“15 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.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt 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. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this He said to him, ‘Follow me’” John 21: 15-19.
This triple test of Peter is a kind of restoration of Peter’s triple denial of Jesus at the house of the High Priest, Annas, a short time before Jesus was crucified. When Jesus prophesied about Peter’s triple denial at the Last Supper, Peter boasted that he would follow Jesus. Only Jesus knows that eventually Peter will indeed follow Jesus, loving Him to his own death, as referenced in verse 19. Peter will follow Jesus as the Shepherd of the church when he lays down His life for Jesus. As a youth Peter was gregarious and impetuous, but as an adult he stretched out his hands on the cross, following the Chief Shepherd.
Dear friends are we not also just like Peter? We promise and promise the Lord that we will follow Him, only to stumble and fall with regularity. We are quick to criticize others, noticing the splinter in their eyes, while falling over from the weight from a log in our own. We are most disreputable at times and never without sin, for “10 If we say we have not sinned, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” 1 John 1:10. So let us all pray: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” 2 Peter 3:9.
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