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Spring Quarter: Jesus Calls Us
Unit 2: Experiencing the Resurrection
Lesson 8: Week of April 23, 2023
By Dr. Hal Brady
Lesson Scriptures: John 21:15-19
Key Verse: John 21:15
Lesson Aims
- Summarize the conversation between the risen Jesus and Peter and the reason(s) for it.
- Explain the relationship between loving Jesus and caring for his flock.
- Describe the way he or she will act on that relationship in the coming week.
A basketball team may struggle mightily for the first half but turn the game around in the second half to earn a comeback win. We’ve seen that happen more than once in the recent NCAA Basketball Championship.
It could be called a redemption story. A redemption story depends on early failure but is defined by a finish that makes what came before pale in comparison.
Popular culture loves these stories, especially because of the self-determination that is required for redemption. The redemption story features characters who change their attitudes, make different decisions, and perform more nobly in the end. They redeem themselves.
Our story today is also one of redemption. But it is not the story of a person who failed and then brought himself to a redemptive success. Instead, it is the story of the Lord who called the man to accept redemption.
Lesson Context
Today’s lesson picks up immediately where the previous lesson left off. For this reason, the context from lesson 7 is immediately relevant to the events of John 21:15-19. We note that the focus narrows from the disciples in general to Peter specifically. But keep in mind that as Jesus and Simon Peter speak, they are still in the presence of the others, including John.
The New Testament testifies in various ways to Peter’s unique and ongoing role in Jesus’ ministry and in the earliest life of the church. Along with Paul, Peter stands out among the apostles in terms of his fame and influence. Peter (also known as “Cephas”; John 1:42) was one of those apostles considered by Paul to be “pillars” of the church (Galatians 2:9).
Peter emerged early on as a leader, bold in word and deed (examples: Acts 2: 14-41; 3:1-10). He was among the first to recognize that when Jesus told his followers to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), he really did mean to go to the Gentiles without requiring them to take up Jewish practices before accepting him (Acts 10:9-11; 13; 15:6-11). Peter’s influence resounded throughout the church. The impact and importance of today’s text are therefore incalculable.
Jesus Questions Peter
(John 21:15-17)
“When they had finished eating” refers to John 21:12-13. “Simon son of John” is an attention-getting greeting. We might compare it to a mother calling her daughter by her first, middle, and last names. My wife’s maiden name was Myron Lane Marchman. She said when she was growing up and her mother really wanted her attention she would say “Myron Lane” and that was Myron’s attention-getter.
At any rate, the solemn character of the moment is underscored by Jesus’ form of address: “Simon son of John.” It was Peter’s old name, the name he had possessed before he met Jesus. We read about it in Chapter 1. When Peter had been brought to Jesus, Jesus had greeting him by saying, “you are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter) (John 1:42). The old name meant “pebble,” a light, unstable thing. But Jesus said that he was going to name Peter “a rock.” He was saying that he was going to turn Peter the jellyfish into a solid and courageous person. Now, in recollection of this earlier incident, Jesus goes back to the old name in order to remind Peter of his weakness.
As we remember, Peter had overtly denied Jesus while Jesus was on trial (Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-18, 25-27). One explanation for Jesus’ question in John 21:15b is simple redemption. This understanding was widespread in ancient Christian interpretation. Jesus was giving Peter the opportunity to repent of his betrayal and reaffirm his love for and devotion to Jesus.
The first step in Peter’s restoration comes when Jesus asks Peter to bring “the fish” to shore (21:10). Even this mundane task sets him apart, affirming his position as a leader among these men. Jesus may even be remembering his call to make these men “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19), so that now the “catch” is going to be Peter’s responsibility. But fishing will not be the primary metaphor for Peter’s future.
Though it is possible in 15b Jesus was asking whether Peter loved him “more than” Peter loved the other disciples or even his fishing profession, those meanings are unlikely in context. The best explanation is that Jesus was asking whether Peter loved him more than the other disciples did. More than a comparison between the states of their hearts—clearly a task Peter was not qualified to take on—the question was about the depth of Peter’s own love. Did Peter’s experience deepen his love for Christ, or shorten it? And if Peter loved Christ more than the others did, would Peter be prepared to do as Jesus would command? We might ask ourselves the same questions following sinful failures.
In 15b, Peter’s address of Jesus as “Lord” communicates Peter’s awareness of Jesus’ power, insight, and authority. We might expect that someone called “Lord” to demand some kind of groveling. Instead, Peter answers Jesus’ question affectionately, not in terms of mere loyalty but in terms of “love.”
Preachers and scholars have made much of the fact that Jesus and Peter use different words for love. Jesus asks using one Greek verb, while Peter responds with another. Attempts to characterize “agape”—the form Jesus used—as a more godly divine love doesn’t account for the evidence of actual usage. For example, Jesus used the same word in Luke 11:43 when he rebuked the Pharisees for loving the seats of honor in the synagogues; in Matthew’s record of that same incident, Jesus used the same form that Peter responded with here (Matthew 23:6). Demas’s love of the word uses the verb again (2 Timothy 4:10). This illustrates the interchangeability of those two Greek verbs (“agapav” and “phileo”) that are translated “love.”
When one surveys the use of these words, both in the Bible and outside of it, the evidence suggests that they were considered near synonymous. Therefore, this should caution us about attempts to over-emphasize their usage in this chapter. It is noteworthy that ancient Christian commentators who spoke Greek fluently made no note of the alternating records in this passage. We do well to think of it as a literary feature, of John’s choosing not to use the same verb over and over again in order to vary the dialogue and have a more dynamic story.
Though the word “repentance” is not used here, Peter’s response clearly illustrates it. His response was an important step in repairing his relationship with Jesus. Jesus’ question allowed Peter to affirm for himself and his companions the depth of his love and loyalty, despite his prior stumble. And Jesus’ questions allowed Peter to affirm for himself and his companions the depth of his love and loyalty, despite his prior stumble.
And Jesus’ question to us is also whether we will allow him to be the Lord of our lives.
In 15d, Jesus himself is the loving shepherd who feeds and protects his flock. He demonstrated this by healing the rich and feeding multitudes. Jesus taught God’s love for the lost sheep and indicates his own role in seeking the lost. With Jesus’ time on earth rapidly coming to a close, the task of shepherding his flock was still primarily his own. But Jesus would ensure that his disciples were empowered to care for the fledgling church (Luke 24:49; John 14-17)—and this work continues today.
While questioning Peter, Jesus implied that he accepted Peter’s answer. This is understood when we consider that Jesus would not leave Peter such an important task if Jesus did not trust Peter’s renewed dedication. Furthermore, take the command to “feed my lambs” would be an ongoing opportunity for Peter to demonstrate his love.
In a somewhat surprising move (verse 16), Jesus asked Peter the question again, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter himself may have wondered why Jesus asked again. Nevertheless, he dutifully gave the exact same response, to which Jesus gave the same commission, worded slightly different.
Some see in Jesus’ three questions a parallel to Peter’s three denials. Symbolically, Jesus provided Peter with an opportunity to commit to him as many times as Peter had previously denied him. However, Peter himself did not seem to understand it this way, as shown by the fact that he “was hurt” to continue answering the same question. Perhaps Peter felt he was being tested and found wanting, since surely Christ knew “all” things. Could it be that Peter harbored some impurity that Jesus was encouraging him to recognize?
But still, Peter answered the same way, though more emphatically. Seeing that Jesus ended his questioning here could suggest that Peter passed the test—that no falsehood was found in him as he asserted his love for the “Lord.” Whatever the case, Jesus’ response of “feed my sheep” once again echoes his previous response to Peter.
In summary of verses 15-17, the focus of Peter’s conversation with Jesus has to do with his commission to tend the flock of Christ, not the quality of his love for him. Peter is thus upset (John 21:17) not because Jesus has changed the verb for love, but because Jesus has asked him the same question for the third time. Jesus commissions Peter three times to care for his flock.
Jesus Speaks Truth to Peter
(John 21:18-19)
At this breakfast with Jesus, Peter received a twofold blessing. He received both a commission and a cross. And he received a threefold challenge concerning the care of God’s flock. In each case, Jesus used the pronoun “my,” reminding Peter that though he had responsibility to the flock, the flock still belonged to Christ. Hence, Jesus is the Shepherd and pastors are the under-shepherds.
In verse 18, the words “very truly” translate the Greek word that we have adopted into English as “amen.” Although Jesus always spoke the truth, statements he began in this way often revealed spiritual truth (examples: John 3:3-5; 8:58) or future events (examples: John 13:25,38). “When you were younger” sets up a contrast. In the past, Peter took care of himself and lived as he saw fit.
In light of what lay ahead for Peter, faithfulness to Jesus required a love so great that it could overcome the instinct for self-preservation. In Jesus’ words, Peter’s redemption is made clear. The man loved Jesus and he could show this through his own ministry and death. “Stretch out your hands” is an allusion to carrying one’s cross to one’s execution. “Someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go” finishes the contrast began in John 21:18a.
Peter’s life would not be his own. In this way, his life would parallel that of Jesus.
The earliest reference to Peter’s death is found in a letter called 1 Clement of Rome, at the end of the AD 90s. This letter is the oldest Christian writing in our possession outside of the New Testament. It states that Peter was martyred (1 Clement 5:4). Other early church traditions further date his death in the context of Emperor Nero’s persecution of Christians in AD 64. These traditions state that Peter was crucified, perhaps even upside down due to Peter’s conviction that he was unworthy to die in the same manner as his Lord. There is no reason to disbelieve these early Christian leaders, especially since their testimony affirms what Jesus himself said would happen.
Lest there be any confusion about what Jesus meant, John clarifies (v.19a) that “Jesus said these things to signify the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.” The idea that being crucified could be a glorious death is a Christian innovation. Crucifixion was intended as a public shaming, an ignoble end to a vile criminal. Following Jesus’ death, the purely negative connotation was turned on its head for Jesus’ followers because Jesus flipped the script (Philippians 2:8-11). This radical reinterpretation of crucifixion led Jesus’ followers to reinterpret what the world called shame as glory (1 Corinthians 1:18-31). What had always in the past been a final humiliation became for Christians an unexpected way in which God glorified himself.
Having warned Peter, Jesus calls him again to “follow” (Matthew 4:18-20; John 1:40-42). This is not the same command as caring for Jesus’ flock. But for Peter, following Jesus would certainly entail care for the flock (Acts 9:36-41). The image of caring for Jesus’ flock remains with Peter, as his admonitions to Christian leaders attest (example 1 Peter 5:1-4).
So, to love Jesus means to follow him. To follow him means to go into the world. To go into the world means to reach those who have, for so long, been unreachable. To reach the marginalized means transforming—no, revolutionizing—the way of the world. To revolutionize the way of the world means to make disciples. Then, as Jesus’ followers, we are to care for the flock.
Conclusion
Peter stands out as a model disciple for several reasons.
First, Peter was not unique in his need for redemption! All of us stand before Jesus needing redemption.
Second, Peter’s redemption resulted in commission. This means we are more concerned about the will of God than with our own agenda.
Third, our commission comes with knowledge of what our faithfulness can cost us! Like Peter, we accept the call to follow with the clear understanding that because Christ suffered and we are his, we too expect the life of the faith to entail suffering (John 15:18-16:4), just as Peter did.
Fourth, like Peter’s pain, our own suffering comes with a promise. When we suffer like Christ and for godly purposes, we bring glory to the Lord, no matter how humiliating the world might believe our plight to be (Matthew 5:10-12).
John Claypool tells the story that comes from his first pastorate in a small town in Tennessee. Only after he had begun his duties was he informed that in addition to being parish priest, he was also expected to be chaplain of the volunteer fire department. Not too many weeks into his ministry, there was a house fire. An older woman was trapped on the second floor. One of the volunteer firefighters dashed into the house at the risk of his own life and brought the woman to safety. John, naturally, congratulated the man on his courageous act. But the firefighter responded, “I feel blessed to be asked to do this, because the highest compliment that can be paid to a fireman is to be asked to do the most dangerous thing.”
And there is even a higher compliment, and that is, to do the “Christ thing” and take care of His flock.
Action Plan
- What role do you play in caring for those lambs, and who are Jesus’ lambs?
- What evidence is there in your life that you truly love Jesus?
- How can you prepare for undesired experiences so that they can bring spiritual growth?
- What are you doing now to ensure that your eventual death will glorify God?
Resources For This Lesson
- “2022-2023 NIV Standard Lesson Commentary, Uniform Lesson, International Sunday School Lessons,” pages 289-296.
- “The NIV Application Commentary (John)”, by Gary M .Burge, pages 586-588.
- “The New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume IX, Luke John, pages 860-862.
- “John Believe and Live” by Elmer Towns, pages 216-220.
Dr. Hal Brady is a retired pastor who continues to present the Good News of Jesus Christ and offer encouragement in a fresh and vital way though Hal Brady Ministries (halbradyministries.com).
