So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” John 21:15 WEB

Before Christ went to the cross to pay for our sins, he prophesied that Peter would deny him three times. The Lord said in Matthew 26:24, “Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. WEB” After the Romans took Christ away, Peter did just that. He denied the Savior three times. On the third denial, Peter remembers Jesus’ words and bitterly weeps in sorrow. 

Previously, Christ appointed Peter as the rock for the foundation of his church. Matthew 16:15-18 records this event as it reads, “He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock] I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.’ WEB” In Latin or Greek, the name Peter literally means “rock” or “stone.” 

Jesus Reinstates Peter

The words from the fifteenth verse of chapter twenty-one in John’s gospel begin a dialogue between Peter our resurrected Savior. This is the third visit Christ made to his disciples after conquering sin and death. In this exchange, Jesus reinstates Peter as the head of  the church. Appropriately. Jesus asked Peter three separate times, “Do you love me?” For each of the three denials of Christ Peter made, the Lord reverses his shame with an opportunity to declare his love for the Lord.

In addition to the question, “Do you love me?,” Jesus commands Peter three times to care for his flock. Interestingly, Christ questioned Peter saying, “Do you love me more than these?” With these words, Jesus refers to Peter’s fellow disciples. They too will faithfully spread the Good News of Christ and salvation from sin. 

Even if All Fall Away

Peter boasted of his own steadfastness saying to Jesus in Mark 14:29, “Even if all fall away, I will not. NIV” And yet, Peter denied him three times out of fear for his own life.  As Jesus gently asked Peter those three times, “Do you love me?,” he corrected Peter’s hubris while lovingly forgiving and reinstating him to lead his church. In doing so, Jesus demonstrated his knowledge of our strengths and weaknesses. Beyond that, Jesus showed his willingness to forgive the genuinely repentant and sorrowful among us. 

Yesterday’s Devotional: That the World May Believe