^{John 21:15-17}

¹⁵ After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

¹⁶ Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

¹⁷ Once more he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

 New Living Translation

Why did Jesus ask Peter if he loved Him three times, and tell him to feed His sheep three times?  I've always heard it taught that this was to counteract the three times that Peter denied Jesus on the night of His trial.  Peter denied Jesus three times; Jesus restored him three times.

I am beginning to think differently about this, just as I have begun to see Peter's denial differently.  If it is true that Peter denied Jesus not because he was afraid but confused by Jesus's surrender when he was expecting a revolution, that I think it is safe to say that Peter was still rather confused at this time.

Nothing was turning out as expected.  Peter expected war.  Instead his Master was crucified.  He thought this was the end of everything.  The resurrection caught him off guard.  Now Jesus was alive again, but there was still no apparent revolution.  Just what WAS going on?!  What did Jesus expect of him?  What was Jesus wanting to accomplish?

Three times Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?"  Three times Peter said "Yes, You know I love You."  And three times Jesus replied "Feed my sheep."

Jesus is using the law of emphasis here.  This was vital for Peter to understand.  He was prepared to go to war to defend Jesus's sheep, the Israelites, from the evil Roman empire.  But what good does it do to keep sheep away from predators if those same sheep starve to death?

The Jews were starving to death spiritually.  They served God ritually, but not with their hearts.  And when their Messiah, their Savior, showed up, they not only didn't recognize Him, they had Him crucified.  

Jesus knew Peter was ready to go to war for Him, but that wasn't what He needed Peter to do.  Instead He was giving Peter a much more urgent mission:  feed His sheep!

His call was to bring the message of Jesus's life, death and resurrection, and the meaning it held for all, to the people.  He was not to be a warrior, he was to be a missionary.  

Peter was having a hard time grasping it all.  None of it was making any sense at this point.  He was confused, disillusioned, but in absolute awe at the fact that he was talking and eating with this man who he watched die a brutal death just a few short days ago.  His world and his understanding of everything in it had been turned on it's head.  

So Jesus asked him a simple question.  "Peter, do you love me?"  Peter, a bit stunned, replied, "Of course I love You."  

Jesus had used one word for love - the Greek agape, meaning absolute, complete devotion.  Peter replied with a different word for love - phileo, meaning brotherly love.  Some scholars believe this is a symptom of what happened earlier.  Peter had declared before Jesus's death his agape love, and then found it fell short when he denied him.  This could very well be true.  It could be that Peter was so confused as to what was now going to be asked of him that he was afraid to commit too much.  

Whether this change types of love was significant or not, Jesus accepted Peter's answer.  He didn't rebuke him for not loving enough, or not committing enough.  He took what Peter had to offer, then gave him his mission - "Feed my sheep."

When Jesus asked the third time, Peter was distressed.  Why?  Was it because he thought Jesus was doubting him when he said he loved him?  That is possible.  He does say “Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.”  I'm sure his failure was still weighing heavy on his heart.  But Jesus wasn't repeating the question to remind Peter of his failure.  He was repeating it to drive home the change in direction that Peter was to take.  Peter didn't understand before, and because of that He denied Jesus.  It was vital that Peter understand now.  

Peter was hurting, remembering his failure.  He was stunned and shocked at having seen the impossible happen.  He was confused about what was to happen next.  Jesus was wanting to make sure he got it.  Peter apparently interpreted this as rubbing salt in his wounds.  But it was really a loving act of grace.  He was giving Peter one of the most important calls ever given.  He was to go out and bring the message of life to the multitudes of dying souls all around him.  And he was to do this not because of some political agenda or a desire for greatness.  He was to do it because Jesus loved him, and he loved Jesus.