loving those in his body, the church. It is a family kind of love that God gives to his children, and it testifies to our new life in Christ. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren” (I John 3:14).
What does it mean to love the brethren? God has placed each of his children “in the body, as it has pleased him” (I Corinthians 12:18). Furthermore, he has gifted each one of his children with a specific ability to minister to his or her fellow believers in the body. “But the manifestation of the Spirit [spiritual gift] is given to every man to profit withal” (I Corinthians 12:7). Not only has God gifted his children, but he has the expectation that each believer will use his gift. “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (I Peter 4:10).
Loving the brethren means we seek and pray for the welfare of those in the family of God with a governing focus of promoting Christlikeness in each to the glory of God. Yet a love for others must first necessarily overcome our own self-interest. Paul challenged the Philippian believers accordingly. “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:4). Only then are we able to “serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13).
How about you? Are you in the family of God? “But as many as received him [Jesus], to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born…of God” (John 1:12-13). Fellow believer, how are you demonstrating love to your brothers and sisters in Christ?
From the Chaplain 