"Breakfast with Jesus"

A breakfast on the seashore,

A great big catch of fish,

Jesus sat there as before,

Just like a come-true wish.

Then He asks old Peter,

Do you love Me more than these,

The one who would be leader,

Soon to show it, if you please.

And yes, of course I love you,

Is all that he could say,

Feed My lambs to show you do,

As the Lord had shown the way.

Two more times He asked him,

He affirmed his love twice more,

Perhaps ‘cause he’d denied Him,

When the rooster crowed before.

We have the chance to show it,

Our love for Jesus, too,

Feed His flock, we know it,

It’s what we all should do.

“He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’” (John 20:17, NAS)

A picturesque setting on the beach with breakfast cooking over a fire. Jesus sat with them as He had so many times before, and then the questions for Simon Peter. Perhaps Jesus was giving Peter the opportunity to reverse his threefold denial by affirming his love three times. Each time Jesus exhorted Peter to care for the sheep. That’s ultimately how he would show his love, and the same is true for us.

Lord, help us show our love for You by tending Your sheep, in Jesus’ name. (Art by Teal Blake, used by permission.)