Recommissioned for the Lord's Service

The setting of the verses we look at today is found in the first part of verse 15: -- When they had finished breakfast-- This along with information given us in verse 20 would tell us that Jesus had a special conversation with Peter. This is not the first time Peter has met Jesus.

Mark 16:7 NASB95

“But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’ ”

Luke 24:34 NASB95

saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.”

1 Cor.15:5

1 Corinthians 15:5 NASB95

and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

These verses indicate that early in Jesus resurrection appearances, Peter saw Jesus. We have no idea what transpired between them at that first meeting; it is possible that there was a restoration to fellowship. That may also explain Peter’s action to swim to shore to be with Jesus earlier in this chapter.

1. Peter recommissioned by Jesus, vs. 15-17.

Here in our text, this meeting is one focusing on Peter’s recommissioning to the continuing work of God. It is done amidst the other disciples, who are witnessing this and can confirm this to any who question Peter’s qualification/authority in light of his earlier denials of Christ.

Jesus is seen here searching Peter’s deepest motives of the heart, answering the question, why is Peter following Jesus? Jesus offers Peter a fresh start with a new motive in service.

Jesus begins by asking Peter, “do you love me?” The word for love Jesus uses is agape; a word used to express the self-sacrificing, other-centered love that reflects the love God has for us when He sent Jesus to be our savior from sin and its penalty.

Peter’s responses in these verses demonstrate a more reflective, sincere answer, truer to Peter’s person: “You know that I love you.” The word for love that Peter uses is different. It is phileo, a brotherly, affectionate love for another. He will not claim he loves Jesus as Jesus loves him nor even his superiority in comparison to the other disciples.

Jesus then gives him a task to do each time after Peter has responded. In verse 15, Peter is charged to -- tend my lambs—

In verse 16, once again Jesus asks if Peter loves (agape) Him. Peter answers Jesus exactly as he did in verse 15 with phileo love. The charge is slightly different this time—Shepherd My sheep. To tend in verse 15 is to feed or lead to a safe pasture the lambs (young ones ànew believers); in verse 16, to Shepherd is a word that means to do all that a shepherd does for all the sheep (old and new believers).

A third time Jesus asks a slightly different question, though it looks like the same question in our English Bibles—Do you love Me? The word Jesus uses is not agape, but phileo. Jesus is questioning Peter’s sincerity. We could say Jesus is asking if Peter has any affection toward Him.

Peter’s response reveals that this grieved him, a reminder of the denials of the Lord as recorded in John’s gospel. Peter recognized how easy it is to claim to love, yet , when pressed, how easy it is to deny that same claim. By this time Peter does not have an overinflated view of himself. He has learned that he can not trust himself, was penitent and eager to obey.

So Peter responds testifying of the Lord omniscience, and in that knowledge Jesus must have a full, real perception of Peter’s love for Him.

Jesus accepts what Peter is able to give now and commands him --- tend My Sheep. As in verse 15, the word tend is used by it is for all Jesus’ sheep. Peter will be once again an under-shepherd of the Chief Shepherd. He has been recommissioned 3x before the other 6 disciples present, one of whom knew about Peter’s earlier denials, the others learning second-hand.

Before we move on, let’s dig just a little deeper here. What is the reason we follow Jesus? Whether it is a desire personal success, eminence among others, achievement, reward or even desiring to do good for needy humanity—none of these are sufficient to maintain our service for the Lord. It is only a complete, growing love for Jesus would be sufficient to care Peter and the other disciples through their future ministry for Jesus. The same is true for us as well who follow Christ. We must seek to develop our relationship with Jesus so we in turn grow in our love for Him, resulting in effective service for Him.

A second thing I wish to draw out is that Jesus gives no reprimand to Peter and the others for fishing. What Jesus wants them to understand however is that fishing was not to be the main business of life. We are called to make disciples as believers—that is the task of all believers, not just disciples.

Did Peter understand His commission? 1 Peter 5:2-4

1 Peter 5:2–4 NASB95

shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

2. Jesus reveals Peter’s future, vs. 18-19.

A. Jesus reminds Peter of his past life, 18a.

What Peter is called to do as an apostle of Christ will cost him. Verse 18 gives us both Peter’s past and what awaits him in the future. In the past he clothed himself and could go where he wanted.

B. Jesus foretells Peter’s future, 18b.

The contrast to this adds this description: you will stretch out your hands—an idiom used to speak of crucifixion. Then someone else will clothe him and lead him where he does not wish to go—to his death.

C. Looking back at the end of Peter’s life, 19a.

Verse 19 indicates that at the time of John’s writing this, Peter has already died. This is John explaining that Jesus had foretold that which had happened in the recent past to Peter.

D. Looking forward to Peter’s present work, 19b.

Then John records the present charge of Jesus to Peter—“Follow Me!”

Do not worry about the past or what is to come, live for Christ in every day that He gives you!

3. Jesus refocuses Peter’s concern, vs. 20-23.

A. Peter’s concerned comparison with a close disciple, 20-21.

Peter is human, just like us. He turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. Relations between Peter and this disciple, who is John, one of the sons of Zebedee, include their association as business partners, a fellow disciple of Jesus, and these two, along with John’s brother James, are the three closest disciples to Jesus.

Peter then asks the Lord, in essence, what will happen to John? His focus has diverted to another rather than the task Jesus has given him.

B. Peter rebuked, summoned to action, 22.

Jesus, in responding to Peter, tells him it is none of his concern; he is to concern himself only with following Jesus: “That is your business, Peter, and all that you are to be concerned about.”

Jesus has given an individual summons to Peter. A call to action (“follow”), not speculation, is commanded here.

C. Clarifying an unauthentic tradition, 23.

Verse 23 shows us that unauthentic tradition was circulating at the time when the gospels were written, which called for correction. Specifically, John addresses this story among the brethren that had legs and grew, but he clarifies what Jesus said, himself being there as a witness.

The Lord’s return would not be bound by the death of John; God’s timing is not dependent on us. This corrective demonstrates the historical authenticity of this gospel record.

We are also not to compare others in the faith to ourselves. We are to faithful follow Jesus ourselves.

4. John’s revelation of this gospel, vs. 24-25.

A. He is the disciple witnessing and recording, 24a.

John finishes his gospel by making sure the recipients understand that he is the beloved disciple who is presently witnessing of these things, demonstrating an active faith that he possesses and wrote these things down for those who will read the written testimony and follow the Savior in faith.

B. His truthfulness affirmed, 24b.

As one of many eyewitnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, John’s testimony and writing is true and therefore trustworthy both now and for future generations who would read his gospel.

C. His gospel is limited in scope compared to all that could have been written, 25.

Verse 25 is John’s own testimony that his gospel is limited in what it records of Jesus’ life and ministry. Neither John nor the other gospel writers include everything that Jesus said and did. That would indeed be a massive undertaking. Just in John is an arrangement that focuses on seven signs that Jesus performed that demonstrated that He is the Son of God and Messiah who was promised.

The coming of Jesus had a profound impact during the 3 ½ years of His earthly ministry; an impact that still reverberates today in the lives of all believers—indeed even in all humanity for which Christ died to make possible redemption for all who receive this gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ.