When you fall flat on your face, once again losing the battle between the flesh and the spirit, and sin, who is the first person you go to? Do you seek refuge and peace by venting to a close friend about your problems? Do you decide to look inward and choose to swan dive straight into the ever-deepening swimming pool of self-pity? I can admit that from time to time, even many years into my Christian journey, I still fail at properly reacting to my sinful behavior in a manner that the Lord expects from his disciples. When we sin, no matter the severity of this failure, the person that we must go to first, is Jesus Christ. Of course, this seems obvious, but many Christians for a multitude of reasons, struggle with going to the Lord immediately after sinning. This can be due to pride in oneself, lack of trust in the Lord, or a general insufficiency in love for Jesus Christ. This writing will focus on The Father’s definition of love, through His son Jesus Christ, and the role that true love played inside of a special relationship between Jesus and one of his disciples. 

      The greatest expression of love will never be topped by the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the Cross. Jesus Himself states in the Book of John,

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13, ESV)

We can never in a trillion years be able to love Jesus Christ as much as He loves us, but we can try our best to match it by reading about Peter and his relationship with Jesus. I believe Peter is the greatest example of love for the Lord that we have in the New Testament. Peter’s love for Jesus Christ, even amongst his extreme mistakes, is unmatched. In the 24^th chapter of Luke, we read of Peter’s actions after hearing that Jesus was no longer in the tomb. The passage reads,

“Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.” (Luke 24:10-12, ESV)

Peter “ran” to the tomb. Peter’s emotions had to have been running high. After denying the Lord three times before His crucifixion, Peter’s guilt must have been immense. Even so, not all of the disciples believed in what the women had told them, but Peter’s first reaction was to run after the Lord immediately. This is how we need to react to our sin: by rising and running to the Lord in repentance. Not because we have to or should, but because He loves us and gave Himself for us. By doing this, we begin to learn what God’s unmerited grace, truly is all about.

      Another example, once again, shows Peter’s intense love for His Savior. In John chapter 21, after the crucifixion of the Lord, we read of Peter going back to his life as a fisherman, as if everything that happened with Jesus had only been a dream. The Scripture states,

“Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.” (Luke 21:4-7, ESV)

Peter “threw” himself into the sea. As soon as he knew it was the Lord, he immediately went after him. This passage of Scripture never fails to make me emotional. Peter, in all of his sorrow and grief, remained steadfast in his faith towards His Savior. Nothing would keep him from loving the Lord. Afterward, Peter gets his redemption. Later in chapter 21, we read of Jesus asking Peter three times if he loves Him. Could you imagine the tears running down the face of Peter? Jesus redeemed him, just as He redeems all of those who run straight to Him, amid our own sufferings and sinfulness.

      Peter, and his love for the Lord, is undeniable. This is love in its truest form. May our love for the Lord be ever-growing. I pray that our love for Christ would be as intense as Peter’s love was for Jesus. Just like Peter, even when we do not mean to, we too deny the Lord and choose to go our own way. However, just as the Lord redeemed the mistakes made by Peter, He will also redeem us, when we seek Him immediately after our sin. He will wipe every tear from our eyes. He will be there to pick us up when we fall. He will teach us what true love is all about. Let us be followers of Christ who run after the Lord, seeking His redemption, and falling in true love with Him along the way.