Jesus with Peter

The message turns evangelism to shepherding.

They not only will be fisher of men but also shepherd of the ones they caught

Jesus restores Peter

No one can read this section without remembering how Peter had betrayed Christ three times.

We see here Christ asks Peter three times, Peter do you love me? We see Peter responds three times “Yes Lord You know I love you.

Why did He single Christ out? Because no one had spoken so confidently in his own strength, no one was as unstable in the hour or trial, and no one had fallen so hard by denying his master as Peter did.

The third time Peter was grieved because Christ had asked three times. If it grieved Peter to be asked how it must have grieved Christ to be denied three times. Christ done this to stir up Peters grief.

Why was Peter called out? Because he had to be restored to honor from which he had fallen. How could a man be worthy of apostleship who had denied his Lord. How could he lead those in the faith from which he had turned away from. Peter had demonstrated he was a coward and a traitor so how could he lead.

Christ had to restore him to the honor of apostle and teacher and removed the disgrace of the apostasy which may stand in his way. Jesus done it in the hearing of the others so they may not be made to stumble at the thought of such a person sharing the gospel

Peters love

We often mention that we should be very careful with our emotions. Make no mistake we do have to have feelings. Knowledge, doctrine, theology or a moral life do not make up a christian. There must be some personal feeling towards Christ. We know feeling alone is a useless thing, for we know it can be here today and gone tomorrow. The absence of feeling is a bad thing and speaks volume of the condition of a mans soul.

Peter loved Jesus. It was because of his love that Matt 26:75 says he wept bitterly. It was his love and the feelings he had toward Christ that he was remorseful for failing his Lord.

Expository Thoughts on John, Vol. 3 John 21:15–17: Christ’s Question to Peter,—Peter’s Answer to Christ,—Christ’s Command to Peter

The answer that the humbled Apostle gave, is the one account that the true servant of Christ in every age can give of his religion. Such an one may be weak, and fearful, and ignorant, and unstable, and failing in many things, but at any rate he is real and sincere. Ask him whether he is converted, whether he is a believer, whether he has grace, whether he is justified, whether he is sanctified, whether he is elect, whether he is a child of God,—ask him any one of these questions and he may perhaps reply that he really does not know!—But ask him whether he loves Christ, and he will reply, “I do.” He may add that he does not love Him as much as he ought to do; but he will not say that he does not love Him at all. The rule will be found true with very few exceptions. Wherever there is true grace, there will be a consciousness of love towards Christ.

What, after all, is the great secret of loving Christ? It is an inward sense of having received from Him pardon and forgiveness of sins. Those love much who feel much forgiven.

What, after all, is the great secret of loving Christ? It is an inward sense of having received from Him pardon and forgiveness of sins. Those love much who feel much forgiven.

More than these

Two thoughts

These could mean do you love me more than these fish, boats and nets of which you’ve spent most your life, from which i called you from and now find you back at it today. Are you willing to give them all up for the sake of the gospel

More than these could mean these men of whom you said in Matthew 26:33 “Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.””

Feed my sheep

Christ used Love “agape” and Peter answered with love “phileo”

Christ use feed “bosko” as in to pasture, graze or fodder. He also used Poimaino which is to tend as a shepherd

As if to say if you love me the greatest proof of that is that you feed my sheep and devote yourself the shepherding of souls

Feed the sheep, with Gods word. Give them the bread of life so that they may not hunger that they may eat and live.

He doesn’t ask Peter is he wise, does he have a firmed understanding of the scriptures, could he speak in front of crowd but rather asked “do you love me”

Follow me

After all, Christ’s three great words to Christians are, “Come to Me,—Learn of Me,—and Follow Me.” Matt. 11:28, 29.