Jesus And Peter
JESUS AND PETER
JOHN 21:15-19
Do you love Jesus more than anyone or anything else?
Simon Peter has been the leader of the band of the disciples. He has not always believed first (20:8) nor perceived first (21:7), but he has usually acted first. And through being in a prominent position it is he who has denied his Master three times. He has already hastened ashore to meet Jesus and it is clear that he wishes to put right his denial. First they eat the meal of fellowship and then Jesus takes the initiative in restoring Peter.
Three times Peter had denied that he knew Jesus (18:15-27), and now three times Jesus asks him if he loves him. It was only in reply to Peter’s threefold assurance that he did love him that Jesus gave him the threefold commission to feed his lambs and his sheep. At the third question Peter is upset, but Jesus reminds him as he had done before (13:6-10) of his need for submission. When he was young he had the independence and opportunities of youth. When he was old things would happen to him against his will.
This was a prediction of a martyr’s death, in which he would glorify God as his Master had done before him (12:23-26). This was to be his destiny; it was for God’s glory, it was the way Jesus had gone. So the command comes, and echoes down the centuries, “Follow me.”
Notes 21:15-17: despite NEB margin, most scholars do not now try to distinguish between the two words used for “love” in these verses. John often uses synonyms and there is no reason to suppose that he is recording reference to love at two levels—the word used by Jesus in 21:15f. referring to Christian love, and the word used by Peter in 21:15f. and by both of them in 21:17 to human affection. Likewise there seems to be no real distinction between “feed” (21:15,17) and “tend” (21:16), nor between “lambs” (21:15) and “sheep” (21:16f.). It was to this pastoral ministry that Peter, in fact, devoted himself (1 Peter 5:1-5). “More than these” refers to the other disciples (cf. Mark 14:29), rather than to his love of the trappings of the fisherman’s life. Peter has learnt enough humility not to make the comparison in reply. 21:18: this is important early evidence for the crucifixion of Peter.