The Questions Jesus Asked Part 5

Last week in our Questions Jesus Asked series we talked about the question raised after the foot washing at the Last Supper, “do you understand what I have done for you?” This week we are going to build on that and look at a question in John Chapter 21, “do you love me?”

John 21:15-17 (NIV)
15 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.” 16 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.” 17 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.

In this passage Jesus is making sure that Peter has not lost his sense of calling. During recent events, Peter has denied Jesus three times even though he proudly proclaimed that he never would. Right after the Last Supper Jesus tells His disciples that they will fall away.

Matthew 26:31–35 (NIV)
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

We know that Peter will in fact deny Jesus three times.

Luke 22:54–62 (NIV)
54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. 58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. 59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

It is in the aftermath of these denials that Jesus will teach Peter what agape love is all about. Peter has claimed to have agape love – the kind of love that would lay down his life for Jesus if need be. Peter falls short of that in his denials and he is struggling because he was not able to love the way he wanted to.

Let me fill you in on what is happening on John Chapter 21. By this time, the disciples were sure of the resurrection, they were still not so sure about what they were supposed to do. Peter decides to go fishing and some of the disciples go with him. It appears as they were going back to what they knew before Jesus called them. But the call of Jesus on their lives from when He first called them was still in place, “follow Me and I will make you fishers of men”. Peter and six of the other disciples, including John and James, had been fishing all night and hadn’t caught anything. Jesus shows up on the shore and says, “How is that working out for you”? Not very well was the reply. Jesus tells the fisherman to throw the net out on the other side of the boat and they catch so many fish they can’t haul the net in. The disciple whom Jesus loved recognizes Jesus and Peter jumps into the water and heads to shore as the rest of the disciples follow up in the boat towing the net full of fish.

Then Jesus makes them breakfast. You might have heard me say this before, but I am pretty sure that Jesus favorite food is a fish sandwich, because He serves a lot of them up in the gospels. Even in His glorious resurrected body, Jesus is still serving His disciples, helping them fish, cooking them breakfast and now He ministers to His friend Peter.

Peter had denied the Lord three times, now Jesus restores Him three times and at the end of it all repeats the call that had started it with Peter, “follow me”. He is reminding Peter that he doesn’t need to go back to fishing, he is to continue in the ministry of Jesus of fishing for people.

Even though Peter had messed up, Jesus loves Him and wants him to continue on in the life that He called Him to. There are more layers to this story that we will be peeling back at Keys Vineyard this weekend so be sure to join us in-person or watch online.

Steve Lawes is a church encourager and the lead pastor of Keys Vineyard Church.