SCRIPTURE: John 21:1-19

“…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, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him 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, “Tend 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep…” (John 21:15-17)

The resurrected Jesus had appeared to His disciples twice before the encounter recorded in our passage today. Our text reveals that seven of the disciples had opted to go fishing. They had toiled throughout the night catching nothing until Jesus appeared at the shore and instructed them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. When they obeyed, they had such a huge catch without their nets breaking. It is at this time that they learnt it was Him. When they came to the land, Jesus had already lit a fire and was preparing a breakfast of bread and fish for them. After finishing breakfast, He turned His focus now to Peter, and asked him three times different variations of the question, “Do you love me?”

It is important to note that when Jesus asked whether Peter loved Him more than ‘these’, we sometimes think He is referring to other disciples. Therefore, we imagine that Jesus is seeking to know whether Peter’s love is stronger than the rest. That is highly unlikely as our Lord does not call us to compare our love for Him. The most probable object of that question is Peter’s fishing trade. Jesus might have pointed to the numerous fish caught and the fishing gear as He asked him that question. Remember, the text opens for us with Peter and the rest going fishing. It is likely that Peter, feeling like a failure after denying His Lord thrice, did not think of himself qualified to do the work of the ministry. Returning to his former trade must have seemed better suited for him. And that’s our natural tendency when we fail and sin against God. We are hit with a sense of unworthiness and can’t imagine ourselves fellowshipping with God, let alone serving Him. Yet consider how our God sees and treats Peter even after His failure.

It is worth mentioning that Jesus questioning Peter thrice might signify more than just the questions. Remember, he denied the Lord three times and now He is asked to re-affirm his love for Him three times. That way, with every affirmation of his love for Christ, Peter ‘cancelled’ his earlier denial of Him. In other words, Jesus totally restored Peter back to fellowship with Him and to the ministry. This is extremely encouraging to all of us. That even though we may be encumbered by failure in life, we have a God who does not cast us away but restores us to Himself. He still dines with us despite us denying Him. In the words of a song:

What love could remember, no wrongs we have done
Omniscient, all-knowing, He counts not their sum
Thrown into a sea, without bottom or shore
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

How then should we respond to such a love other than to praise the One who loves us such.

REFLECTION:
1. How do you view yourself after you have failed? How do you think God views you?

2. How does today’s devotion transform your perception of yourself when you fail?