Jesus Restores Peter

The first fire. On the night Jesus was arrested, “the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself” (John 18:18). Three times. The girl at the door asked Peter if he was one of Jesus’ disciples, and two more times by that fire he said he was not. “Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed” (John 18:17, 25-27). To deny means to say something is not true. Tears. Afterward “Peter went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62). The second fire. Then Jesus died on the cross and rose again. One morning the disciples came to shore by the lake, and “they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread” (John 21:9). Two fires. Both fires are called a fire of coals. Peter had failed Jesus beside the first one. After a breakfast cooked on the second one, Jesus spoke with him. Restored. To restore something is to make it right again and put it back where it belongs. Jesus came to restore Peter, not to shame him. What this means for you. Everyone fails Jesus sometimes. When you do, do not run away from Him. Jesus died for our sins and rose again, so He can forgive every sin. He comes to the place where we failed and gives us a new start.

The courtyard fire. “Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself” (John 18:18). Anthrakia. A fire of coals is one Greek word, anthrakia (say: an-thrah-KEE-ah), a fire of glowing charcoal. In the New Testament it is used only here and in John 21:9. Three denials. The girl at the door asked, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” and he answered, “I am not” (18:17). By the fire, “He denied it and said, ‘I am not!’” (18:25). Then “Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed” (18:27). The shore fire. After the resurrection, “as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread” (21:9). The same word, on a very different morning. Fed first. “So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter” (21:15). The risen Lord gave Peter breakfast first, and only then asked about his love. His first gift was a meal, not a scolding. Restored. To restore is to bring something back to where it belongs. Jesus did not erase what happened in the courtyard. He met Peter again beside a fire of coals and gave him a new beginning. For you. Failure is not the end of the story for anyone who belongs to Jesus. Bring your sin to Him honestly. The One who died for it and rose again is able to restore you, and He meets you where you fell.

On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter stood by a fire. Three times people asked if he was Jesus’ follower. Three times Peter denied it. To deny means to say something is not true. Later Peter went outside and cried very hard. Then Jesus died on the cross and rose again. One morning there was another fire by the lake. It was a fire of hot coals with fish and bread. Peter had failed Jesus beside one fire. Now Jesus met him beside another fire. Jesus came to restore His friend. To restore means to make something right again. When we fail, Jesus does not give up on us.

Peter said three times that he was not Jesus’ follower. Later, Jesus met Peter by another fire. Jesus did not give up on Peter!

The question. “Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’” (John 21:15). His full name. Simon, son of Jonah, was Peter’s name from birth. Jesus said it the day they first met (John 1:42). More than these. “These” may mean the other disciples who were there. On the night before the cross, Peter had said, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be” (Mark 14:29). Peter’s answer. “He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You’” (21:15). This time Peter did not compare himself with anyone. He did not point to his own promises. He pointed to what Jesus knew. Feed My lambs. Then Jesus said, “Feed My lambs” (21:15). Lambs are young sheep. Jesus’ people are His flock, and He gave Peter the job of feeding them. Work, not punishment. Jesus did not set Peter aside. He gave him something important to do. A forgiven person is given work in Jesus’ family. Food from the Word. Later Peter fed Jesus’ people by teaching them God’s Word. He wrote, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:2). What this means for you. Jesus asks each of us if we love Him. Loving Jesus is more than saying words. It shows when you care for the people He loves, especially those who are young or new to Him.

The question. “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” (John 21:15). His birth name. Jesus used the name He spoke the day they first met: “You are Simon the son of Jonah” (John 1:42). Two words for love. Jesus’ first two questions use agapao, the word for love in John 13:1. Peter answers each time with phileo (say: fih-LEH-oh), the warm love of a close friend. The third question also uses phileo. Both are real love. John uses both words for the Father’s love for the Son. “The Father loves the Son” in John 3:35 is agapao. “For the Father loves the Son” in John 5:20 is phileo. Peter’s answer was a true word of love. More than these. “These” most likely means the other disciples. Peter had once said, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be” (Mark 14:29). Now he made no comparison at all. “You know.” “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You” (21:15). This time Peter pointed to the Lord’s knowledge, not to his own promises. Arnion. “Feed My lambs.” Lambs is arnion (say: ar-NEE-on), a little lamb. Jesus put the youngest of His flock into Peter’s care. Given a charge. A disciple who had failed was not set aside. He was given a job. Jesus restored Peter to friendship and to service. For you. Love for Jesus shows in care for the people who belong to Him. Look for the young, the new and the struggling in your church, and feed them with kindness and with God’s Word.

After breakfast, Jesus spoke to Simon Peter. He asked Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” Peter had once said he would never leave Jesus. He said his faith would stay strong, even if others failed. This time Peter did not say he was better than anyone. He said, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Then Jesus said, “Take care of my lambs.” Lambs are baby sheep. Jesus’ people are like His sheep. Jesus did not send Peter away. He trusted Peter to care for His people. Jesus does more than forgive us. He gives us work to do for Him.

Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Peter said, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus gave Peter a job.

A second time. Jesus asked again, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” Jesus said, “Tend My sheep” (John 21:16). Tend. To tend sheep is to care for them like a shepherd. A shepherd leads the sheep, protects them and watches over them. A third time. “He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’” (21:17). Grieved. “Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’” Grieved means very sad and hurt inside. Three and three. Peter had denied Jesus three times by the fire. Many Christians see Jesus’ three questions as matching those three denials. You know all things. “And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You’” (21:17). This is our memory verse. Peter did not argue or make a big promise. He trusted Jesus to know his heart. Feed My sheep. “Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’” For the third time Jesus gave Peter work. He did not take the job back. Known and loved. Jesus knew every one of Peter’s failures, and He still trusted him with His sheep. That is grace: kindness we do not deserve. What this means for you. Jesus knows everything about you, the good and the bad. You do not need to pretend with Him. He took your sins on the cross. Tell Him the truth, trust Him to know your heart, and let Him give you something to do for Him.

Again. “He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’” Peter gave the same answer, and Jesus said, “Tend My sheep” (John 21:16). Feed and tend. Jesus used two different words. To feed is to give the flock food. To tend is to shepherd: to guide, guard and care for. Peter was given the whole work of a shepherd. The third question. Then Jesus asked “the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’” (21:17). This time Jesus asked with Peter’s own word, phileo. Lypeo. “Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’” Grieved is lypeo (say: loo-PEH-oh), to be hurt, to feel deep sorrow. Three for three. Peter denied Jesus three times beside a fire of coals. Many Christians see the three questions as Jesus giving Peter one confession of love for each denial. All things. “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You” (21:17). Peter leaned on Jesus’ knowledge of him, the same knowledge that had foretold his fall (John 13:38). The One who knew the worst about Peter also knew the love that was really there. The charge stands. “Feed My sheep.” The third answer brought the same charge, not a smaller one. Jesus did not take back His call. His sheep. They are “My lambs” and “My sheep.” Peter would care for them, but they still belonged to Jesus. For you. You cannot hide anything from Jesus, and you do not need to. Being fully known by Him is not a threat to a believer. Jesus knows everything about you, and He died for your sin and calls you to serve Him.

Jesus asked Peter the question a second time. Peter gave the same answer. Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” Then Jesus asked Peter a third time. Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him three times. Peter had denied Jesus three times by the fire. Many Christians see three questions for three denials. Peter said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you!” Peter trusted what Jesus knew about his heart. Jesus knows everything about you too. He knows your sins, and He still loves you. Jesus died on the cross to take your sins away.

Jesus asked Peter the same question three times. Peter felt hurt. He said, “Lord, you know everything.”

When you were younger. “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished” (John 21:18). To gird yourself means to tie on your belt and get ready to go. When you are old. “But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish” (21:18). What it meant. “This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God” (21:19). Jesus was telling Peter that one day he would die for his faith, and that it would bring honor to God. A promise kept. At the supper Peter had said, “I will lay down my life for Your sake” (John 13:37). That same night he failed. Now Jesus told him that one day he would truly give his life for Him. Jesus first. Before Peter ever gave his life for Jesus, Jesus gave His life for Peter on the cross. Follow Me. “And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me’” (21:19). Jesus had called Peter by this same lake with these words: “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). Peter followed. A few weeks later Peter stood up and preached about Jesus in Jerusalem (Acts 2:14). People saw his boldness, “And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). What this means for you. Following Jesus is for your whole life, on easy days and hard ones. When you fail, Jesus does not stop calling. Turn back to Him and keep following.

Most assuredly. “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish” (John 21:18). Girded. To gird yourself was to tie up your long robe with a belt, ready to work or travel. Young Peter went where he chose. One day others would lead him where he did not wish to go. Signifying. “This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God” (21:19). Jesus told Peter ahead of time that he would die for his faith. To glorify God. The death Jesus spoke of would not be a defeat. Peter’s faithful end would bring glory to God. The boast and the gift. At the supper Peter said, “I will lay down my life for Your sake,” and Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for My sake?” (John 13:37-38). Now the risen Lord said that one day Peter would. Jesus first. Peter later wrote that Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). Before Peter laid down his life for Jesus, Jesus laid down His life for Peter. Follow Me. “And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me’” (21:19). The call Jesus first gave Peter by this lake, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17), was spoken again after his fall. Following on. Peter did follow. At Pentecost “Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice” (Acts 2:14). Later the council saw his boldness, “And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). For you. Jesus does not only forgive and restore. He calls. Whatever your past failures, His word to you is the same as His word to Peter: Follow Me.

Then Jesus told Peter what would happen when he was old. Jesus said that one day Peter would give his life for Him. Peter’s life would bring glory to God. Before, Peter had said he was ready to die for Jesus. But that same night he failed. Then Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me!” Years before, Jesus had said, “Come and follow me.” Now Jesus called Peter again after he had failed. Soon Peter told big crowds about Jesus with no fear. Jesus calls you to follow Him too. Following Jesus means trusting Him and obeying Him every day.

Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me!” Peter followed Jesus for the rest of his life. You can follow Jesus too!