Peter’s Restoration by Love and Commission
John 21:15–17 (NKJV)
Christ Speaks to Peter
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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 again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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 Jonah, 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, “Feed My sheep."
Message
I. Background
A. The More You Are Forgiven by Jesus, the More You Will Love Him
Once, Jesus taught, “The more sins someone is forgiven, the more love that person shows toward Jesus.” (See Luke 7:47).
B. Jesus Forgave Simon Peter
Simon Peter experienced Jesus’ forgiveness in Luke 5:1-11. Simon Peter was an ordinary fisherman who worked hard to feed his family. On that day, he had worked all night but, unfortunately, caught no fish (Luke 5:5). Jesus told him to try the deep water (Luke 5:4). When he obeyed, they miraculously caught a great number of fish, so much that their net began to break (Luke 5:6). Through this experience, Simon Peter realized he was a sinner (Luke 5:8), and Jesus forgave him by saying, “Do not be afraid.” (Luke 5:10)
C. Peter Loves Jesus
Peter loved Jesus so much that he declared he would die with Him (Matthew 26:35, Mark 14:31, Luke 22:33, John 13:37).
Peter expressed his love for Jesus by fighting to protect Him when they came to arrest Him (Matthew 26:51-52, Mark 14:47, Luke 22:49-51, John 18:10).
D. Peter’s Failure
However, Peter disowned Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:54-62, John 18:15-18, 25-27)
II. Peter’s Restoration by Love and Commission
Now, Jesus asked Simon Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Each time Peter answered, “Yes,” Jesus instructed him to feed or tend His lambs or sheep (15-17).
A. Jesus Loves His Sheep as Himself
This reminds us of Matthew 25:35-36, 40, where Jesus considers those who need care as ‘Himself’. Jesus wanted to redirect Simon Peter’s love for Him to those who need care.
B. The Primary Mission: Feeding His Sheep Spiritual Food and Tending Them
Also, this teaches us that feeding His sheep with spiritual food is a primary mission to fulfill, along with tending them with care and guidance. Let us remember John 6:63 and John 8:31–32.
John 6:63 (NKJV)
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
John 8:31–32 (NKJV)
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
The greatest problem of humanity is slavery to sin (John 8:34), and spiritual food—“truth”—sets them free from the slavery. Spiritual food gives eternal life, not physical food.
