Deeper Life #320

Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

—John 21:12

THE DISCIPLES QUESTIONED JESUS ABOUT many things. His answers surprised and confused them. The Spirit of God alone understands the things of God, and so they did not understand Him until they had received the Spirit of God, “that no flesh should glory in his presence.”

But now, after His resurrection, our Lord began questioning the disciples. He questioned them in such a way it would have been impossible for them to have answered Him unless they had received the Holy Spirit. The first question was about love. John 21 records the famous incident of the seashore breakfast. For us, the point of interest of this incident is our Lord’s questioning of Peter; but through Peter He questioned all the rest of them about love.

Love is not an emotional ecstasy. Love is the sovereign preference of the whole being for another. In asking “Lovest thou Me?” our Lord meant no empty sentiment; He meant a love full of such an extraordinary passion that all the relationships and loves of earth are hatred in comparison to it. If Peter and the other disciples had not received the Holy Spirit, they could never have answered Him, because the Holy Spirit alone loves our Lord Jesus Christ that way.

Prayer Thought: Yes, Lord, I love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

SUGGESTED READING: John 21:1–17