Thursday
The account of Simon Peter’s reinstatement in John 21 has always moved me deeply. The gentle yet direct way that Jesus recreates elements from the night of Peter’s betrayal tells us a good deal about the heart of Jesus for His followers, even those followers who stumble and fall along the way. Read the passages below and the reflection questions that follow each one. Try to put yourself in the place of Peter and imagine the Lord Jesus restoring you!
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. – John 21:1-3
Why do you think Peter decided to go back to fishing?
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. – John 21:4-6
What other Gospel story does this part of the story remind you of? (Luke 5:1-8) Why would Jesus perform the same miracle for the same men a second time?
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. – John 21:7-9
Why did Peter leap out of the boat so quickly? What do you think was going through his mind?
What is the significance of the fire of burning coals on the beach? (John 18:17-18)
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.” 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.”
- John 21:15-16
If Jesus is God, and God is all knowing, then why does He ask Peter a question which He already knows the answer to? What do you think Jesus is really trying to say to Peter? What do you think Jesus is really doing for Peter?
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.
– John 21:17
Why was Peter hurt when he heard the question a third time? What was going through Peter’s mind? Was he afraid that Jesus didn’t believe him? Did he feel like Jesus was trying to “rub it in” and make him squirm?
Why does Jesus ask the same question three times? Hint: how many times did Peter deny him? (Luke 22:54-62)
What is the significance of the three similar commands of Jesus that follow each of the three questions of Jesus? “Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep. Feed my sheep.”
This whole account makes it quite clear that Jesus is not worried at all about making sure that Peter is really sorry or truly remorseful for what he did. Neither is Jesus concerned about making Peter grovel or beg to be taken back as a disciple. Jesus seems singularly focused healing Peter. Jesus knows that Peter will never be the man that He created him to be if still carries around the heavy weight of guilt, shame and fear in his soul.
Jeff Frazier
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2 comments:
Wow... how enlightening! I knew Jesus restored Peter emotionally by having him reaffirm his love THREE times, but I didn't see all the other similarities to events that had occured before! I think Josus was telling Peter & the others that sin should not way-lay us from the Mission we have from Him - that we can still be effective and please Him, after we have repented and been forgiven... and He obviously forgave Peter already, because there was never a period of Jesus asking Peter to apologize (or grovel, as you point out). This is how we as a Church should be, following the example of our loving and forgiving Savior.
Pastor Jeff, when you asked the reflective question about the fire of burning coals on the shore, I immediately thought of a passage I read this morning: Isaiah 6: 1-7. How beautiful! As well as reminding Peter of that night around the fire, I think Jesus was using here some imagery about cleansing from sin, that God had given to Isaiah centuries before, and ALL the disciples/Jews were likely familiar with. In Isaiah 6, Isaiah was struck with remorse and pain for how unclean he was and unable to stand before the Holy God. But God had the seraphs bring to him a live coal, and touched it to his lips, saying "your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for". And THEN the voice of the Lord asked, "Whom shall I send?" and Isaiah responded right away, "Send me!" - feeling fully able to serve the Lord, having been restored to a place of cleanness again. Ah!!
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