After Supper - Part 4
The Restoration
John 21v15-17
23rd November 2006
In the last three columns, we've been looking at Jesus's warning to Peter in:
Luke 22v31-34
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when
you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will
deny three times that you know me."
But Peter failed to heed the warning, and later he did deny Jesus three times, as Jesus had said:
Luke 22v55-62
Then seizing him [Jesus], they led him away and took him into the house of the high
priest. Peter followed at a distance.
But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down
together, Peter sat down with them.
A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and
said, "This man was with him."
But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.
A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am
not!" Peter replied.
About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."
Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!"
Just as he was speaking, the cock crowed.
The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the
Lord had spoken to him: "Before the cock crows today, you will disown me three times."
And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Last week, we then saw in John 21v1-14 how Peter - so aware of his failure and sin - had more or less given up on the idea of being a disciple of Jesus and had gone fishing with his friends. But Jesus was waiting for them on the shore, cooking some fish for their breakfast.
How humble is that! The resurrected Son of God was preparing bread for seven sinful fishermen.
We read on:
John 21v15-17
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do
you truly 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 truly 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."
What a strange conversation!
Jesus's first question was "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" Jesus was reminding Peter of his earlier boast in Mark 14:29, when he declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not."
Peter's reply is "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you". He's learnt something. He no longer claims to be better than the other apostles, even when invited to. If we're in right relationship with Jesus, we don't need to compete with other Christians - indeed, we know that it wouldn't be right; the church is not a competition, it's a team - a family. If we want Jesus's lambs to be fed, we won't make them fight each other for attention or esteem. We will obey this precept:
Romans 12v10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves.
Now that Peter doesn't imagine that he's any better than the others, Jesus tells him, "Feed my lambs". If there are any pastors or aspiring pastors reading this, please listen - perhaps the first quality a Christian needs to be a good pastor is a real understanding that he is no better than other Christians.
Having established in Peter's heart that he doesn't love Jesus more than the others, The Lord moves on to the next lesson. He asks, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" Jesus is moving Peter's understanding on - making him wise. Peter needs to know that the important thing is not whether you love God more than the next man, it's how much you love God (without reference to other people). Do you want to serve God? Then the question for you is "Do you truly love Him?"
Peter replies, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Not a comparative statement - an absolute statement - it's nothing to do with the others, it's about my relationship with Jesus! This is true today - for me and for you. The real test for your life is this: Do you truly love Jesus. All the service, all the leadership, all the words, all the giving, mean nothing unless you truly love Jesus (1 Corinthians 13). And they all have infinite value if you do.
Then Jesus asks him again, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
And we read that "Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time". Again, Jesus was reminding him of something. Peter denied Jesus three times. So Jesus asks Peter is his love is real three times. He had to face the reality of his sin, and the reality of Jesus's forgiveness.
Peter replies "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you". Yes, Jesus knows. Jesus knows exactly how much each of us loves Him. But Peter needs to know that he loves Jesus. This conversation is happening for Peter's sake.
When we've sinned greatly, we have a great sense of guilt. We can make the mistake of thinking that our sin proves that we don't love Jesus. The truth is that our remorse proves that we do love Him! Peter was so overcome with his sense of failure and sin that it was hard for him to acknowledge that his love for God was real, so Jesus draws it out of him - even though the process was painful. Jesus was restoring Peter's confidence in his relationship with The Lord.
And at least some of the pain in our lives is there so we come to understand that we do love Jesus.
And Jesus says, "feed my sheep".
Peter knows that all his sin is forgiven. He knows that Jesus still wants him as His disciple. There is still a part for him to play in the work of the church.
Are you aware of sin in your life? Do you feel useless and dirty? Do you feel like a failure? Do you wonder if you love Jesus at all? Remember that He died to pay for your sin, and He is willing to forgive you and restore you. He wants YOU to work for His glory, and to care for His people.
He restored Peter, and He will restore you!