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15. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my lambs. 16. He saith unto to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my sheep. 17. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.18. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.John 21:15-18 John the apostle gives a lesson in the love and compassion of Jesus. This being the third time He made Himself known since His resurrection. John was an eyewitness to Peter, saying he would die before denouncing Christ. Jesus takes him aside, calling him by his given name, Simon bar Jonah. Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him more than the others, and he says yes, Lord. Jesus says, feed my lambs the younger and weaker believers. Jesus asks again, and Peter answers as before. Jesus says, feed my sheep. The lost sheep of Israel and the sheep of other nations. Again, Jesus asks, and now Peter is upset, and he says to Jesus, you know all things. Jesus has done this so the others who also knew Peter denied Christ three times now see him telling Jesus he loves Him most of all. Peter stepped out of the boat to walk with Christ on the water, he ran to the tomb on the third day, and just before this he had jumped out of the fishing vessel and swam to shore to be with Christ. His approval of Peter is the three questions with the tasks applied to the answers. Only someone who loves Christ more than all is able to feed the young, the weak, and all of those who are different from the rest of us. In conclusion, Jesus tells Peter that his declaration of love would be demonstrated by Peter dying for Jesus. I pray each one of you will have this sincere love for Jesus. Amen.