"True leadership only comes with an understanding of the Son of Man and his mission and vision because in our quest to understand him, he reveals to us the inner workings of our own hearts. He endured suffering himself to underscore our inner tragedy. We need not just political change; we need a change of our hearts — and only the Son of Man, who identified himself with us and personified both our glory and our shame, can accomplish that." (Ravi Zacharias, Has Christianity Failed You?, p. 39)
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of Jonah, 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 again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you
love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to
him, “Tend My sheep.”
Jesus inquires about Peter’s love.
1. Jesus
said to Simon Peter: After their
breakfast Jesus spoke directly to Peter. Jesus had already met with Peter
individually on the day of His resurrection (Luke 24:34, 1 Corinthians 15:5). We can only wonder at what Jesus
and Peter talked about at that first meeting. Nevertheless, it was still
important for Jesus to restore Peter in the presence of the other disciples.
a. had eaten breakfast: "It was after Peter was fed that Jesus talked to him about feeding others. Gang, if you're not being fed, don't attempt to feed others, because what you give out will not be nutritious. It'll be junk food, hollow calories. If, however, you are being fed, make sure you feed others — because if you just keep getting fed and don't feed others, you'll become spiritually bloated and lethargic." (Courson)
2. Simon,
son of Jonah: Jesus addressed the
leader among the disciples as Simon, not as Peter. This perhaps was a subtle reminder that he had
not stood as a rock in faithfulness to Jesus.
a. “There is an air of solemnity about John’s use of the full name, Simon Peter, and then of his reporting Jesus as using the expanded form, Simon son of John.” (Morris)
b. "Hours before Jesus was arrested and sentenced to be crucified, He tells Peter, “[B]efore the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me” (Luke 22:34). Peter protests but soon does exactly what Jesus predicts, whereupon, “The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord … and he went out and wept bitterly” (verses 61-62). One poignant glance from Jesus undoes him, exposing Peter’s pride and betrayal of the one he claimed to love and follow, even to his own death. But thankfully, the story doesn’t end there, for the resurrected Jesus will meet Peter on the shore of Galilee and invite him not once, but three times, to recognize he is forgiven and restored (see John 21:15-19). Throughout the Scriptures we see evidence of hearts awakened when God comes near. There is God wrestling with Jacob and Job crying out for mercy. There is the risen Lord walking with the dismayed travelers to Emmaus who didn’t recognize the long-awaited Anointed One they were hoping for was at their side. There is this same Jesus appearing to Saul, a violent persecutor of Christians, on the road to Damascus. In each instance and countless others, each are offered more than they could have hoped for and imagined: an intimate encounter with their very Maker and Lord and the grace and forgiveness that would forever change their lives. “Every person, therefore, on coming to the knowledge of himself, is not only urged to seek God,” suggests Calvin, “but is also led as by the hand to find him.” Indeed, it is because “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us … full of grace and truth”[10] that we can trust his description of who we are and who He claims to be. He understands our frailties, our fears, our disordered affections. He knows our longing for love and our unwillingness to surrender. He knows the knots of cynicism, heartache, and distrust that can tangle our desire to believe, whether we’re a skeptic or a Christian. To each He offers his hand and says, “Come.” “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30)." (DuRant)
3. Do
you love Me more than these:
Jesus asked Peter to compare his love for
Jesus to the love that the other disciples had
for Jesus. Before he denied Jesus three times Peter claimed to love Jesus more than the other disciples did (Matthew 26:33). Jesus wanted to know if Peter still had
a proud estimation of his love and devotion to Jesus.
a. It is possible that these referred to the fish and a fisherman’s life. Some think that Jesus asked Peter if he was willing to give up fishing again to follow Him. Yet, Peter’s previous claim to a greater love suggests that Jesus referred to the other disciples, not the fish."Do you love Me more more than these disciples, more than those fish, more than that boat? Do you love Me, Peter?' The word Jesus uses is `agapas' — the highest kind of love. `I've fed you; I've shown grace to you; I'm reaching out towards you,' said Jesus. `Do you love Me with a perfect kind of love?'" (Courson)b. Jesus asked Peter not so that He would know – He already knew, and Peter was aware that Jesus knew. It was for Peter’s self-examination the questions were asked.
Why did Jesus inquire about Peter’s love a second time?
1. Do
you love Me more than these . . . You know that I love You: Jesus asked the question twice using the
word agapas, which in its Biblical usage often speaks of an
all giving, uncaused, unselfish love. Peter answered Jesus
using the word philio, which in Biblical usage
sometimes has in mind a more reciprocal love, a friendly
affection. Some translations express Peter’s answer as, “I am your friend.”
a. Some commentators see no significant distinction between the two different ancient Greek words agapeo and phileo in this passage. Most believe that Peter was now more reserved in his proclamation of devotion. There is surely some significance that Jesus asked Peter this question twice, using the same ancient Greek word for love, and Peter answered twice using a different word for love.
- Eros: love on a physical level between a husband and wife.
- Storge: It refers to family love, the kind of love there is between a parent and child, or between family members in general.
- Phileo: It speaks of a brotherly friendship and affection. It is the love of deep friendship and partnership.
- Agape: love on highest level, supremely. Self-giving love that gives without demanding or expecting re-payment.
b. “He is simply saying that his heart is open to Christ and that Christ therefore knows that he loves Him with the best love of which he, a sinful human being, is capable.” (Boice)
c. “There are preachers of the gospel among us who have dragged a full net to shore, the great fishes have been many; they have been great and successful workers, but this does not prevent its being needful for the Lord to examine them as to their hearts. He bids them put by their nets for awhile and commune with him.” (Spurgeon)
How to love God's people.
1. Feed
My lambs . . . Tend My sheep: After Jesus asked and Peter answered, Jesus twice gave Peter
an instruction regarding how he should act towards God’s people. The idea was
that Peter could demonstrate his claimed love for Jesus by feeding Jesus’ lambs and by tending Jesus’ sheep. Jesus emphasized that they were His sheep, not Peter’s.
a. Tend My sheep: “The verb used here has a somewhat broader meaning. It is ‘Exercise the office of shepherd’ over against simply ‘Feed’.” (Morris)"The Lord is interested that His lambs be fed. Jeremiah said that, "The Lord will give them in that day pastors after His own heart, who will feed them with knowledge and understanding." That would be the knowledge and understanding of God. When I read that passage in Jeremiah after having been a pastor for many years, I realize my failing. And I repented before God. And I determined from that day on I wanted to be a pastor after God's heart who would feed the flock with the knowledge and the understanding of God. "Feed My lambs," Jesus said. "Do you love Me? Feed My lambs." (Smith)b. Tend My sheep: “By which he seems to intimate that it is not sufficient merely to offer the bread of life to the congregation of the Lord, but he must take care that the sheep be properly collected, attended to, regulated, guided, and it appears that Peter perfectly comprehended our Lord’s meaning, and saw that it was a direction given not only to him, and to the rest of the disciples, but to all their successors in the Christian ministry.” (Clarke)`A good place for you to start, Peter, in this restorative process is to feed lambs.' Want to be a good minister, a good teacher, a good communicator? The best training you'll ever get is with children because they won't snow you. If you're boring, they won't look at you and nod politely. If you're not communicating, if you're not connecting, you'll know it. Children force you to define your terms. They don't let you hide behind big words. Maybe you feel like you've been on a fishing excursion. Get involved in kids' ministries. Feed the lambs. It's a privilege and the finest preparation you'll ever have." (Courson)
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of
Jonah, 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 all things; You
know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” John 21:17
Jesus asks Peter a third time: Do you love Me?
1. He
said to him the third time:
The two previous questions Jesus asked Peter in the presence of the other
disciples were not enough to accomplish what Jesus’ wanted to do in the life of
Peter. Jesus had to ask him the third time.
a. "Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. The first time Jesus said, "Do you love [Greek agape: volitional, self-sacrificial love] me more than these?" The second time, Jesus still used the word translated from the Greek word agape. The third time, Jesus used the word translated from the Greek word phileo (signifying affection, affinity, or brotherly love) and asked, in effect, "Are you even my friend?" Each time Peter responded with the word translated into Greek as phileo. Jesus doesn't settle for quick, superficial answers. Peter had to face his true feelings and motives when Jesus confronted him. How would you respond if Jesus asked you, "Do you love me?" Are you even his friend?" (Life Application Study Bible NLT)
Was was Peter grieved by Jesus' question?
1. Peter
was grieved because He said to him the third time: Peter understood the significance of the
question being asked the
third time. It was a plain
reminder of his
previous three-time denial.
a. “Peter had thrice denied his Lord, and now Christ gives him an opportunity in some measure to repair his fault by a triple confession.” (Clarke)
b. Why did Peter deny Jesus previously?
- Luke 22:31 says, “And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
- Peter is revealed to be in the midst of a conflict.
- Satan desires to sift him.
- “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8)
- He roars through persecution
- He roars through strong temptation.
- He roars through blasphemies and accusations against God.
- Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail: “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:32)
- Peter denied Jesus three times
- He denied knowing Jesus (57)
- He denied being one of Jesus’ followers (58)
- He denied who that he was from Galilee (60)
- He then left crying because he realized he turned on Jesus and that Jesus’ words became true.
- Was the prayer of Jesus answered? Yes. This can be seen in the book of Acts. Peter never denied Jesus again and gave his life for Him in Rome.
- His courage failed, his obedience, did not faith.
- How do we identify with Peter in this example?
- In the severe test, our courage can and will fail at times.
- We can deny Jesus in our actions.
- There is a difference between our obedience failing but not our faith
c. "Jesus’ threefold question and threefold commission of apostolic mission contrast directly with Peter’s three denials. Three times Peter said he did not even know the Lord (18:17, 25, 27); now three times he said he loved the Lord (21:15–17). No matter how great a person is, he may fall (cf. 1 Cor. 10:12). But God’s grace and forgiveness will restore the repentant. This provision of grace would be important, for the church would soon face great persecution and even church leaders would waver in their commitments." (Theologian John F. Walvoord)"Christian author Joni Eareckson Tada knows intimately what the face of despair looks like. Injured in a diving accident that left her paralyzed, she was once convinced she had missed the best version of her life. Her misstep loomed before her, and because of it, she believed that God was somehow forcing her to go with God’s divine Plan B. Do we, in our assailings and failings, hold a similar perspective? In the regret of a missed opportunity, the guilt of a failed moment, the despair of an irreversible situation, it is understandable that we sometimes sink into the hopeless thought that it is all over. It is easy to beat ourselves up, to despairingly ponder what it means to have missed out, and to believe that somehow, with disappointment, God must now come in and adjust the plan for our lives. How significant, then, are Christ’s words to his despairing disciples, and to those of us who have ever felt the sting of regret. To those who had fallen asleep, Jesus returned and said, “Rise, let us be going” (Matthew 26:46). To Peter who had denied him three times, Jesus took him aside and said, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:17). To his once scattered disciples, Jesus offered two commands, neither asking them to sit in a corner and think about what they’d done, nor asking them to carry their sense of guilt for a time before thoroughly moving on. He simply said, “Go” and asked for their obedience." ... There are days that we can never get back, words we can’t erase, opportunities missed, and times when we have certainly failed. Yet in Christ, all is never lost. But somehow all is gained. In him alone we are accepted, transformed by his death, changed by his life. In him alone we are adopted, received as children of God, and loved as heirs of the promise. Do not despair. Go and follow." (RZIM)
2. Do
you love Me: The third time Jesus
slightly changed His question. He asked Peter if he did in fact have a
brotherly love, a friendly devotion to Jesus (phileis).
a. “Peter in his first two answers uses a less exalted word, and one implying a consciousness of his own weakness, but a persuasion and deep feeling of personal love. Then in the third question, the Lord adopts the word of Peter’s answer, the closer to press the meaning of it home to him.” (Alford)
Allowing Jesus to help us see who we really are.
1. Lord,
You know all things; You know that I love You: Peter did believe that he loved Jesus (using the word philio), yet he relied on Jesus’ own knowledge of all things. Peter understood that Jesus knew him better than he knew
himself.
a. "Peter would not say, `I agape You' because He could not say it. You see, Jesus had earlier said that the one who loves Him is the one who keeps His commandments (John 14:21). He had commanded His disciples to meet Him on the mountain (Matthew 28:16) — which is why Peter here says, `You know all things, Lord. You know I'm in the wrong place even now. That's why I can't say I love You the way You taught us to love You. But I do like You.' `Great,' answered Jesus. `I'll meet you there. Feed My sheep. Get involved in service. Let Me use you.' The Lord will meet us wherever we're at — and He'll go with us as far as we want to go. You can go on in ministry, in knowing the Lord intimately, in worship, in praise, in prayer — you can go on as far as you want, and He'll go with you." (Courson)
b. Jesus didn’t ask Peter, “Are you sorry?” nor “Will you promise never to do that again?” Jesus challenged Peter to love.Smith: God will always meet us on whatever level we will meet Him. But it is tragic when we bring God down to our level, rather than our rising to His level. But God will meet us on whatever level we will meet Him, and He will do His best for us on that level. I'm convinced that we often limit that work of God in our lives, because we won't rise to the level that God wants us to dwell upon.
God made concessions for the children of Israel. God wanted to be their King. He wanted them to be unlike all of the other nations, in that they would not have any visible king; but that the world would know that God ruled over these people. But they didn't want that. They came to Samuel and they said, "Appoint a king over us like the other nations." And Samuel was grieved. And the Lord said unto Samuel, "Don't grieve because they haven't rejected you, they have rejected Me from being king over them. And now, you anoint the one that I will show you to be the king." You see, God is now making a concession. He's coming down to their level. It's sad, though, when we bring God down to our level, rather than rise to His level, because we're not living then on the highest plane. And God would have us to live life in the highest plane. He'd draw us to His level if we would only but do so.
But Jesus came down to Peter's level. "Peter, are you fond of me?" And Peter was grieved because the Lord had to come down to his level. And he said, "Lord, you know all things." Despite what TV preachers say. "And you know that I am fond of You." He wouldn't come up, because he couldn't come up. He would love to, I'm sure. But Peter was always guilty of speaking impulsively and getting rebuked for it.
When Jesus said, "Who do men say that I am?", Peter said, "Well, thou art the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus said, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah. Flesh and blood did not reveal that unto you, but my Father which is in heaven." And I'm sure Peter puffed up and said, "Hey, fellows, you hear that? Revelation! I'm tuned in! You heard that, didn't you fellows?" And Jesus at that point, began to tell His disciples how that He was going to go to Jerusalem and be turned over to the hands of sinners and they would crucify Him and slay Him. And on the third day, He would rise again. And Peter said, "Oh, Lord, never, never, be that far from you!" And Jesus said, "Get thee behind Me, Satan. You're an offense unto Me. You can't tell the difference between what comes from God and what comes from man." His foot in his mouth, speaking impulsively! "All of you are going to be offended this night because of Me." "Oh, Lord, though they're all offended, I'll never be offended." "Peter, before the cock crows, you'll deny Me three times." "Though they kill me, I'd never deny You." Speaking impulsively, having to eat his words.
Now, Jesus had said, "He that hath My commandments, he it is who loves, agapas, Me." With a divine, fervent love. How is it shown? By keeping His commandments. Peter wasn't keeping His commandments. "I'm going fishing." Jesus didn't say, "Peter, go fishing." He said, "Wait in Galilee. I'll meet you there." He said, "Leave your nets and follow Me." And he was in the very act of disobeying the command of Christ, going back to the nets. And therefore when Jesus said, "Agapas, do you love Me divinely, fervently?" he could not say, "yes," because Jesus would then have said, "Then what are you doing out there in that boat leading these other fellows on this fishing venture when I didn't tell you to?" And Peter knew that he was trapped, and he knew that he couldn't say, "I love you divinely, fervently." And so, he had to use that lesser Greek word, "I'm fond of You," and tragically had to bring Jesus down to that level. And it hurt.c. “Jesus Christ asks each one of us, not for obedience primarily, not for repentance, not for vows, not for conduct, but for a heart; and that being given, all the rest will follow.” (Maclaren)
What does it mean to feed God's sheep?
1. Feed
My sheep: Jesus restored Peter
in the presence of the other disciples by causing him to face squarely his
point of failure; then Jesus challenged Peter to
set his eyes on the work ahead.
a. "Peter had disowned Jesus three times. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. When Peter answered yes, Jesus told him to feed his sheep. It is one thing to say you love Jesus, but the real test is willingness to serve him. Peter had repented, and here Jesus was asking him to commit his life. Peter's life changed when he finally realized who Jesus was. His occupation changed from fisherman to evangelist; his identity changed from impetuous to "rock"; and his relationship to Jesus changed—he was forgiven, and he finally understood the significance of Jesus' words about his death and resurrection." (Life Application Study Bible NLT)
b. Piper: Those of us who are ordained by the church to the Christian ministry have a special responsibility to feed the sheep (John 21:17). We have been made “overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28, nasb). We bear the burden of being not only teachers, who “will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1), but also examples in the way we live, so that our people may “consider the outcome of [our] way of life, and imitate [our] faith” (Heb. 13:7). The apostle Paul charges us: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching” (1 Tim. 4:16). We are “servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy” (1 Cor. 4:1–2)—trustworthy in life, “in step with the truth of the gospel” (Gal. 2:14), and trustworthy in teaching, “rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
The seriousness of our calling comes from the magnitude of what is at stake. If we do not feed the sheep in our charge with “the whole counsel of God,” their blood is on our hands. “I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:26–27). If we do not equip the saints by living in a way that exalts Christ, and by teaching what accords with the gospel, it will be laid to our account if our people are like “children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:12, 14).
More importantly, eternal life hangs in the balance: “We are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Cor. 2:15–16). How we live and what we teach will make a difference in whether people obey the gospel or meet Jesus in the fire of judgment, “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thess. 1:7–8).
This is why Paul was so provoked at the false teaching in Galatia. It was another gospel and would bring eternal ruin to those who embraced it. This accounts for his unparalleled words: “Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8). Getting the good news about Jesus right is a matter of life and death. It is the message “by which you are being saved” (1 Cor. 15:2).
New Apologetic Resources
“Brother James” works to reach Muslims and train believers to plant churches in the Middle East, a place where choosing to follow Christ comes with a high cost. This week he shares with us how God is shaking things up in that region—both inside the church and inside the hearts of Muslims—to spread the gospel and draw more Muslims to Christ. James will also share the challenges of his work, and how he and his Operation Mobilization coworkers identify those God is calling to the difficult, sometimes dangerous work of planting churches in that Islamic region. The Middle East is beset by bloodshed and hardship, but James tells us God is redeeming even evil activities in the region to advance His Kingdom. Be ready to add to your prayer list and to consider how you can reach out to Muslims in your city, this week on VOM Radio.
"Justin presents a live audience edition of the show from Church Everyday in Northridge, California. He’s joined by atheist Ryan Bell, a former Christian pastor who took ‘A Year Without God’ after coming to doubt his faith, and Sean McDowell a Christian thinker who tells his own journey of doubt and coming to a conviction that Christianity is true. There’s also an interview with Justin by Kevin Yi of Truth Matters Ministries who hosted the event, and time for audience Q&A at the end. MP3 Download (right click/save as). Or watch the Video.
Grief is a strange thing in that its memory is more characterized by what the relationship was or was not than by what characterized the death.(1) You look forward and ache over what has now been lost for the future. You look backward and grieve what never truly was and can now never be. The award-winning author Paulo Coelho is a beautiful writer, and his lines of pure poetry are disguised as novels. His book The Witch of Portobello, a mystical story with many unusual turns, remains on my shelf, no matter where I live. I often pull it off, brush my hand across the cover, and flip it open to a page I have nearly memorized.
This is the weekly Q & A blog post by our Research Professor in Philosophy, Dr. William Lane Craig.
When trying to discern the authorship of the four gospels, scholars look at two types of evidence: external (outside the NT) and internal (inside the NT). In my previous post, we primarily looked at the external evidence in accessing the traditional authorship of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. But what about the internal evidence? Are there any clues in the gospels and other New Testament books that back up the tradition behind these four authors?
The issue of Judas’ death has long been talked about and people really have a difficult time understanding the differences between the Matthew and Luke (Acts) accounts. This particular contradiction is featured in several online atheist websites as well as several books. What this actually gives us though is an opportunity to show non-believers why trying to make something out of nothing when it comes to supposed contradictions makes them look foolish. When we look at verses in the Bible that appear to be at odds, we need to practice good habits when it comes to reading them. The biggest issue I think non-believers have with reading the Bible is they are never charitable and they seek to find problems rather than solutions and that leads to them make things up. Or, make the text say what they want it to say.
Some people think that since I’m an apologist, I always lead with an apologetic point when talking to a person who doesn’t share my faith. That’s not true. I don’t believe apologetics is an end in itself. Rather, it’s a means to an end. The end is the Gospel and that’s the first thing I present to someone when I share my faith. Sometimes, though, people don’t accept the Gospel for various reasons. Only when they reject it do I try to discover the reason or cause. I start asking questions to try to find out, as Francis Schaeffer said, “what is troubling their heart and mind.”
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