Grace Beyond Comprehension
4/31/25 Bible Thought (John 21)
I can only imagine what it would have been like to be Peter after the resurrection. The same Peter who so passionately denied that he would deny Christ (Mk. 14:31) later did deny Him. Jesus knew it all. Jesus even made eye contact with him after the rooster’s crow (Lk. 22:61). Now, Jesus is back—probably a pretty awkward situation for Peter, at least at first.
It had to have been one of the most humbling experiences to know that he had utterly betrayed the Lord. Jesus went to Calvary, bleeding, dying, suffering horrifically, and Peter wasn’t willing to risk anything for Jesus in that moment. He was only concerned about self-preservation, rather than a true disciple’s dedication.
But in John 21, Jesus gives Peter a chance to make things right.
Three times, Jesus asks Peter of his love for Him. First asking, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (Jn. 21:15, emphasis added) followed by simply, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” (Jn. 21:16-17).
Each time, Peter responds that he does. He does love Jesus. Despite what it looked like, he truly loved him. In fact, by the end, Peter is grieved, as if to say, “Jesus, why do you keep asking me? You know the truth.”
Jesus did know the truth. Peter denied even knowing Jesus, let alone being His follower. If Peter denied Christ three times, he would now recant his denial with a threefold profession of love for Him.
With this, Jesus also gives him a commission: Peter, if you truly love me, take care of my sheep. Feed them and tend to them.
The sheep for which the Good Shepherd laid down His life now would be entrusted to the earthly care of the apostles. This wasn’t a light task, and Peter would later admonish church elders as fellow-shepherds, to care for God’s sheep appropriately as they await the chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4). Jesus cares for His people, and if the church meant so much to Him that He gave His life for us, then certainly we ought to value our fellow sheep as well.
What is so beautiful about Peter’s story though, is that his failures didn’t have the final word. Grace did. Peter was the one explicitly given this responsibility to care for the very sheep for whom Christ gave His life.
Peter was restored.
Peter was the one who was sovereignly ordained to preach on the birthday of the church at Pentecost. In Paul’s estimation, Peter was one of the pillars of the church (Gal. 2:9). He was also used by God to write two Spirit-inspired letters that have blessed the church for nearly 2,000 years.
Jesus not only forgave the ones who didn’t know any better, He forgave the one who did.
He restored Peter and Peter, by the grace of God, would remain faithful to the end. Christian tradition records that Peter ultimately gave his life for Christ in martyrdom—likely through crucifixion, and crucifixion upside down.[1]
The fallen had gotten back up because Jesus extended a nail-pierced hand of forgiveness and grace to him.
Now the call came again, “Follow me” (Jn. 21:19).
May we do the same.
[1] Craig S. Keener, John, ed. Clinton E. Arnold, vol. 2A of Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019), 211–212.
Often wonder if the three times asking if Peter loved Him was a mechanism for Peter to forgive himself.