John 21:15-23 - Restored Rock
- Chad Werkhoven
- Oct 30
- 6 min read
You don't need to prove your love for Jesus. He already knows it.
CONTEXT: Last week we read about the failures of Biblical saints like Abram, Moses, King David, and also Peter, who wilted under pressure rather than stand for His Savior. This week, we're seeing how it is that the LORD remained faithful to these sinners, to be reminded that He remains faithful to sinners like us as well.
John 21:1–23 (NIV)
21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
15 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.”
16 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.”
17 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. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
Canons of Dordt
Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints
Article 5: The Effects of Serious Sins
By such monstrous sins [that saints often fall into], however, they
greatly offend God,
deserve the sentence of death,
grieve the Holy Spirit,
suspend the exercise of faith,
severely wound the conscience,
and sometimes lose the awareness of grace for a time—
until,
after they have returned to the right way by genuine repentance,
God’s fatherly face again shines upon them.
Summary
This 21st chapter of John's gospel is often referred to as an epilogue, because it sure seemed like Jesus' story had found it's conclusion at the end of chapter 20 where Jesus finally appears to Thomas, the last of the disciples to see the resurrected Jesus. Thomas, now fully convinced that the crucified Christ is alive and well, famously confesses, My Lord and my God, and John caps things off with a couple of sentences explaining the purpose of his gospel. It seems like the perfect dénouement. The story's over.
That's the way Peter felt too as chapter 21 begins. His three year career as a disciple had been a good ride. He truly loved Jesus, but it turned out he loved himself even more when he was put to the test and failed. Now Jesus was alive - Praise God - but at this point He'd have no use for a cowardly loose canon like Peter.
So the story seemed over for Peter. It was time for him to go back to what he knew: commercial fishing. Being the natural leader he was, he talked many of his colleagues into going back into business with him.
But it turns out that Jesus wasn't done with Peter. So when John tells Peter he recognizes Jesus standing on the shore early in the morning after a long night of hard work, Peter immediately and joyfully jumps out of the boat like a lost puppy scampering to be reunited with its people.
Dig Deeper
Jesus likely had a big smile on His face as He watched His wayward disciple swim towards Him, for it wasn't the first time He'd seen Peter impetuously jump out of a boat. But Jesus wanted more from Peter than just a quick emotional response. So He pressed Peter. Three times. Enough to thoroughly hurt Peter's already shattered self confidence.
There's far more to unpack from Jesus' thrice repeated interrogation of Peter's love than we have space for today. Suffice it to say that Jesus' question isn't limited to the three times He asked it of Peter. Rather, it comes as a continually repeated question for all of His disciples, including you: Do you love Jesus more than these (with these applying to whatever seeks your attention at the moment).
Notice the humility in Peter's replies; he doesn't lay out an elaborate presentation to prove his love. Rather Peter rests in His Savior's omniscient sovereignty: Yes, Jesus, you know that I love you. You don't need to prove your love for Christ; indeed, how would you even do that? God knows your love for Him better than you do, because He gave it to you.
Although you don't need to prove your love for Jesus, you do need to demonstrate it. Jesus' consistent reply to Peter shows you how. Repent. Continually turn from the sin that denies Christ in your life and feed His sheep in the capacities the Good Shepherd has placed you in.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who commands us to follow His Son;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that the concerns and temptations of the world will not crowd out your love for Jesus and for concrete opportunities to demonstrate your love for Him;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year! Today: John 12
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