Trusting Christ’s Knowledge
John 21:15–19
You know that I love you. John 21:15

As Christ questioned him, consider Peter’s repeated appeal to Christ’s knowledge. In each case he answered Christ’s question by affirming his love and then saying, “You know that I love you” (vv. 15–17). He might have said, “As I know my own heart, I swear that I love you.” But Peter had said something like that once and had been dead wrong. Obviously there could be no confidence in his self-knowledge. What confidence there could be would have to be in Christ’s knowledge of him—warts and all.

This seems illogical, of course. Peter was weak and sinful. He now knew this. Christ knew all things, as Peter had come to discover. How with that combination could Peter possibly be encouraged by an appeal to Christ’s knowledge? It seems illogical, but this is actually the strength of one who has met Christ and known himself to be loved by him. Peter was a sinner. Yes! But a forgiven sinner. Therefore, though conscious of sin, Peter nevertheless knew that Jesus could look beneath the surface of his denial to see a heart that had been made new and truly loved him.

There is joy in an awareness of God’s omniscience—for two reasons.

First, God knows the worst about us and loves us anyway. If God did not know all things, we might fear that someday something evil in us would spring up to startle God and turn his affection from us. He would say, “Oh, look at that horrible sin! I didn’t know that was there. How terrible! That changes everything. I won’t have anything to do with that person anymore.” If God were not omniscient, that might well happen. But God knows all things. He knows the worst about us and loves us anyway. The Bible teaches that it was “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Second, since God knows all things, he also knows the best about us, though others do not. The disciples might have been startled by Peter’s defection. They might have said, “If Peter is capable of denying Jesus like that, who knows what other sins are lurking within him. He might even be a false disciple.” But Jesus knew better. He knew Peter’s heart and love. It is not surprising in view of this knowledge that Peter appeals to him.

Never say, “I can do it, Lord. I know I can. I know my heart.” Say rather, “Lord, you know what is there. You put it there. You know what love I have for you. Take it and make it into something that will abound to your glory.

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.