- Lesson 13 in the Connect360 unit “The Beauty of Restoration: The Final Days of Jesus” focuses on John 21:15-25.
Peter broke Jesus’ trust by denying Jesus at his trial. Jesus initiated the restoration process with Peter. Jesus invited Peter to breakfast and gave him the opportunity to show he was trustworthy by giving him a kingdom assignment.
Jesus pulled Peter aside to talk to him privately. Peter denied Jesus, but the other disciples did not know it. Jesus asked Peter three questions in essence removing one denial with each question.
Jesus first asked Peter if he loved him “more than these.” John did not explain to whom or what Jesus compared Peter. Peter went back to his fishing career. Did Jesus point to the boats and the fish to ask Peter if he was planning to go back to fishing? This was probably not what Jesus meant by his questions.
Peter once proclaimed he would lay down his life for Jesus. Other times, Peter boasted of his love for Jesus as if he loved Jesus more than the other disciples. Jesus tested Peter’s humility and his commitment to follow. Jesus wanted to convert Peter into a fisherman-shepherd, responsible for carrying on the work Jesus started. Peter told Jesus he loved Jesus, and Jesus told Peter to feed his lambs.
Jesus called Peter by his formal name, Simon, son of John, again and asked a second time if Peter loved him, and Peter said yes. Jesus told him to take care of his sheep. Jesus asked Peter a third time if Peter loved him. Now Peter was hurt because Jesus kept asking him the same question. There is no doubt Peter loved Jesus. Peter made a major mistake in denying Jesus, but Peter loved him, nonetheless.
Jesus had a reason for everything he said and did when he was on the earth. Peter may not have realized Jesus was reinstating him by asking him the same question three times and giving him an assignment. Based on the way this encounter was written, John understood what Jesus was doing.
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