John 21:15-25 (ESV)

¹⁵ When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” ²⁰ Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” ²¹ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” ²² Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” ²³ So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” ²⁴ This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. ²⁵ Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Before he was crucified, in his deepest hour of need, Peter denied Jesus three times. Peter and six of the other disciples went fishing all night and caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus appeared on the shore and asked them to throw the net in again. When they pulled up a net full of fish, Peter realized who Jesus was and jumped into the water, rushing to be near him. The disciples and Jesus then ate together, and after their breakfast, Jesus spoke specifically to Peter. Jesus asked Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” When Jesus asked this question, he used the Greek verb agapao for “love.” This word describes the most committed form of love. What did Jesus mean by “more than these”? More than Peter loved the fishing boats? More than Peter loved the other disciples? Or more than the other disciples loved Jesus? Many say the last is the proper answer, as Peter had failed greatly, and now, totally restored, would love in proportion to the grace he had received. Peter said he did, and then added that Jesus knew this. When Peter answered this way, he used a different Greek verb for love, phileo. This word describes brotherly love and isn’t as intense as agapao. Does this mean Peter didn’t love as much as Jesus wanted? Probably not. Different verbs were used for stylistic variety, just as we avoid over-using the same words when we write.

In response to Peter’s declaration of love, Jesus told Peter three times to feed or tend his sheep. Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus called his followers his “sheep.” Jesus bought each and every one of his sheep with his blood, and he knows them all by name. Those who love Jesus must invest in his people, and Peter, as a future pastor, was charged to feed the children of God. So why did Jesus ask Peter three times? Peter denied Jesus three times. Jesus knows exactly what his followers need to be reconciled to him after disobedience, and even after great failure, Jesus wants his children restored to him. The dialogue between Jesus and Peter should motivate us. When we fail, let’s get up as quickly as possible and get things right with our Lord. And when we have repented and made things right, out of gratitude, let’s invest in others who follow Jesus. Love Jesus by serving the people of your church.