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Author: Stephen Weller
831 words, 4 minutes read time

Peter Is Restored and Assigned Ministry

Scripture: John 21:15-19

In the previous lesson we reviewed the six denials of Peter and placed them in three locations. It was also pointed out that Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him and each time assigned an aspect of ministry to him. In this lesson we will look at the conversation between the two.

^{Jn 21:15} 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.” ¹⁶ 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.” 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Our first difficulty is the meaning of “these” in the statement “Do you love me more than these?” Peter had just said that he was going fishing, so does “these” refer to the boats, nets, and fishing gear? In light of Peter’s denials was Peter turning away from the Lord and going back to if former occupation? Does “these” refer to the other disciples. Does Peter love these disciples more than he loves Jesus? In Peter’s mind do the other disciples love Jesus more than he does? Considering the fact that Peter said that he would lay down his life for Jesus and then denies him, as Jesus said he would, if appears that of the three possibilities mentioned above, the third is the better choice. Jesus wants Peter to affirm that he loves him more than the other disciples do.

The first two times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him he used a different Greek word. There has been and still is a debate among scholars over whether there is a difference or not. As a result, no attempt has been made in translations in English to show a difference. Peter responds to the first question of love by saying, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus then instructs him to “Feed my lambs.” This might mean to nurture young believers in the faith.

Jesus asks Peter a second time if he loved him, to which Peter responds as he first did. Jesus then instructs him to “Tend my sheep.” This might include meeting their needs in addition to feeding them from the word.

Jesus asks Peter a third time if he love him. The comment about Peter being grieved is not found in some translations. To this third question about love, Peter responds by saying, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus then instructs him to “Feed my sheep.” This might include sheep of all ages and people groups.

Jesus then explains to Peter that before becoming a disciple he had a family and a fishing business and planned his own life, but becoming a disciple brought him under the leadership of Jesus and into his ministry. This would one day lead to his hands being stretched out as he was nailed to a cross. After telling Peter how he would die, Jesus tells Peter to continue to follow him in serving him in ministry to his sheep.

Now that Peter knew what he was to do and how he was going to die, he asked Jesus what would happen to John. Jesus tells Peter that he did not need to know and refuses to tell him. The specific comment Jesus made to Peter in which he said, “If it is my will that he remains until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” was taken out of context and spread among believers that John would not die. We know that John died and so we know what was said was taken out of context.

Conclusion

Jesus has now restored Peter to fellowship and charged him with ministry in establishing the church, which we will watch him do as we study Acts shortly. In the next lesson we will cover the final words Jesus has to say to his disciples before his ascension.