December 23 - Restorer of the Penitent

December 23 - Restorer of the Penitent (John 21:15-19)

There’s nothing worse than getting caught saying something and having it proved wrong.  Remember back in John 13 when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and Simon Peter declared his great love for Jesus?  He declared then in John 13:37 that he wanted to follow Jesus and lay down his life for him.

Peter was all about declaring his love for Jesus and trying to understand the relationship that Jesus had with the disciples and the world.  But, when it came down to it, poor Peter washed out.  He failed as miserably as anyone could possible fail.  Jesus had to rebuke him several times during their years together, and even still, Peter was one of the inner circle, one of the leaders of the twelve.

He was willing to thwack off a man’s ear when they came to arrest Jesus, but when it came to simply acknowledging that he was one of the twelve … he just couldn’t do it.  He didn’t want to get caught up in the insanity that surrounded Jesus’ trial.

That is some serious betrayal and for Peter to be the man that Jesus wanted him to be, to lead the church and to be the strength of the disciples going forward, Jesus needed to deal with the rather large elephant in the living room … or leviathan on the beach (since that was where they were eating).

When Jesus said, “Peter, do you truly love me more than these?”  it wasn’t a question regarding Peter’s love for the disciples versus his love for Jesus, it was a question about whether Peter or the other disciples loved Jesus more?  Now Peter wasn’t going to compare himself to his friends, but he was certainly ready to declare one more time, his love for his Lord.  But, Jesus kept pushing and asked the question three times until finally Peter was a little hurt by the encounter. 

Jesus never contradicted him and pointed out all of Peter’s shortcomings up to his final betrayal, He simply commanded Peter to care for those who were left in his care.  All of that was now behind them, it was time to move forward.

Jesus also needed to assure Peter that He knew Peter loved him and encourage Peter down the path, because in John 21:18-19, Jesus prophesied regarding Peter’s coming death.  It would never be an easy life on earth for Peter, but it was going to be worth it because Peter would glorify God.

The closing words of Jesus to Peter were exactly the ones He used when He called Peter to Him at the beginning of His ministry and are the words that Jesus uses to call us.  “Follow me.”

This is how we begin our relationship with Jesus.  All of the other stuff following that point will be dealt with, just as Jesus dealt with Peter.  There were ups and downs, mistakes and grand declarations.  But, at the end, Jesus wants to know that we love Him and that we will follow Him.