Jesus Called Peter

Jesus called Peter to Submission

John 21:15 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.”

More than These

Matthew 26:33 “Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.”

Peter had made a bold claim and did not live up to it. Jesus was calling him to humbly admit that he had failed in his promise and was not the greater Christian as he had boasted.

Sometimes we think we love the Lord more than someone else or that we are a better Christian than someone else, but we need to hear Christ calling us to humility.

Jesus called Peter to Serve

John 21:16 “He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

It might be better to say that Jesus called him back to service. He was restoring Peter from his backslidden state and calling him once again to serve him.

Aren’t you glad Jesus gives us another opportunity to serve even when we mess up?

Jesus called Peter to Shepherd

John 21:17 “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

Jesus was calling Peter beyond fishing for men, but to shepherd men toward himself. Peter not only got to be restored to service, but Jesus was entrusting him with the care of the church he started. What a blessing it is that we can serve the Lord and be called to care for other children of God even when we have gone through times of backsliding and moving away from Christ.

Jesus called Peter to Surrender

John 21:18–19 “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”

After Jesus taught Peter a lesson in humility, called him back into his service, and entrusted him with the care of the church, he then called him to surrender because he was prophesying of Peter’s death at a martyr. There is no greater surrender one can offer than that of giving their very life. That is what Jesus was calling Peter to do here; give his life to preach the gospel, care for the church, and give his life for the faith.

Jesus Called Peter to Singleness

John 21:20–22 “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”

Now, we know that Peter had a mother-in-law so he was not single, but I am talking about focus. He scanned the room and asked, “What shall this man do.” Hey, you are calling me to die. What about him? Jesus called him to focus on what God had for him to do.