When we last left Peter’s story, he was in a difficult situation. He was doubtful, unstable and confused. This first campfire conversation has left Peter emotionally destroyed. Everything that Jesus said would happen, has begun to happen. He has been taken into custody and Peter has denied knowing Him three times. So much for saying he would never deny Jesus, even if he had to die with Him. But when it came right down to it, the accusation of a young girl was enough to cause Peter to fall away. Jesus was in the house of the high priest being interrogated and Peter is outside in the courtyard around a campfire watching. When he is confronted by the girl about being a disciple of Jesus, he denies it and this happens. Luke 22:61-62 “61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.” Peter has gone from being a rock, to cowering away from the ministry of Jesus, the very thing he had left his fishing business to follow. But why did Peter, such an obvious strong leader, exhibit weakness in that moment? The same reason we do. Peter was a regular guy, just like me and you. He was under a lot of stress and the pressure revealed his weakness. Just like a garden hose left in the sun, when it’s not under pressure everything looks fine. But as soon as you open the valve and water fills it, it doesn’t perform how it’s supposed to. Its behavior has been affected by the cracks that have formed.
The sun caused the cracks, but the pressure revealed them. Peter’s doubt caused the cracks in his faith, but the pressure of the situation revealed them. This is how we all function under stress. Have you ever noticed someone acting very differently than they normally would? Of course you have. There is probably some strong underlying stress in their life, and it’s working its way to the surface. Under stress our personalities can become a hyper version of our regular behavior. We can over react or respond harshly to things that wouldn’t normally bother us. On the other hand, some of us can withdraw and become very quiet. To the point of pushing others away. These extremes are not our normal behavior and should be a signal that something is causing us to be stressed. When we see other believers acting out of stress and exhibiting abnormal behavior, too often we just think “what’s their problem?” and avoid them until their behavior matches how we think a fellow believer should be acting. When we see this behavior, it’s not time for us to step away, it’s the perfect time for us to step up and be the church. This is the time that we are supposed to shine, by reflecting the love of God into their situation. Let me ask you, has there been a “Peter” in your life? (Or have you played that part in someone else’s life?) Someone who said they would have your back, but when things got stressful their behavior did not match their belief. Maybe they walked away and left you to face your situation alone.
How did you react as a believer? Did you recognize there was an issue they were dealing with, and take advantage of the opportunity to show some grace to the person you were called to love. Or did you just stay focused on your problem and get annoyed by their behavior? Did you condemn their behavior or try to restore the relationship? I’m grateful that Jesus has called us to be in the restoration business, not the condemnation business. How do I know? Because that is exactly what He did for Peter. Just look at what happened after Peter’s denial. After His resurrection, Jesus wanted to restore Peter before he showed Himself to the other Disciples. It seems that after Peter’s stressed out actions when Jesus was arrested, he wasn’t hanging around the other disciples. But Jesus sought him out. In Luke we read about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who encountered Jesus and then returned to Jerusalem to tell the others they had seen Him, but when they arrived, the word of the resurrection had already reached them. Luke 24:33-34 “33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” The disciples in Jerusalem already knew about the resurrection because Peter had told them.. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 “3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the
Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” Jesus appeared to Peter first, I imagine to forgive, restore and reassure him that he is loved and still belongs. It was important for Jesus to begin by bringing the leader back into alignment, because His church needed strong leadership before it began grow. Jesus appears to Peter and others several more times before He ascends to the Father. One of those times was around a campfire. This is where He has a famous conversation with Peter. He confirms Peter’s love for Him and gives him instructions as to how he should proceed with the ministry. Here’s how it happened: John 21:3 “3 Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing. Again, we see that when Peter gives the word, the others follow. Some have said that Peter has gone fishing because he has given up on the ministry. But I don’t believe that’s the case, because Jesus has already appeared to him and so Peter understood the miracle of the resurrection. I believe Peter was just doing what he knew how...and enjoyed doing, while waiting for Jesus to give him further instructions. Also, there could have been a financial need, since there was no “church” to support ministry work. I’m pretty sure the donations that had been given to support what people saw Jesus doing had dried up after He was arrested and crucified.
When the church service ends, are we still committed to continue giving to God because that’s what His word says, or do we stop giving because we were only giving to pay the church’s bills? A lot of churches ended up in financial difficulty during COVID last year, because people didn’t understand this principle. When they stopped going to church, they stopped giving to the church. Giving is something that is between you and God, not between you and the church. If you stopped giving when you stopped going, your giving was not to God. Your relationship with Him in the area of your finances should not have changed just because you stopped driving to a building once a week. God uses finances as a heart check. OK, back to Peter. Going fishing was just him going back to relying on what used to work for him in the past, but it was not what he was supposed to be doing now. Remember, Jesus had told Peter that he would be fishing for men. When we moved back from California where I was in full time ministry, I thought being “Pastor Randall” would no longer be a thing, so I took a job in advertising, because that is what I knew how to do. It was familiar and easy. Besides, there were bills to pay and I thought I could rely on what used to work for me. But just like Peter, that was not what I was supposed to be doing. After being miserable for a year, God made it clear that I was also supposed to be fishing for men. Let’s pick up the story back up now. Peter and the guys have been fishing all night and caught nothing, so they are headed back to the shore as dawn approaches.
John 21:4-8 “4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.” Jesus sets Peter back on the path that He wanted him. And he did it by doing the same miracle he did to begin His relationship with Peter. He told him to cast his nets on the right side of the boat and he would catch fish, despite not having caught anything all night. When they received the miracle catch, they realized it was Jesus on the shore. Peter was so excited that he didn’t wait till the boat was back to shore. He jumped into the water and swam 100 yards back. I’d say Peter was ready to hear from the Lord. He was ready to move forward with his ministry assignment, while the others on the boat were still dragging the net full of fish. They were dragging their past life along, but that is all about to change. Are you trying to drag your old life along with you as you try to live a new life in Christ. You have to let go of your former life with its old habits and company? You can’t live a double life.
Have you been keeping the same old company and doing the same old things...but for an hour on Sunday you pretend to put them away and sit through a church service. Are you tired of living that way? You can’t live a successful Christian life while being double minded. You have to renew your mind and thoughts concerning what your new priorities should be. That only happens when you stay in the word of God consistently. John 21:9 “9 So when they got out on the land, they *saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. So here we are, sitting around another campfire where another conversation is about to begin. But this one will have a different outcome. John 21:15-17 “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.” There are a couple of things going on in this short conversation that we will explore today. First we will deal with the questions Jesus asks Peter.
Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” It seems redundant, but it isn’t. Each time Jesus is actually asking a different question, for a different reason. It becomes more clear when we understand the Greek words that have been translated to “love” in English. Let’s look into that for a couple of minutes. There are three different words for love in greek. Jesus is using two of them in this passage. They are Agape and Phileo...and this is what they mean. Agape is the Greek word used to describe a sacrificial committed kind of love that is disconnected from feelings. God’s love. Phileo is the Greek word used to describe a friendship kind of love that is connected to feelings and emotion. Man’s love. Remember a couple of weeks ago when we discussed how Peter tried to correct Jesus when He said Peter would fall away? Peter was saying that he had Agape love when he responded to Jesus that he would die with Him if necessary...but in the light of his recent actions, this time Jesus asks him a series of questions that will allow Peter to clarify his level of love. As we examine each of the question and answer sets, we’ll also explore how Jesus ended each one. There are a couple of different thoughts on what He meant. Let’s look at the first Q and A. John 21:15 “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.” Jesus has just asked Peter this question: Do you love me more than these? The word for love that Jesus uses here is agape. Also “these” is referring to the fish and fishing gear and boat. So what Jesus is actually asking is this: Peter, are you committed to love me, regardless of the circumstances and are you ready to sacrifice your former life as a fisherman to serve My Church? But look at Peter’s answer. Jesus asks using the word agape, but Peter answers using the word phileo. In other words he says: Yes lord, You know I love You as a close friend. Peter is careful not to overcommit like he did when he claimed he would never abandon Jesus before His crucifixion. Jesus asks, do you agape Me? Peter answers, You know I phileo You. So Jesus tells him: Tend My lambs. Lambs are sheep that are less than a year old, so on the surface, this could refer to new believers and Peter’s responsibility to care for them and patiently feed them in their spiritual growth. Now on a different level, in biblical times, lambs were a sacrificial animal. So this could be a reference to the other disciples and the sacrifice they would have to make to further the gospel. Peter’s job would be to shepherd them as their leader. Here’s the second Q and A.
John 21:16 “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.” A second time Jesus asks Peter: “Do you agape Me?” And a second time Peter replies, “Yes Lord, You know I phileo You.” Jesus responds: “Shepherd My sheep.” Sheep are more mature and need direction and protection. On the surface, this reference is to the oversight and leadership of more mature believers. On a different level this can be a reference to the Jewish people who had accepted Jesus as The Messiah and would now need Peter’s strength as a shepherd to guide them and keep them in the fold. So they wouldn’t be drawn away, back to the law. Remember, Peter’s primary ministry was to the Jews and Paul’s primary ministry was to the gentiles. And now the third and final Q and A. John 21:17 “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.” This question is different because Jesus uses the word phileo. Meaning do you love me as a close friend? And Peter replies, “Lord You know everything, and You know that I love You as a close friend.”
Peter is grieved because Jesus has now used the word phileo instead of agape. Jesus has lowered the bar and shifted the question to Peters level so they can be in agreement on the issue. When God comes to us He mets us where we are. He wants you to understand that He made you and knows where you are on your spiritual journey. He wants you to be honest and open with Him. Would you answer the question the way Peter did? Do you phileo Me? Yes Lord, You already know I phileo You. Then Jesus gives him his last assignment. Tend My sheep. On the surface this is a reference to continue to grow and feed the more mature believers. On a different level this can be a reference to the Jews who have not believed in Jesus as The Messiah, and Peter is instructed to carefully and patiently draw them into the fold. So in the same way that Peter denied Jesus three times around a campfire the night He was arrested, Jesus has now asked Peter three times about his level of commitment around a campfire to allow him the opportunity to truly evaluate his love for Jesus. With the third question and response, Jesus and Peter have come together. Once they are on the same page and it was clear that Peter was very careful to answer Jesus honestly, look at what Jesus says right after this.
John 21:18-19 “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!” After Peter reassures Jesus that he loves Him as a close friend... Jesus now tells Peter that his love will be completely committed to the death. This wasn’t a prideful Peter boasting about how he would never fall away, it was Jesus reassuring him that he did indeed love Him with an agape love that is fully committed would endure till death. This proved to be true because Peter was martyred by being crucified. But he didn’t consider himself worthy to be killed the same way Jesus was, so he was crucified upside down. That’s how committed Peter’s love was. After the resurrection of Jesus, Peter’s life changed. He became the rock that Jesus said he was. He fulfilled his purpose on earth. How about you? Are you living in the purpose God has called you into? Are you living in your own strength and trying to make things happen the way you think they should go, or have you submitted fully to God’s plan for your life? Are you ready to be honest with God about your love for Him?
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