The Great Test-Epilog

The test was first given by the greatest teacher of all, Jesus. Jesus gave an unexpected exam to His students, the disciples. There was one question which would answer what Christianity is all about, which was the culmination of all that Jesus taught. Jesus asked Peter as the spokesman for the disciples. Jesus in reality was asking the question of all the disciples, will ask the question to all when we are called out of this world. “Do you love me, do you really love me more than anything else?”

Jn 21:15-17

Jesus asked the question three times, to reinforce the question, the meaning, the answer, not only to Peter but to all the disciples. And not only to the disciples, but to believers in all the ages to come before our Savior returns and brings us home to Heaven. And not only to believers only but to those who hear the Word and make the wrong choice, who love something else more than Jesus. The total world will have to answer this question, whether they want to or not, whether they have the correct answer or not.

Jn 21:18-19

Jesus tells Peter He had passed the test, that Peter would give his most valuable possession, his life, to the Lord. Only when Peter had been born again, had accepted the Spirit in his heart, was he given the courage to follow Jesus, to love Jesus more than anything else. The Holy Spirit wrote the perfect answer in Peter’s heart, Peter was now a Child of God, an heir of Heaven. Peter no longer had to fear being ready for the day he would be taken home, never had to worry about facing the wrath of God. Jesus extends His grace, offers to forgive the sins of all people who will follow Him, who love Him more than anything else. Jesus gives believers the Holy Spirit to strengthen us, to write the perfect answer in our hearts, the answer that will bring us to our home in Heaven.

Some question whether the Holy Spirit had been given Peter because Jesus asked these questions before Pentecost. But Jesus gave the Spirit to the disciples on Easter, after He arose, when He met with them in the evening, as He breathed on them (Jn 20:21-23). Peter at one time had confidence in himself, telling Jesus he would die before denying Him (Matt 26:35). But Peter’s human confidence had been shattered as it led him astray, as Peter denied Jesus three times (Matt 26:69-75). Likewise Jesus asked Peter three times the question of whether Peter loved Him. This was to remind Peter of what happened when he trusted in himself, to give Peter the chance to redeem himself with the help of the Spirit. We are no different. Only when we eliminate our pride, our desire for worldly pleasures, our egos, our own selfishness, our human ideals, and all else that pulls us from Christ, is there room in our hearts for the Spirit to come in. Only then does the Spirit have the room to grow the love and faith of Christ in our hearts so we can truthfully say, “Yes Jesus I love you more than anything else.”

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