Friday, April 25—Day 52

But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.

 So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread.  Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

So 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, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again 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, “Shepherd My sheep.” 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 all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
John 21: 4—17

Peter, Do You Love Me?

Luke tells us that, after His crucifixion, Jesus appeared to His disciples from time to time over a period of forty days, talking to them about the Kingdom of God (see Acts 1:3). Soon after His second appearance, Jesus' disciples left Jerusalem at His orders and went back to the region of Galilee (see Matthew 26:32; 28:7,10; 28:16).

Three years earlier, Peter, Andrew, James and John had left their fishing nets on the shore of the Sea of Galilee to follow the man who did miracles. Now, back in Galilee, Peter decided to go fishing again, and six of Jesus' disciples joined him.

After fishing all night and catching nothing, at dawn, Jesus appeared on the shore. The disciples didn't recognize Him, either because He was too far away, or because God supernaturally prevented them from recognizing Him just as He had done with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. It is only once they followed His simple instructions and succeeded in catching an amazing quantity of fish that they realized who He was.

Peter may well have had a flashback of his other miraculous catch of fish three years earlier when he first encountered Jesus. This new catch was perhaps a sign that was intended to assure him of Jesus' love, regardless of the condemnation he still felt in his heart for denying his Lord.

Remember that Peter had previously boasted that even if all the other disciples deserted Jesus he would not, even claiming his willingness to go to prison and die if need be (Matthew 26: 33-35; Luke 22:33). It was a claim that he loved the Lord more than the others, but his actions proved that his love wasn't nearly as devoted as he'd thought.

Apparently during the other times Jesus appeared when Peter was present, the issue of Peter’s actions had not been raised. Peter hadn't confessed his sin and Jesus hadn't mentioned it either, perhaps He was waiting for the appropriate time. He wanted to be alone with Peter so as not to humiliate him. And He first wanted Peter to be assured that His love was unchanged. Peter had to be confronted, but Jesus didn't want the confrontation to crush him. Peter already felt condemned in his heart for what he'd done. He probably wondered if his relationship with Jesus could ever be the same. Would the Lord ever trust him again, or use him in the ministry? The very fact that he had decided to go fishing may have been an indication that he was considering returning to his old vocation, thinking he had disqualified himself for the Lord's service.

So after a breakfast of fish and bread that Jesus prepared and served, again demonstrating His undying love for the disciples who deserted Him, Jesus privately asked Peter a question to which He, of course, already knew the answer: "Do you love me more than these?" (John 21:15). What were the "these" Jesus was referring to?  Probably the other disciples. Jesus was asking, "Do you still claim to love Me more than they do?"

Peter's response, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you" (John 21:15), is better understood if we know something about the original Greek language in which he and Jesus conversed. The word Jesus used that is translated "love" is the word agapeo, which is a deep, self-sacrificing love. Peter responded by using the Greek word phileo, which is a lesser love of friendship. Jesus asked Peter, "Do you still believe that you love Me with a love that is more self-sacrificing than the other disciples?"

A few days earlier, Peter would have responded with a proud, "Yes!" But now he realized that Jesus knew him better than he knew himself. With a sigh of acknowledgement, he replied, "Yes, Lord, You know the truth. I've proven that my love for You doesn't go beyond the love of friendship." Peter had confessed his pride.

But Jesus didn't condemn Peter as Peter was condemning himself. He knew Peter loved Him more than what Peter now thought. He had left everything behind to follow Jesus and had repeatedly obeyed Him for three years. Wanting Peter to know that He still had a plan to use him, Jesus replied, "Then feed my lambs" (John 21:15). Jesus was saying, "It isn't My plan for you to be a fisherman for the rest of your life, because I've called you to serve Me."

Jesus then asked Peter another question: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" (John 21:16). He again used the word agapeo, but didn't add the "more than these." This question and its related commandment are perhaps an indication that Peter had indeed decided to quit the ministry. Jesus wanted Peter to realize that he couldn't do that, regardless of whether his love was the agape or phileo kind. Peter's answer was, again, self-condemning: "Yes, Lord, You know that I obviously only possess a phileo love for You." But Jesus believed Peter's love was greater than that, and He wanted Peter to believe it too, and so He commanded him, "Take care of my sheep" (John 21:16). Jesus was saying, "Your evaluation of yourself doesn't matter; only Mine does. I believe in you, and to prove it, I'm entrusting My very own sheep to your care."

Finally, Jesus again asked Peter if he loved Him, but this third time, Jesus used the word phileo. Jesus, of course, didn't now doubt that Peter possessed a phileo kind of love for Him. Rather, He was trying to help Peter understand himself. It grieved Peter that Jesus had questioned his phileo for Him, and he objected to the question. "Lord, You know everything," he replied. "You know I phileo You," he said, defending and yet still condemning himself. The hurt Peter felt at the question would help him to see that he did possess a heart-felt devotion for Jesus. And again, Jesus wanted him to realize that He knew Peter better than Peter knew himself. Jesus' evaluation is all that matters, and His faith in Peter was unchanging. "Feed my sheep," Jesus commanded him.

Jesus, the One who knew that Peter would deny Him three times, the One who knew Peter better than he knew himself, also knew how Peter would die. And in his death, Peter would prove his agape love for his Lord. So Jesus told him how he would glorify God by martyrdom, conveying to Peter that his past failure had no bearing on his future.

In the process of a few days, Peter had gone from overestimating his love to underestimating it. Just as Peter's appraisal of himself a few days before had been wrong and Jesus' appraisal had proved to be true, now, again, Peter's appraisal was wrong, and Jesus' would prove true. Peter's pendulum of perception had swung from pride to self-condemnation, but Jesus realigned it.

David Servant, Director, Shepherd Serve
http://www.heavensfamily.org/s...

Prayer
Jesus, friend and lover of my life, realign my perception as you draw me back to yourself. Do not allow me to think more highly of myself than I ought, nor to fall into despair as I remember the extent of my sins. Help me to see, as Peter saw, that your perfect love casts out my fear, as you empower me to do your Kingdom work, in your name. Amen