“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17)

Peter had failed the Lord, just as Jesus said he would, before Jesus went to the cross. When the rooster crowed for the third time and Jesus looked at him, Peter was overcome with sorrow. “Then Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75)

After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to His Disciples a number of times. One of those occasions, the Disciples were at the lake and had decided to go fishing. After struggling and catching no fish, Jesus came to them and asked, have you any fish. When they said no, he said cast your nets on the other side and the catch was so great it took two boats the bring in the catch. Peter recognized Jesus and swam to shore in his excitement. Jesus then feed the Disciples breakfast and after breakfast, Jesus spoke with Peter.

In this conversation, Jesus understood the pain of Peter’s failure. In their conversation, Jesus  gave Peter a new beginning with a renewed calling for Peter to follow Him and demonstrate the love Peter had for Jesus.

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “’Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’” (John 21:15-17)

In this moment of restoration for Peter, Jesus brought out the pain of Peter’s failure. In this deep sorrow, Peter had repented of his failure.  With a renewed passion he would tell of Jesus and seek to make disciples. This is seen in the book of Acts and in Peter’s two letters.

When we fail our Lord and Savior, we also must repent as Peter did, from the depths of our heart. Paul would describe this repentance. “For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.” (2 Corinthians 7:9-11)

The results of Peter’s repentance and restoration is expressed in his first letter with words of encouragement to believers as they go through the trials, which come to all believers through their lives. “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:6-9)

In our walk with the Lord through this life, there will be times where we will fail Him. When we do fail, we must realize that Jesus is waiting with open arms to forgive and to restore us in order for us to be usable in His hands. Then, like Peter let us come back and express our love to the Lord by a new walk with Him and sharing His love to those around us.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block