"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Feed My lambs.' He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Tend My sheep.' He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love Me?' And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep'" (John 21:15-17).

Everything about this conversation between Christ and Peter is remarkable. It will be the subject of these next two meditations. Recall that on the night in which Christ was betrayed and arrested, Peter denied Him three times. His denials were serious and condemnable: he swore with an oath that he did not know the Son of God, whose name demands all honor and confession before men; he denied the Savior who loved him with a perfect love and was willing to lay down His life for him; he renounced his Lord after more than three years of the closest intimacy with Him; and he did all this when Christ was facing His greatest and final trial, the time of His deepest need, when He poured out His soul unto death.

In correspondence to Peter's three denials, Christ three times questioned Peter's love for Him. The questions did not arise from ignorance: Christ knew all things and could learn nothing new from the inquiry; but as all of God's questions in scripture, they were designed for the benefit of man. In this case, Christ's intent was to reveal and prove what He already knew to be in Peter's heart. His design was not to censure but to restore and to reaffirm Peter after his failure. His questions would provoke contemplation and increase devotion not only in Peter, but also in us upon whom the ends of the ages have come. It is good when the Lord questions us. He does so today through His word, and His questions are made effectual to us by the power of His Holy Spirit. Let us, then, be diligent to read the scriptures, saying with the wise, "Speak, Lord, for your servant listens" (1 Sam 3:9). Like Peter, let us answer all that He would ask, and like Job, let us repent when His questions expose our transgression.

Peter had a deep need to receive the Lord's forgiveness. Christ had warned him that Satan would sift him as wheat, but Peter never imagined that he could ever so seriously deny Him. Along with the other Apostles, he had insisted that he was willing to die with Christ that very night. His assertion was sincere, but oh, how wrong he was! Even the best of men know not what is in the depths of their hearts, and Peter had esteemed himself more highly than he should. After his failure, he would be prone to doubt and despair and to fear that the Lord might never think his love to be sincere. But see the mercy of Christ! He would not allow Peter to continue in a state of doubt or sorrow. As the Father in the parable of the prodigal son, his arms were open wide to receive back His repentant child. He blessed Peter with the opportunity to remedy his three denials by three times confessing his love. Christ had already purchased Peter's forgiveness on the cross, but this encounter would ease Peter's troubled conscience and bring the peace of forgiveness to his broken heart. The offense could never be undone, but the knowledge of Christ's forgiveness would encourage him to continue. How wonderful to be forgiven! And not only forgiven, but also reassured of it in heart! The Lord similarly deals with all of His children who seek His mercy. He does not deal with them according to their sins but according to His kindness and compassion. He does not condemn His children for their failures, but gently leads them back to Himself. If they confess their sins, He is faithful and just to forgive them their sins and to cleanse them of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). He may decree temporal consequences for their sin, but He is always swift to show mercy, and He never gives them all that they deserve. As far as the East is from the West, so far does He separate their transgressions from them.

Notice the circumstances surrounding the conversation. John records that it took place on the third occasion in which Christ appeared to the Apostles after His resurrection. He miraculously enabled them to catch a large number of fish and had just cooked them breakfast over a charcoal fire. Here we learn much by Christ's example. By His grace, He restored Peter at a fire similar to the one at which he had denied Him (cf. John 18:18). The common sight of such a fire, which would tend to crush Peter's spirit because of his offense, would now also remind him of Christ's forgiveness. Notice also that Christ did not remind Peter of his failure at His first or second appearance to the disciples, nor on this occasion did He discuss the matter before serving them a meal. Many know how to harshly rebuke but few know how to gently restore. Many are swift to anger and swift to condemnation. They are quick to take offense from others but would hardly consider sharing a meal to restore fellowship. How unlike Christ! We must learn that the strength of relationships very much depends upon the way in which offenses are handled. The love of God must constrain us to approach others with love, humility, and patience, not returning evil for evil but imparting a blessing instead. The wisdom of God must lead us to wait for the proper time to speak so that our speech would be seasoned with salt and the heart of the hearer would be prepared to receive. The same love that requires us to correct must also motivate us to restore in a spirit of gentleness.

In all three inquiries, Christ addressed Peter by His birth name, Simon, son of Jonah. The use of this name in threefold repetition cannot be incidental. Long before, Christ had named him Peter, meaning "the rock." But in his denials, Peter had fallen short of his new name and the office to which he had been called. Christ's words forever reminded Peter that he was no rock in himself, and that his strength and sufficiency must come from God. We too must beware of presumption. Let us remember that the presence and continuation of our faith, as Peter's, is a gift of God. It is the product of Christ's intercession, as we see in His words to Peter: "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren" (Luke 22:31-32). Let us never think to boast of our abilities or our faithfulness lest the Lord would show us our hearts and expose our weakness. Let us not take for granted what we will do for Him but say, "Oh, Lord, grant that I may."

Christ's questions regarded Peter's love for Him. He did not ask "Do you now acknowledge Me?"; or "Do you serve Me?"; or "Do you know the truth about Me?" Any of these would have been important and worthy questions-- but Christ asked, "Do you love Me?" The question is of ultimate consequence, for the first and great commandment is to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Here, dear friends, is the essence of the matter. Can the Lord Jesus Christ say of you that you love Him? Can He who knows all that is within say that your heart belongs to Him? Beware of anything less. Think not that your profession, your service, your giving, or anything else religious will avail you if you do not love Christ. The day is coming when every human being will answer the question. Then, every mouth will be stopped, and the whole world will become accountable to God. Then, every heart will be judged by the word of God, where it is written, "If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed" (1 Cor 16:22).

If you would like to receive further information concerning these matters, please contact Joseph Montalto.