15When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” 16Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.”
READ THE WHOLE CHAPTER →The last time Peter stood near a charcoal fire, he denied Jesus three times. John tells us that in chapter 18. He was warming his hands in a courtyard while his Lord was on trial, and when people asked if he knew Jesus, he swore he did not. Luke tells us that the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter went out and wept bitterly.
Now it is morning by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus has risen. He has cooked breakfast for His disciples on a charcoal fire, fish and bread. And after they finished eating, He turned to Peter. I do not think the smell of that fire was lost on him.
“Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” Notice the name. Not Peter, the rock. Simon son of John, the name he had before Jesus called him. Jesus is going back to the beginning. And Peter answers, “Yes, Lord,” and then, “You know I love You.” He does not boast anymore. Before the denial he had said that even if everybody else fell away, he never would. Now he does not compare himself to anybody. He just appeals to what Jesus knows.
Jesus asks a second time. Then a third. And John says, “Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time.” Of course he was. Three questions for three denials. It stung. But listen to me. Jesus was not rubbing Peter's face in his failure. He was a surgeon cleaning a wound so it could heal. Peter had denied Him three times in public. Now he gets to confess his love three times in front of his brothers. The shame is answered, one confession at a time.
“Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” That is a broken man's prayer. I cannot point to my record. My record is a disaster. But You know my heart. You know that underneath all the failure, I love You. If you have ever failed Jesus badly, that is where you start too. Not with your record. With His knowledge and His mercy.
And every time, Jesus answers with a job. “Feed My lambs.” “Shepherd My sheep.” “Feed My sheep.” He does not put Peter on probation. He puts him back to work. Restoration in the kingdom of God is not just forgiveness. It is recommissioning. The man who denied Jesus will preach at Pentecost and thousands will be saved. Years later he will write to other leaders, “Be shepherds of God's flock that is among you.” He never forgot that breakfast.
Then Jesus tells him the cost. Peter will one day stretch out his hands, and someone else will lead him where he does not want to go. John explains that this pointed to the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then two words. “Follow Me.” The same words Jesus said to him by this same sea years before. Grace brought him all the way back to the start.
Maybe you have a charcoal fire in your past. A moment you would give anything to undo. Jesus is not done with you. He died for that denial. He rose to restore you. This morning He is asking the only question that matters. Do you love Me? Answer Him honestly. You do not need a perfect record to say yes. You only need to know that He knows you, and loves you anyway. Then get up and follow.
In Jesus' first two questions the verb is agapaō, while Peter answers with phileō (G5368), and in the third question Jesus also uses phileō. Some see a deliberate contrast. Many scholars, however, note that John often uses the two verbs interchangeably, so it is wise not to build too much on the switch. The plain point of the passage is that Jesus asks three times and restores Peter three times.
OPEN G25 IN THE DICTIONARY →Lord Jesus, You know all things. You know my failures better than I do, and You know that I love You. Thank You that You do not throw away people who deny You, but You died for them and came looking for them. Heal the places where shame still stings. Restore me, recommission me, and give me work to do for Your flock. Wherever You lead me, even where I would not choose to go, help me follow You. In Jesus' name, amen.
Bring one past failure you still carry shame over to Jesus in prayer by name, then do one act of service for someone in your church family today as a sign that He has put you back to work.
- What “charcoal fire” moment in your past still makes you wince?
- Why do you think Jesus answered Peter's love with a job instead of only words of comfort?
- Where is Jesus asking you to “follow Me” today, even if it costs you something?