Week of July 13: Restoration of Peter
Peter. How would you describe Peter? He’s the one who jumped out of boats and cut off an ear. He seems to have had that “Get-R-Done” personality, that ‘don’t pick on my friends’ attitude, and the free spirit of a whale. Perhaps that’s exactly what needed to be broken, just as the magnificent power of a horse needs to be broken to be used to its fullest potential.
There’s no doubt that Peter was devoted and loyal, but perhaps his mouth offered more than his flesh could deliver. John 13:37 records Peter telling Jesus that he would lay down his life for Him. Jesus responds with words that surely elicited some emotional response in Peter, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly I say to you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times.” Scripture doesn’t tell us Peter’s reaction. Perhaps he thought, “That’s ridiculous! Of all these guys, not me. Maybe Thomas. Yeah, he must be talking about Thomas.” Perhaps he was confused. Perhaps he was hurt that the Man he ‘dropped his nets’ for didn’t trust him. This Man, however, knew of what he spoke.
And, most assuredly, Peter did deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed (John 18:17, 25-27). The account in Luke is heart-wrenching. Chapter 22, verses 60-62 speaks of the last of these denials by saying, “But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are saying?’ Immediately, while he was still speaking the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows you will deny Me three times.’ So Peter went out and wept bitterly.” Jesus turned and looked at him. Can you feel his heart drop into his stomach as their eyes met? His head and shoulders sag from disappointment… in himself? Peter found he was in fact capable of one of the things he had rejected most – denial.
But Jesus, full of forgiveness and acceptance, had a ministry for Peter – a future for him. The account in John 21:15-19 must have not only reassured Peter of that fact, but also the other disciples as well.
Two different Greek words are used for ‘love’ in this text. Agapao is used by Jesus in His first two questions. Phileo is used in His last question as well as in all of Peter’s answers. Agapao in the noun form is agape with which we are more familiar. This refers to an unselfish affection seeking a person’s higher good without expecting anything in return. Phileo refers to a loving friendship. Both indicate a high degree of love, but the first is more selfless no matter the response and connotates a direction of the will.
At steps along the way of this conversation, Jesus instructs Peter in some way concerning His sheep, “Tend My lambs” and “Shepherd My sheep”. The tense of the verbs indicate a continual or habitual action. This wasn’t a one time request. This was a command to keep on doing an action, perhaps even as a lifestyle. Feed and guide His followers was the direction of the Good Shepherd to this disciple.
In verse 17, Peter, who at this point is “grieved” because Jesus has asked Him the same question again, responds by saying, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” The first know is oida, to know intellectually. The second is ginosko, to know through experience. In this exchange, Jesus elicits a commitment from Peter.
Following the direction of his Lord is based upon his love for Him. The command was spoken after ‘love’ was spoken.
Our relationship with Jesus is founded upon love that is evidenced by obedience. “While we were yet sinners, God demonstrated His love for us…” God’s love for us is not based upon our DOING. While we were sinners we did nothing for God. We were enemies of God! But God DID for us even then!
Peter’s responsibility was given to him on the basis of the love relationship that already existed. How much more joyful can service be when it is a response to our love than an attempt to gain that which we don’t understand we already have!
