John 21:15-25

John 21:15-25

15 So 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, “Tend My lambs.” 16 He said to him again 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, “Shepherd 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 all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.

18 “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” 19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”

20 Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” 23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.

God is a relational being.  He has been in perfect relationship within the Trinity for eternity.  He created man in His image to be a relational being that enjoys the blessing of relating with Him and with one another.  Sin has brought about a separation between man and God and between man and other men.  The story of redemption is God’s story of restoring those broken relationships.  Today’s passage demonstrates how much Jesus cares about relationship and is a great illustration of the way that God is at work to bring about reconciliation in relationships.

THE RESTORATION OF PETER: Peter denied Christ three times and now Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him.  Three times Peter affirms that he loves Jesus.  However, in the original language there is a difference in the words used for love.  Jesus asks if Peter loves (agape) Him and Peter response, in essence that he likes (philia) Him.  This pattern happens twice and then on the third time Jesus changes to the lesser kind of love.  While it might be easy to criticize Peter, I see his response as an indication of humility.  Normally Peter would spout off that he had the ability to love in this selfless way.  However, Peter has been humbled and answers that he has deep affection of friendship with Jesus, but does not have the courage to claim that he actually sacrificially loves Jesus.  This personal and intimate interaction had to have been so difficult for Peter and at the same time such a relief.  Imagine how Peter must have felt after the crucifixion knowing that his last exchange with Jesus had been a denial.  Now, Jesus gently restores Peter by giving him this opportunity to affirm his love.  He also gives Peter a means of demonstrating that love in asking him to feed His sheep.  Jesus wants Peter and all of us to know that the only way we can genuinely love Jesus is by loving others.  Restoration is a grace that is available to all of us who have failed and sinned so horrifically.  Jesus loves us and wants us to love Him.  This is the only source of pure joy.

A REVELATION ABOUT PETER: As a part of the restoration process Jesus tells Peter about the way he will die and it wasn’t to be an easy death.  Tradition tells us the Peter was crucified but requested to be crucified upside down because he considered himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus.  Clearly, this is not good news for Peter as none of us hope to suffer a tortuous death.  I am hoping to be raptured, Peter never had that hope.  However, in another sense, it must have been great news because Peter knew that he would be faithful to the end and still considered as worth to suffer for the cause of Christ.  Considering that Peter had recently denied Christ, it had to have been a great relief.  The section also demonstrates how Jesus knows every detail about our lives.  Martyrs do not take God by surprise.  Nothing takes God by surprise.  He knows everything about us and knows exactly how to use every circumstance and every death for His ultimate glory and the growth of His kingdom.  We can rest in His care and His provision.

A RELATIONSHIP WITH JOHN: When Peter finds out about his death, he asks Jesus about John.  There may be some sort of rivalry in Peter’s mind between the two.  We always seem to have a tendency to compete and compare with one another.  Peter is clearly a leader, but John is described as the disciple Jesus loved.  The reality is that Jesus loved them all as He loves all of us.  Jesus basically tells Peter not to concern himself with John but to focus on his own faithfulness.  Jesus said that if John lived until the return of Christ it should make no difference to Peter.  John then clarifies that this statement was understood as a promise by some of the disciples but that is was clearly only stated as a hypothetical situation.  It is interesting to see the humanity of Jesus on display in these interactions.  We have different relationships with different people and that is as it should be.  God loves us all and relates with us all on an individual basis.  Every person is unique, and every person has a unique relationship with God.  It is the diversity of the body of Christ that brings great glory and honor to the Lord.

APPLICATION: No matter how seriously we have sinned, we can find forgiveness and complete restoration in the Lord Jesus.  The best way we can demonstrate of love of Jesus in by caring for other people.  Rest in the fact the Jesus knows and cares about all the circumstances of our lives.  Suffering can bring glory to God and growth to His kingdom so rejoice in all that He permits in our lives.  Enjoy our specific relationship with Jesus knowing that it is unique.  Don’t fall into the trap of comparison or competition.  Admire the diversity of the body of Christ.