This famous scene near the close of John’s gospel is the kind from which one cannot look away. This leader among the disciples, this member of the inner circle of Jesus’ ministry, had denied knowing Jesus three times at the critical moment of Jesus’ arrest. John gives the accounts in chapter 18:15–18; 25–27:
Accuser 1: “You’re not one of this man’s disciples too, are you?”
“I am not.”
Accuser 2: “You aren’t?”
“I am not!”
Accuser 3: “Did I not see you in the orchard with him?”
“Then Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.”
Luke 22:61–62 provides a chilling added detail, and its result:
“Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly” (NET).
Peter’s Restoration
The scene in John 21 is post-crucifixion and post-resurrection, but pre-ascension. Peter had by this point already run to the empty tomb with John, he had encountered the risen Lord and rejoiced, he had received the first commission, and he had received the Lord’s promise of the Holy Spirit. But this is the first recorded conversation we have where the proverbial elephant is in the room.
Jesus is speaking with Peter, perhaps in front of everyone, or perhaps alone. One can imagine what Peter might feel every time he looks into the eyes of the risen Savior. Would he ever forget the moment of meeting the eyes of Jesus, bound for crucifixion, and looking right at Him as he had denied knowing him for a third time? He said I would do it, and I said I could never do it—then I did it. Is that unforgivable? Would Peter ever have the right to the ministry Jesus had first called him to? Even though the risen Jesus had commissioned and empowered them as a group (John 20:21–23), what about him? What could he ever do to erase his failure at the most critical moment?
It is here that the Great Physician begins sanctifying surgery on Peter. For three denials, Jesus asks variations of the same healingly incisive question three times. For his own sovereign reasons, Jesus calls Peter to confess his love for his Lord three times.
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?”
“Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”
“Feed my lambs.”
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”
“Shepherd my sheep.”
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
“Feed my sheep.”
Jesus then foretells Peter’s death for his faith, and He repeats the initial call to him as Simon the fisherman: “Follow me.”
Peter’s Failures Are Undone
Jesus is doing more for Peter than giving him or future Christians an example of good leadership in restoring someone after failure. As his loving Savior, He is displaying that Peter’s failures are undone. As His companion and friend, He is empowering Peter with the affirmation of his belief. And as His God and Master, He is commanding Peter and setting him loose with power—the Spirit’s indwelling will be the confirmation. Jesus is going to work through Peter to build His church, and there is work to be done. He is bringing Peter three times to verbal confession of love for Him. He is tasking Peter three times with aspects of the pastoral office: feeding and shepherding. He had known Peter would deny Him—Jesus knew when He chose him that this would happen.
There is a beautiful companion passage both to this scene in John 21 as well as to the accounts of Peter denying knowing Jesus. It is found in Acts 2:14–36. When you encounter Peter’s denial, don’t neglect the same Peter and his address at Pentecost in Acts 2. Here, Peter has now been filled with the Holy Spirit, and just over 50 days after denying Jesus, he preaches this great gospel sermon with power, and the Lord brought 3,000 people to saving faith. What brought on such a drastic transformation in Peter? What was the root of this new confidence displayed by Peter?
Resurrection.
He was witness to the reality that God had undone death itself.
The Resurrected Jesus
Peter could speak with clarity, conviction, and confidence because: (1) Peter had encountered the resurrected Jesus; (2) the resurrected Jesus had affirmed Peter’s love; (3) the resurrected Jesus had trusted him with shepherding the church; and (4) the resurrected and ascended Jesus had sent the Holy Spirit to the church.
Like Peter, in times of fragile faith we too have denied the Lord in His plain view. But as Christians, we have encountered the resurrected Jesus. He has ordered our lives and affirms our love for Him. He trusts us with His mission to the world. And He has sent us His Holy Spirit to empower us for all He will accomplish through us. Peter had a unique ministry and a unique calling. But ours comes in the same lineage from the same Lord. Sometimes our Lord does surgery on our hearts as He draws us closer to Himself. But He always has a purpose in what He permits and what He ordains.
Jordan Wilbanks
Jordan Wilbanks serves as the Director of Church Partnerships at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. He also oversees The Timothy Track, a church-based mentorship program for residential MDiv students.
