Sabbath: God Loves Freely
Sabbath Afternoon
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: Exod. 33:15-22; Hosea 14:1-4; Rev. 4:11; John 17:24; Matt. 22:1-14; John 10:17-18.
Memory Text: “ ‘I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him’ ” (Hosea 14:4, NKJV).
Though Peter had denied Jesus three times, just as Jesus had predicted (Matt. 26:34), these denials were not the end of the story. After the resurrection, Jesus asked Peter, “ ‘Do you love Me more than these?’ ” And Peter replied, “ ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ ” And Jesus said, “ ‘Tend My lambs.’ ” Then, Jesus again asked Peter, “ ‘Do you love Me?’ ” And Peter replied,
“ ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ ” And Jesus said, “ ‘Shepherd My sheep.’ ” Then, yet again, a third time Jesus asked Peter, “ ‘Do you love Me?’ ” And “Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’” And Peter replied, “ ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ ” And Jesus said, “ ‘Tend My sheep’ ” (John 21:15-17, NASB 1995). Just as Peter had denied Jesus three times, Jesus—by way of the crucial question,
“ ‘Do you love Me?’ ”—restored Peter three times.
However different our circumstances may be from Peter’s, in many ways the principle is the same. That is, the question that Jesus had asked Peter is really the ultimate question that God poses to each of us in our time and place: Do you love Me?
Everything depends on our answer to that question.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 4.
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We too deny Jesus when deliberately disobey him. I just can’t fathom how he still has so much patience, grace and mercy to forgive and still repeatedly call us back to him just like he did for Peter. I praise and thank God for his deep love🙏🏼
It's amazing how Jesus after all our transgressions come looking for us. May the Lord tie our hearts closer to Him so we depart no more.
Jesus has rescued me from so many traumas! He is a personalized Agent of Peace. After all, He is God, and He means LOVE. Traumas block us and limit our growth spiritually, emotionally, and professionally. Let this love continually heal us!
God's love is unconditional, no matter what situations in life we maybe,He is still asking us
..Do you still love me...?
"God Loves Freely!"
When Jesus asked Peter, “Do you still love me?”, He followed it with the directive: “Tend My lambs and shepherd My sheep.” But does this command apply only to those already part of the flock, or does it extend to everyone we encounter?
To answer this, it’s important to consider the context in which Peter answered Jesus’ question. After His resurrection, Jesus had already appeared to the disciples twice. However, this encounter was different. Jesus found Peter and the disciples back in their old routine — fishing.
It was Peter who declared, “I am going fishing,” and the others followed him (John 21:3). Despite their efforts, they caught nothing. At dawn, Jesus stood on the shore and directed them to cast their net again. This time, their catch was abundant.
In this moment of success, Jesus posed a deeply personal question to Peter: “Do you love me more than these?” — referring to the friends and activity Peter had just been engaged in. Peter’s answer was clear: he loved Jesus more. Only after this declaration did Jesus entrust him with the care of His lambs and sheep.
This question, “Do you love me more?”, becomes a pivotal moment for all believers. The “more than” is left to each individual to define. It challenges us to examine our priorities and decide whether we love Jesus above all else — whether we are willing to follow Him wherever He leads.
In light of this, the directive to care for His lambs and sheep goes beyond the existing flock. It compels us to extend God’s love to everyone, reflecting His boundless, selfless care for all humanity. When we choose to 'love Jesus more', our love for others will naturally follow, encompassing those within and beyond the flock; then - "God loves freely."
Powerful. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, this is like an extension of the end of the Book of John:
"Jesus asked Peter, ‘Do you love Me more than these?’... ‘Tend My lambs.’
Then, Jesus again asked Peter, ‘Do you love Me?’... And Jesus said, ‘Shepherd My sheep.’
Then, yet again, a third time Jesus asked Peter, ‘Do you love Me?’ ... And Jesus said, ‘Tend My sheep’ (John 21:15-17, NASB 1995).
Just as Peter had denied Jesus three times, Jesus—by way of the crucial question, ‘Do you love Me?’ —restored Peter three times."
I don't have any additional words to say, but "WOW". God's love for us is amazing. I'm going to "love" learning more about God's love for us during this quarter.
Happy New Year everyone!