Peter was asked an important question one time by the Lord in John 21:17 (NAS) “Simon son of John, Do you love Me?” Yes, this would be an important question that all of us could ponder and answer, Do we love Jesus? Let’s look at the Bible to see what is involved in loving Jesus.
Notice in John 14:15, 21, 23, “If ye love me, keep my commandments…He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him…Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Now beloved, it is clearly taught by our Lord and Saviour is these passages, that loving Jesus, involves keeping his commandments. It’s sickening to hear sectarian preaching like “Honk if you love Jesus” or “You don’t have to do anything to receive salvation, just believe.” No, real love and faith moves one to obey the Lord and keep his commandments. People who love Jesus will want to do exactly what Jesus says. His word will be honored and respected, because real love does this. Folks who reject his commandments, but claim to love him and know him, are called liars in the scriptures ! I John 2:4, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
Notice the promise to those who love Jesus, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” IITim.4:8. Now notice the warning if we don’t love the Lord Jesus, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” This phrase “Anathema Maranatha” means to be accursed when the Lord comes. Jesus’ great love for us ought to compel us to want to love him, “We love him, because he first loved us.” I John 4:19. Do you love the Lord?
~ Dan McKibben
