Do You Love Me? Feed My Sheep
Month 12: Risen & Sending · Memory Verse
Today's Scripture
Read together: John 21:15-17
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” 16 Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
Memory Verse
“Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”— John 21:17 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: James 2-4
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Near Day 353 of 365 — faith that works, and humble submission to God.)The Heart of It
Three times in a courtyard, by a fire, Peter had said, "I do not know the Man." Now, three times by another fire, Jesus asks, "Do you love Me?" This isn't cruelty. It's healing. Jesus reopens each old wound on purpose, so He can pour grace into it. For every denial, He invites a fresh "I love You." By the third question Peter is grieved. His answer crumbles into the most honest thing he can say. "Lord, You know all things. You know that I love You." He's no longer boasting that his love is stronger than the others' (). He simply throws himself on what Jesus already knows about his heart.
And every time Peter answers, Jesus hands him a job. "Feed My lambs." "Tend My sheep." "Feed My sheep." Love for Jesus is never meant to stay a warm feeling. It spills out into caring for the people He loves. Notice too that Jesus calls them My sheep. Peter isn't building his own following. He is caring for the flock that belongs to the Good Shepherd (). This is our memory verse this week. It holds the whole disciple's life in three short questions. Do you love Me? Then feed My sheep. Love proved by serving is the shape of following Jesus.
Around the Table
Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love Me?" three times. Each time Peter said yes! And Jesus said, "Take care of My sheep."
Let's do it: Hold up three fingers and count with Mom or Dad: "Do you love Me?" — "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
Peter had said "I don't know Jesus" three times the night Jesus was arrested. Now Jesus gives him three chances to say "I love You" instead.
Let's talk: How do you think Peter felt when Jesus kept giving him another chance?
Saying you love Jesus and then not serving His people doesn't match up. Jesus ties every "I love You" to a "then go and care for others."
Let's go deeper: How could you "feed Jesus' sheep" this week? In our family, at church, or in the neighborhood?
💬 Conversation Starter
If someone said they loved you but never did anything kind for you, would you believe them? How do we show love, and not just say it?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Some people claim the Gospels make the apostles look like flawless heroes. But look here. Peter, the leader, is shown weeping over his own failure. Honest authors include their hero's worst moment. They're telling the truth, not polishing up a legend.
For Dad · Go Deeper
When God restores us, He doesn't pretend the failure never happened. He deals with it out in the open, and then He trusts us with responsibility again. Jesus doesn't say, "Let's not talk about that night, Peter." He walks Peter right back to the fire. There's a fatherly lesson here. Real forgiveness isn't avoidance. And it isn't endless probation either. It's grace that names the sin and then sends the sinner back to work. When your child fails, the goal isn't to leave them flattened with guilt. And it isn't to wave the sin away. The goal is to restore them to usefulness in the family. And remember this. A love for Christ that never moves toward serving His people is, by His own measure here, incomplete. Let your kids see you do both. Confess your failures. And keep showing up to serve.
Draws on: Bruce Milne, The Message of John (The Bible Speaks Today).
Let's Pray Together
"Lord Jesus, You know all things. You know we love You, even when we fail. Thank You for giving us another chance, again and again. Help us prove our love by caring for the people You love. In Jesus' name, amen."
"Do You love Me?" "Yes, Lord." "Then feed My sheep." Love for Jesus always reaches out to others.