RESTORATION OF PETER

Text: John 21:15-19.

Theme : Restoration of Peter.

Question: Why did Jesus restore Peter?  

1.To love Jesus selflessly (vv.15-17a).

2.To serve Jesus fully (vv. 15-17b).

3.To follow Jesus completely (vv.18-19).

This event is taking place after Jesus' resurrection. This meeting especially focused between Jesus and Peter. Before this meeting, peter was in a hopeless situation because he went for fishing along with his friends but got nothing. Once upon a time Peter said, Jesus I will never leave you but after Jesus' crucifixion, again he went to his old profession not only Peter but six disciples also went along with him. Now they failed in catching fish and they become hopeless. They forgot what Jesus said before His crucifixion and forgot His teachings and went back to their old profession. But when Jesus told them to go deep and cast their nets on the other side and they listened to Jesus, they were successful. Though they didn't recognize Jesus, but Jesus came and took initiative and called them for breakfast. After having the breakfast, Jesus separated time for Peter to have a personal talk with him. Jesus' discussion with Peter includes restoration of Peter's love for Jesus and after that Jesus gives him a charge, responsibility towards His flock.

why was Peter restored? 

Peter was restored for Three purposes:

 They are.,

1.Love Jesus selflessly (vv.15-17a): what is the meaning of  loving Jesus selflessly? - It means loving Jesus whole heartedly, Morethan loving ourselves. It means loving without any personal gain - It means loving without any expectation in return. Love is one of the essential qualities for the Christian ministry. Without love, ministry counts for nothing in God's eyes.

Now Jesus called Peter by his full name Simon Peter, by calling his full name, we can see two things.

• Firstly, It attracted everyone's attention stressing that Jesus is going to speak something important with Peter .

• Secondly, It remained peter of where he had come from.

•The first question is Simon son of John do you truly love me more than these? The Greek word for love used here is "ἀγάπη (Agape)" it means the highest form of love, it is a sacrificial love. It is the love of God for men and men for God. It is loving those who are unworthy for love. This term appears in The New Testament more than 200 times. This word is also used in John 3:16, "God so loved the world and gave his begotten son". 

In this question the word 'these' is not clear what it is referring for. But perhaps Jesus was pointing out to the disciples those who were there with Peter. If so, Jesus meant to ask do you love me Peter more than these disciples or do you love more than these disciples love me.

•Secondly, the word 'these' could have been pointing to the fish ,net and the boat. If so, Jesus meant to ask Peter do you love me more than your profession and career. Yes, it is true Peter may be getting money from his profession, it may be his main economic source, through this profession his family is running and he is  also earning enough money but more than these do you love me.

•Where is our love today?  Is it towards our friends or family members or our profession which is our main income source.

•The second question is simon son of John do you truly love me? In this second question Jesus used the same Greek word "ἀγάπη (Agape)" but in the reply Peter used the word Phileo. Peter didn't reply yes Lord I agape you but he said simply yes Lord I phileo you.

But in the third time Jesus used the Greek word "φιλέω  (Phileo)". The word Phileo means brotherly love, the love between two brothers. It is an affection, fondness and liking towards others,  It is friendly love. Here, Jesus descended to the human level of love and asked Peter simply and gently Peter do you love me? Since, he used phileo so the meaning is, Peter do you love me even as a brother. When Jesus asked for the third time Peter do you love me? Peter was grieved in his heart. These three questions might have taken back the painful memories of Peter. Most of the scholars say these three questions of Jesus represents the three denials of Peter. For the third question Peter answered, you know everything Lord that I love you. For the two questions for know Peter used the Greek word "Oida" which means the intellectual knowledge of a fact. But the third question in reply for word know, Peter used the Greek word "γινώσκω (ginosko)", which means the knowledge gained through experience. Here perhaps Peter wants to say that Jesus experienced who is he and Jesus knows about him, how much he is loving Him. Jesus' purpose was to fully restore Peter and have a confident relationship with Him. Peter's threefold question of love and loyalty wiped away the shame, regret and guilt of his threefold denial. After this incident Peter never denied Jesus and he understood the love of Jesus towards him and began to preach the gospel boldly wherever he went. There were troubles and threatening from people to stop his preaching about Jesus, but he didn't stop. Because he understood the life of Jesus and began to love Jesus more than anything else in his life. At last he becomes successful in his ministry.

2.To serve Jesus fully (vv. 15-17b): After making sure that peter is loving Jesus or after comingout from his brokenness; here Jesus is giving a responsibility to Peter. Love always comes with a responsibility. Here, Jesus has given the two fold ministry to Peter.

•The first ministry is to feed and tend the flock of God. The flock of God is made of both lambs and sheep. For feeding the Greek word used here is "βόσκω (bosko)". Lambs means baby sheep - it can be symbolized for new believers in christ; and sheep can be symbolized for grown/mature believers in Christ. Whether they are new or grown they need to be fed by the word of God. 

•The second ministry is to shepherd; shepherding involves the works of ministry. Shepherd is the one who goes before the sheep and takes care of the sheep and protects the sheep and shepherd becomes a watchman for his sheep. Sometimes to save the sheep shepherd fight with wild animals. For shepherd sheep is so precious and important. Serving God means serving others, without serving others we can not say we are serving God. In "Mark 10:45, Jesus says, even the son of man came not to be served but to be serve and to give his life as a ransom for many". When we see Peter's life, he began to serve the Lord by preaching the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection. At the feast of pentecost Peter preached the gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit and brought a huge crowd of people into Christ and they got saved (Acts ch 2-3).

•Peter also served as a representative of Christian's in Jerusalem and courageously stood before the ruling council with the message of the gospel (Acts ch.4).

•Peter also served as Church leader, ruling and judging the affairs of the people; with miraculous signs and accompanying his work.

•Finally, we see Peter as a missionary taking the gospel even to the Gentiles (Acts ch.10) in the house of Cornelius.  At last we can find Peter's service as making a wise judgement at the council of Jerusalem (Acts ch.15). If Jesus could not have resorted his life at that point of time, Peter would not have became the mighty servant of God. Jesus restored his life and Peter served Jesus throughout his life until his last breath.

3.To follow Jesus completely (vv.18-20): Jesus is saying to Peter, while you are young, you did whatever you want, went wherever you want and talk as you wanted to talk, chose the life as you desired to choose and also did the profession as you desired; but now on there will be a change.

 Peter was a fisherman, normally fishermen are hostile, short tempered, they use bad language because their profession is like that; the same characters can see in Peter's life after coming into ministry also. Peter was full of egoistic, sometimes spoke and acted not like a disciple, he was outspoken, sometimes he used to hurt others with his words. These things even he carried in his ministry. But here Jesus speaks about Peter's death, and says thus far you lived as you wanted, but now I'm gonna control your life. Jesus said you went wherever you wanted but now onwards I will send you, where you have to go. In V. 19 when Jesus says to Peter follow me, in Greek it is a present imperative sentence which means keep on following Jesus. Here Jesus is saying to Peter you don't know when you are going to die and how you are going to die, But before you are going to die you take a decision that you will keep on following me throughout your life. Not only you will follow me but you will also fulfill the task which I have given you.

•We can see in Peter's ministry wherever he went he followed Jesus. Now in Peter's ministry Peter didn't go to different places by his own but the Spirit of Jesus carried him wherever he went. Now Peter lived a life as Spirit wanted him to live, he did what the Spirit said, choose the profession as Spirit wished.

•Peter lived a life of suffering, there were imprisonments in his life, rejection in his life, and troubles in preaching good news, but he never stopped following Jesus and he never said I will not follow you. At the end of his life he followed Christ  he preached about Christ and died for Christ. During the last days of his life, when he was in Rome, People planned to kill Peter by crucifying him. But Peter sad yes, you can crucify me but not like my Master; you crucify me upside down so that I may kiss my Master's feet. At last he was crucified upside down in Rome under Nero. Yes indeed, just on the words of Jesus, Peter also had a death. Over which he had no control, but he even submitted to a manner of death which was according to the voice of the Spirit in his life. The love which he developed in his heart took him to became a martyr for Jesus. Peter understood God's love and he didn't quit his ministry and followed Jesus throughout his life until his last breath. 

•We, Christian's decided to follow Jesus, but the question is are we going to follow Jesus continously.?

 In our following, problems and struggles may come; but still we should follow Jesus faithfully and finish His task. Then the reward of ministry will be given to us.

Jesus had restored Peter's life, so that Peter may come out from his  brokenness. As a result He loved Jesus selflessly and served Jesus fully and followed Jesus completely. Though we go astray from Jesus like Peter but still He loves us, He never leaves us and forsakes us. Though we become disloyal to Him but he waits for us to go him and confess that we love Him. If we say we love Jesus we also should love his lambs and sheep or the church which is His bride. Loving Jesus is love and care for His people. He loved us so much that he gave his life for us. Whatever situation may come in our lives, but we need to love , serve and follow Jesus throughout our lives. The day will come, He will reward us for our works and honour us.