Every gift bespeaks requirement on the part of the giver. Every gift says to us, 'I have come to you because the one who gave me to you loves you very much.'
Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection several times, usually without announcement or warning. He must have left them extremely edgy, popping in and out of their lives as He did. yet each of His appearances to them revealed truths necessary to sustain their faith after His ascension.
In this passage Jesus appears to the disciples at the Sea of Galilee (Tiberias) where He had first met some of them. Peter was one of those who long before had been called from the sea to follow Christ because, as Jesus assured him, Jesus would make him a fisher of men. But following the resurrection, Peter was right back where he had started, fishing for fish.
So Jesus confronts him, 'Do you truly love Me?'
'Yes Lord,' says the fisher-apostle, 'you know that I love You.'
'Well, Peter, if you do love Me,' says Jesus in effect, 'act like you love Me, feed my sheep. In other words, serve Me and those who follow Me.'
If giving is the number one evidence of love, then serving those who follow Christ is an evidence of love for God as well as for others.
The generous love of God always motivates us to serve Him. Since He has given all, who are we to think that we could ever please Him by living self-willed lives void of service? Alas, we cannot. Love like this, giving, never-quitting love, demands our all.
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