When Our Love for Jesus Becomes a Life That Changes Others
“Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Three times Jesus asked Peter this question.
At first glance, it might seem like Jesus was simply looking for an answer. But this moment was about much more than a question. It was about restoration, purpose, and the kind of legacy Peter would leave behind.
John 21:15-17 tells us:
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’”
Jesus wasn’t just asking Peter about his feelings. He was asking Peter about his future. He was reminding him that love is not simply something we say, it is something we live.
Love That Restores Our Failures
To fully understand this moment, we need to remember Peter’s story.
Just hours before Jesus was crucified, Peter stood outside a courtroom where Jesus was being falsely accused. Three different people recognized him and asked, “Aren’t you one of Jesus’ followers?”
Three times Peter denied it. The man who boldly declared, “Even if everyone else falls away, I never will,” suddenly found himself saying, “I don’t know Him.” Then the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered Jesus’ words: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”The weight of his failure crushed him. He ran away and wept bitterly.
But failure wasn’t the end of Peter’s story.
That is the beautiful thing about Jesus. He doesn’t define us by our worst moments. Aren’t we all thankful for that? He doesn’t discard us because we have fallen short. He restores us. After His resurrection, Jesus intentionally sought Peter out. Around a charcoal fire on the beach, Jesus gave Peter the opportunity to experience forgiveness and restoration.
Interestingly, the only other time we see a charcoal fire mentioned in the New Testament is when Peter denied Jesus. Jesus was taking Peter back to the place of his greatest failure and rewriting the story with love.
That’s what Jesus does. He takes our places of shame and transforms them into places of grace.
Love Begins With Loving Jesus
Jesus’ question to Peter is the same question He asks us today:
“Do you love Me?”
The Bible gives us many beautiful descriptions of who we are in Christ. We are redeemed, forgiven, adopted, chosen, and called children of God.
But we are also people who love God. And while most followers of Jesus would confidently say, “Yes, I love Jesus,” we must also recognize that our love can sometimes grow distant. The passion can fade. The excitement can disappear. The relationship can become routine.
It happens.
Sometimes life gets busy. Sometimes disappointment wears us down. Sometimes unanswered prayers leave us tired. Sometimes we find ourselves going through the motions instead of walking closely with Jesus. But the good news is this: God knows how to restore our love.
He can reignite the flame, He can renew our passion and He can breathe life into places that have become dry. The question is not only, “Do you love Jesus?” The question is also, “Do you want to love Him more?”
In John 5, Jesus met a man who had been unable to walk for 38 years. Before healing him, Jesus asked a surprising question:
“Do you want to get well?”
Doesn’t it seem odd that Jesus would ask that? Surely he knew the man wanted to be healed. Sometimes disappointment changes us. Sometimes repeated struggles cause us to stop hoping. Sometimes we become so familiar with our circumstances that we no longer believe change is possible. Jesus saw that He needed to heal his want AND his need.
But Jesus still asks:
“Do you want more?”
“Do you want healing?”
“Do you want renewal?”
“Do you want a deeper relationship with Me?”
Love Is More Than Feelings
When Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” He was not asking about emotion alone. Love certainly involves affection. It involves relationship. It involves passion and devotion.
But biblical love always moves toward action.
Jesus said:
“If you love me, keep my commands.”
John 14:15
Love is demonstrated through obedience.
Think about the people we love most. Our love for our children, our spouses, our family, and our friends is not proven only by what we feel. It is demonstrated by what we do. Love serves, sacrifices and shows up. Love chooses faithfulness even when feelings fluctuate. Our love for Jesus should overflow into the way we live. It should shape our attitudes, our words, our choices, and our relationships.
Galatians 5 describes this as the fruit of the Spirit:
“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
These aren’t just personality traits. They’re evidence of a life being transformed by the love of God.
Love His People
Jesus didn’t stop with loving Him. He connected our love for God with our love for others.
At the Last Supper, Jesus said:
“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
John 13:34
This love would become the defining mark of His followers. Not our opinions, or popularity, church style or our accomplishments. Our love is the defining mark!
The world should be able to look at followers of Jesus and see something different, a people who forgive, serve, honour, and care for one another.
That doesn’t mean we will always agree. It doesn’t mean we will never have differences.
But it does mean we handle those differences with humility and grace.
We live in a culture where outrage often gets louder than kindness. But Jesus calls His people to a different way. He calls us to honour one another, forgive one another and serve one another. Love is our legacy.
Love All People
Finally, the legacy of love extends beyond ourselves. Jesus came because He loved humanity. He left heaven because He loved humanity. He endured the cross because He loved humanity. And that love is for everyone.
Romans 3:23 reminds us:
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
Everyone needs Jesus. The person sitting beside us. The person we disagree with. The person who seems far from God. The person who feels forgotten. When we truly understand God’s love for us, it changes the way we see others.
We begin seeing people not as interruptions, problems, or strangers, but as people who are deeply loved by God. That love creates compassion. It creates a passion to see people discover the hope, forgiveness, and purpose found in Jesus. And when someone comes to Christ, heaven celebrates.
Luke 15:10 says:
“There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Every changed life is a miracle. Every restored heart is a reason to celebrate Every person who finds Jesus is another reminder of the power of love.
What Legacy Will We Leave?
At the end of Peter’s life, he was not remembered because he walked perfectly. He was remembered because he loved Jesus faithfully. The man who denied Jesus became the man who boldly proclaimed Jesus and he helped build the church. He ran away gave his life for Christ.
We leave a legacy of love when we love Jesus and His people and everyone else around us. And when we live that way, our lives become a testimony of the transforming power of God’s love.
So today Jesus still asks the same question He asked Peter:
“Do you love Me?”
May our answer be the same:
“Lord, You know all things. You know that I love You.”
Because love is more than words and love is the greatest legacy we can leave behind.
Practical Ways to Leave a Legacy of Love
- Love God First
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart…” — Mark 12:30
A lasting legacy begins with a wholehearted love for God. Be all in. - Invest in the Next Generation
“One generation commends your works to another.” — Psalm 145:4
Share your faith, wisdom, and your story. - Forgive Freely
“Forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32
Let grace be your legacy. Let it go, and live fully. - Serve Others Humbly
“Serve one another humbly in love.” — Galatians 5:13
Love is often expressed through acts of service. Who can you serve today? - Speak Life
“The tongue has the power of life and death.” — Proverbs 18:21
Watch your words. Encourage, affirm, and build others up. - Be Generous
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Acts 20:35
Give your time, resources, and compassion freely. - Pray for People
“Remembering you in my prayers.” — Ephesians 1:16
A praying life leaves an eternal impact. - Love Your Family Well
“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14
The strongest legacy is often built at home. May our words and actions match. - Show Compassion
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these…you did for me.” — Matthew 25:40
Find a place to serve hurting people. - Point People to Jesus
“Go and make disciples.” — Matthew 28:19
The greatest legacy is helping others follow Jesus.
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