Primary 126 - Lovest thou me?

When we reflect on the Savior, the amazing moment when Jesus meets Peter, James and John at the same shores of Galalee, I marvel of how merciful the Lord was. Imagine this, the three men in silence have been working all night catching nothing. Their hearts are still heavy over the three days. 

A man walks along the shore and calling out to them asks them if they have caught anything. They reply in the negative. The stranger asks them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat. They do so and much to their surprise the nets are so full they begin to break again. The men reflect, "This hasn't happen since..."

They quickly finish the catch and Peter in his excitement dives off the boat and swims to shore. His heart beating and his arms aching as he does. The excitement is intense. Peter doesn't want the Savior to disappear. James and John begin sailing to the shore. They cannot stop smiling. They recognize the Savior, his voice, so familiar has awoken something inside them.

When Peter get to the shore he, Peter gets to his friend first and the embrace is strong. Though Peter's strength is spent, his joy is full. His friend is back. The Savior waited for no one and had prepared a place for the catch with a warm fire as the tree make their way.

It is during the hug that the Savior asks a question. "Lovest thou me?"  In the embrace, Peter quickly and resoundingly says "Yes, you know I love thee." "Feed my sheep" comes the administration.

They break for a moment and make eye contact. "Peter, lovest thou me?" Now the Apostle is annoyed as he just answered the question but he pauses as he answers. Suddenly the memory of saying he never knew him comes to mind. The memory of the garden, the whipped Lord in the court, the nailed friend on the cross.... His muscles tense as if he want to escape in his rediscovered shame, but the Lord holds firm. He wants no padon or forgiveness for that day, the day he could of said something but nothing parted his lips. Peter lowers his head as the tears come. He is painfully aware of the pierced hands that hold him up. "Yes Lord, thou knowest I love thee." "Feed my sheep", again is the reply.

Peter begins to cry. His sin weighs heavy on his mind. He could of said something or done something and he did nothing. His friend gave all and he feels he gave nothing in return. Suddenly his exhausted body takes over and his strength of body and spirit leaves and he weeps like a babe. Jesus holds his friend tight as he cries. 

When he composes himself the Savior says, Peter, lovest thou me?" The words have so much compassion and so much forgiveness. The Apostle whispers Yes Lord thou knowest I love thee." The Savior says "feed my lambs". The apostle knows this is a commandment and understandingly nods with a conviction that never will never leave him the rest of his life. Jesus holds his friend as he realizes he is truly forgiven. 

Peter composes himself and warms himself near the fire. Jesus sees as James and John arrive with the catch. There is hugs and kisses as the friends meet again. They again sing Psalms and talk about the scriptures and how it testifies of Jesus. They talk about the church and then it is time to part ways. 

The mission of the church is to help us know the plain an precious truths that the Savior wants us to know. The apostles are no different.

We know that the Savior sought not to loose another friend as he had lost on the crucification. He wasn't going to lose any more of His sheep. We imagine when the Savior finally left they sang the 23rd psalm witch reminds them that the Savior will ALWAYS be with them though He may not be seen.

Brothers and sisters, He is with us always. Our rejections are forgiven like a young sheeps behavior as they learn to be still, tame, as they get to know their master; to trust Him. When we stop rejecting the Master we will see Him as He is and He will take us in His arms and call us friend.