Love for God, When Asked, What is Your Response

I read this morning about Jesus and Peter. Jesus asks Peter if he loves him, three times and Peter stays steady each time with his answer.

“¹⁵When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lamb.’ ¹⁶He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ ¹⁷He 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 everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’” – John 21:15-17 (ESV)

When you are asked something multiple times, how are you feeling/reacting to those questions? I know that for me, I feel as though maybe the one asking knows something that I do not. Looking at this exchange with Jesus and Peter, we know that Jesus knows all and certainly more than Peter, however he is not trying to trip Peter up. He is asking Peter to dig into his heart for the true answer.

In the verses above, Jesus wanted Peter to be sure about the love he had for him. First, did he love Jesus more than the others around them? (ESV Commentary) Second, he asked Peter to confirm the love he had was indeed the depth he proclaimed (are you as sure of yourself the second time as you are the first?). The third time, Jesus asks if Peter is indeed his friend (NIV Commentary).

Peter was grieved after the third time, not angry or questioning of Jesus, but grieved. When we declare to love God, how deep is that love? Do we have the same answer after three times asking as we do after the first? When Peter had to give thought to his love of Jesus, he realized his devotion. His love was deep in his heart and would spill out as he moved forward as the evangelist as opposed to fisherman (NIV Commentary).

I ask myself the following questions: Have you realized the depth of your love for God? When asked, is your answer the same after the third time? How does your life change understanding the depth of your love for God?