John 21:15-17
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, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him 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, “Tend my sheep.” 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Truth: God restores us for ministry despite our denials of Him
Peter is you and me. He is the one who, at one moment, is excited to serve and lead and stand tall for Christ, and the next, he is denying Christ three times in front of the world. Note his enthusiasm, above the other disciples, at the time:
Matthew 26:33-36 - And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
Yet, we all know that Peter denied Christ in front of His accusers, three times. In the above account of Jesus' last days by John we see that the Risen Lord now gives Peter a chance to be restored. He not only gives Peter a chance to tell Him, he loves Christ, He gives him the chance to do so three times ... the same number of his denials. But, at the end of each of Peter's confessions of love, Jesus gives him a restorative responsibility to the new church. Jesus is about restoration. Our churches today are very much in the dark about restoration. However, those who wish to be restored are very much in the dark about the commitment needed in regard to restoration. Here we see Jesus' method of restoring someone. There is first, "public" confession of love and devotion. Jesus could have had this conversation in private with Peter. Instead it has the conversation in front of the other disciples. Public failure calls for public correction. The second step in restoration is service. It was enough that Peter "states" that he loves Jesus. That love must be manifested by a love of action. Loving Jesus is to love His disciples (His "lambs"; His "sheep"). John will later tell us in his epistle that our love for Christ is manifested by an obedience to the commands of Christ and a service in fellowship with Christ's people. This story might have been John's teaching on that subject. The rest of the disciples might have been less willing to follow Peter because of Peter's denials. The third aspect of restoration was for the disciples. They NOW must also forgive Peter and they must NOW follow Peter. Jesus gives Peter the leadership of the church. They are not to hold Peter's failure against him. Restoration is not only the responsibility of the individual but also the entire church. We are to also forgive and restore those around us who fail and seek repentance and a reaffirmation of their love for Christ. God restores the individual and the Body ... our forgiveness and their confession and affirmation are tied by the blood of Christ.
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