Lesson 57: John 21:15-19 - Peter is Reinstated

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.”


Jesus’ demonstration of His “Way” was to reconcile Peter to Himself. He could have said, “I told you so.” But He didn’t. He asked Peter if he loved Him.

To truly understand these verses, we must first understand how the language Jesus and Peter were speaking this day has three different words for different kinds of love. The kind of love between a husband and wife is not used in this scene. The other two kinds of love are a brother for a brother, and God’s kind of love – unconditional love. Jesus’ first question to Peter was, “Do you love Me with the God-love?” Peter answered he loved Jesus with a brother-love. Jesus asked him the second time if Peter loved Him with a God-love, and Peter replied again he loved Him with a brother-love. Jesus asked the third time if Peter really loved Him with a brother-love. This time it broke Peter’s heart. His answer to Jesus was honest – “You know I love You with a brother-love.”

In each response to Peter confirming he loved Jesus, Jesus gave him an assignment – to feed His sheep. Jesus had called Himself the Great Shepherd in John 10. Since Jesus is not physically here on earth anymore, He allows us to serve Him in helping Him care for His sheep – His people.

Did Jesus know Peter’s heart? Of course He did. Then why would He ask Peter this question three times? He wanted Peter to look into his own heart and see what had caused him to make three denials of Jesus. Jesus knew when Peter understood why he had denied Him – fear – he would also be able to grow from this experience in his personal faith in Jesus. From that growth, Jesus would be able to use Peter in powerful ways to help others who were also afraid.

*In the last lesson we asked what you felt you couldn’t be forgiven for – have you found He does forgive you? If you still have questions, please ask me, your friend here at Godlife.