Peter had made some tragic mistakes. And our text today shows how Jesus addressed them gently.
Before Jesus was arrested and crucified, Peter promised that he would never deny or abandon Jesus. He even said, “I will lay down my life for you” (see John 13:37; Mark 14:31). But then, soon after Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied three times that he even knew Jesus (Mark 14:66–72; John 18:15–27). He was afraid to join Jesus.
After his death and resurrection, Jesus meets with his disciples, including Peter, several times – and in our lesson today he is with the disciples by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus came to Peter, who had denied him three times, with the question: “Do you love me?” And every time Peter says yes. Then Jesus asks him each time to take care of his sheep.
Just like that, Peter’s denials are generously forgiven, and Peter is powerfully recommended. Jesus also repeated to Peter what He had said to His disciples when He called them for the first time three years earlier: “Follow me!” (See Mark 1:17). It is as if Peter’s denial had never happened.
Peter’s Restoration shows us that if one is in Christ, there is not only a new creation, but also a new commission: to follow whatever Jesus calls us to do in our lives, in our context.
The old one is gone. The new one has arrived!
