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Think about the Bible like you never have before. You're listening to Christian Questions. Access more audio videos and Bible Study resources@christianquestions.com Our topic is why did Jesus challenge Peter's love? Here's Rick and Julie. Welcome everyone. I'm Rick. I'm joined by Julie, a longtime contributor. Julie, what's our theme scripture for this episode?
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John 21:15 so when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, tend my lambs.
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In our last episode, we examined the deep lessons Jesus was teaching his apostles when he appeared to seven of them after his resurrection while they were fishing. If you remember, his miracle of orchestrating the massive catch of fish was a direct throwback to his fishing miracle three years before that, when Simon Peter finally fully gave up fishing to exclusively follow Jesus. The first fishing miracle was a message about giving up all else to follow Jesus and to learn to be fishers of men. The second fishing miracle was a message to now become those fishers of men and to step up and lead and preach Jesus's next direct conversation with Peter in that context, the context of that second fishing experience organs was his questioning the depth of Peter's love for him. Why would Jesus ask such questions right after showing such confidence in Peter and in the other disciples?
- [01:40]
B
That's a great question. Let's do a quick recap of these fishing accounts and their lessons. We begin with the early fishing miracle. Early in Jesus's ministry, he invited Simon Peter to follow him on three different occasions over several months. The third invitation came when Jesus, sitting in Peter's boat after a long night with no catch, told him to let down the nets again. Peter obeyed, and the catch, it was miraculous. Listen to how Luke describes Peter's initial reaction, though, to that miracle in Luke 5, 8 and 9. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus's feet, saying, go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man. For amazement had seized him and all his companions because the catch of fish which they had taken.
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So at this early experience three years previously, Peter was overwhelmed because he recognized the greatness of the Lord Jesus. And it was like, go away from me. I can't. I am. I can't be in your presence. That's really what he was saying. Let's go a little bit further in that. Just reviewing that account. Let's go to verses 10 and 11.
- [02:43]
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And so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, do not fear, for from now on you will be catching men. When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
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And that's the key. They left everything and followed him. This experience, this fishing experience early in Jesus ministry with the apostle Peter and these other disciples, it encapsulated the beginning of their call to follow. For the next three years, they would follow on a daily basis. They would watch, they would listen, and they would learn. So we've got that basic account put in place. Now let's go to the recap of the post resurrection fishing miracle. Some similarities and some differences. Jesus had previously appeared to the apostles in groups on two separate occasions after receiving no further instruction from their risen Lord. For a week or two, they're sitting around and Peter says, okay, you know what? Let's go fishing. And six others join him. This miracle also took place in after a fruitless night of fishing. Though he was not recognized, Jesus, who was 100 yards away on shore, instructed them to recast their nets on the other side of the boat. And that was when morning came. And then they had a miraculous catch. So now let's look at the reaction to that miraculous catch. Let's go to John 21:7.
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Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved, and that's John, said to Peter, it is the Lord. So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on and threw himself into the sea.
- [04:20]
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I love that description. He threw himself into the sea at the beginning. Remember in the first experience, Simon Peter said, go away from me, Lord, for I'm a sinful man. And now he can't wait. It's the Lord, I'm out. He can't wait to be with Jesus again. So this whole experience would help them, help Peter especially. And those who were with him see the beginning of of their call to preach and lead. So we had the first experience, recapping last week, the beginning of their call to follow and this experience after Jesus resurrection, the beginning of their call to preach and lead.
- [04:55]
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So in this moment, Jesus is recreating Peter's past. It's not to drag him backwards, but it's to show him how far his calling will now go.
- [05:04]
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And that's an important point. And Jesus does that. He uses what's already happened and puts it in place with what he's teaching now. So now on that day, on the day after Jesus resurrection of this beautiful miraculous catch, he would do even more for them. And again we Went over this in our last episode. So John 21:9 11.
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So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid in, fish placed on it and bread. And Jesus said to them, bring some of the fish which you have now caught. Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of large fish. 153. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. So what strikes me here is there's this little detail. They saw a charcoal fire. John uses the rare Greek word anthrachea, charcoal fire, in only two places. The fire where Peter denied Jesus in John 18, and the fire here, where he restores him in John 21. It doesn't appear anywhere else in the New Testament. John could have used any common word for fire, but he chose this same rare word twice. There's a deliberate connection, pairing the charcoal fire of denial and that of restoration. So think about the way that would smell. That smell alone would have carried Peter back to the courtyard. The shame, the panic, the rooster's crow. Jesus is bringing him straight into that memory that Peter really would like to avoid. But it needs to be healed.
- [06:35]
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And you know, it's interesting, the sense of smell is one of those senses that if you've been someplace and then you smell and it immediately brings you back, that's a very interesting detail that generally gets overlooked. So keep that in play, because there's a lot going on here with Jesus and what he's doing and how he's doing it. Now, remember Jesus as a spirit being and their Lord. What's he doing here? He is showing the care and surety with which the call of the true church will be completed by the power of God's Spirit working with them. They didn't have that yet. This lesson, this fishing lesson now, would teach them that Jesus would make them accountable, show them the way, and they would follow by preaching and leading others to him. Throughout the age of the Gospel, they would learn, they would follow by doing, they would follow by leading. That's what Jesus is transitioning them towards.
- [07:28]
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So this seems like a lot of information with the fish and the fire and the land and the diving. Do you think they're getting it at this point?
- [07:36]
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Nope, not even close. I think that what happened is Jesus puts all of this in place and we're reading in all these lessons and. No, I don't think getting it at all. I think what happens, the scripture tells us that before Jesus crucifixion, when he was talking about the Holy Spirit coming, the scripture tells us that they would be able to remember the things that he said to them. He is planting the seeds that their memories, driven by God's spirit, will draw and put into place. We get the advantage and the luxury of looking back and seeing and being able to connect the dots. They were living it. They were nowhere near connecting the dots at that point. Let's see what Jesus does next. John 21:12 to 13 Jesus said to
- [08:17]
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them, come and have breakfast. None of the disciples ventured to question him. Who are you? Knowing that it was the Lord Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them and the fish likewise.
- [08:28]
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All right, so they have breakfast together. Now. Think about this. Think about the smiles that this whole experience brings. This would certainly be an inspiring end to this particular post resurrection manifestation of Jesus. Think about it. Everybody is cared for, everybody's well fed, they're unified, they're with Jesus. I mean, it's like, couldn't be better than this. Well, Jesus, however, was nowhere near done teaching. As Peter would become an even bigger focus. This was almost in some ways a groundwork for the next lessons he was about to teach. So let's look at preparing Peter to preach, nurture and lead.
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During Jesus's earthly ministry, he called Peter and others to follow him. This following was their foundation to be able to later shoulder the massive responsibilities of the gospel. Once Jesus was glorified, Peter would be the central cog in this machinery of change. So now, after his resurrection, and especially in context of this particular fishing miracle, Jesus is laying out the responsibilities of their call to preach the nurture and lead.
- [09:37]
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So there is a foundation being laid for something much bigger to come. It's inspiring to know that Jesus always had, always does, and always will put the best interest and the highest interests of those who follow him. He'll put those things first.
- [09:58]
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So Jesus is about to shake Peter up with his next questions. Why would he do that to Peter, especially at this point in time? Like, why shake him up when he's so insane, inspired? The miracle just happened. Hope is rising. Everything feels restored.
- [10:12]
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You're right. I mean, it's like a great moment. Why shake him up? Well, let's back up and consider this. It's comforting. It's comforting. Remember that even during his earthly ministry, Jesus could read the hearts of those around him. Now that he's been raised, his urgency for stretching those who would be tasked with leading others, that urgency would increase. They needed to see the depth of dedication that would be required. What better way to show that depth of dedication that needed to be required than to start with Peter.
- [10:42]
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So this is where restoration turns into responsibility. And Peter's love for Jesus now has to become leadership for others.
- [10:50]
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So now the focus completely changes. You've got all of those pieces we just put in place. Now let's look at John 21:15.
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Well, when they'd finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? And he said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, feed my lambs. So the question is, do you love me? It's in Greek, it's do you agapeo me? We've talked about this before. English is very imprecise when it comes to the word love. So agapeo is the verb form of the noun agape. Agape is the kind of love, the deep self giving love that reflects God's character. Agapeo is the action of that love. It's choosing what's good and sacrificial, even when it costs you.
- [11:40]
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Do you agapeo me? Do you love me? Jesus wastes no time. It's interesting. When they finish breakfast, he turns to Simon Peter. And I can imagine that they're sitting around eating and they finish and Jesus just turns to him and just starts talking to him, I think, and we don't know for sure, but I think everybody else can hear. So this is a public conversation. He wastes no time in presenting the highest and most imperative point for Peter to lead. And that's where Jesus is going with this. For Peter to lead, he would have to develop this love. And it's this love that defines both the Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus. As a matter of fact, Julia, let's touch on one scripture that identifies that love with the Father and then with the son.
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John 3:16, that is very famous for God so loved. That's agapeo, that verb of agape. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. And here's a scripture for Jesus with that same love. John 15:12 to 14. This is my commandment that you love agapeo, that's the verb. You love one another just as I have loved you. Because greater love, agape, the noun, has no one than this, than one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.
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Peter, in his walking with Jesus, has heard Jesus talk about God so loved the world. He knew. He understood that that was the love of the Father. Peter in walking with Jesus, heard him say in the upper room, my commandment is that you love one another, just as I have loved you. So he heard. He knows. So when Jesus asks him, do you agapeo me? He knows what he's referring to. He knows what the example is, and that's important for us to recognize.
- [13:28]
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So let's go Back to John 21:15. Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? More than what?
- [13:35]
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All right, more than what? Well, think about it. They had just had the adrenaline rush of a massive catch of fish and seeing their Lord Jesus again. I mean, talk about everything going perfectly. Jesus is looking at that whole experience and. And now he's focusing Peter on the main thing. So what is that main thing? More than these, more than the fish, more than the. The adrenaline rush of catching fish and having that earthly success. I think that's what the comparison is. The main thing I think that Jesus is focusing on is. Is your highest possible level of love focused on me and my work with you over the things that you've already been accustomed to? Is your focus on higher things or things that you know and have always appreciated?
- [14:21]
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So in other words, do you love me more than these things you've always known? The fishing, the life you're comfortable with, the world you came from? And he said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. You know I filio you. So you could say, agapeo is love that chooses at great cost, while filio is love that feels deeply and stays close. It's a good love. It's the affection of a loyal friend. So Jesus is asking Peter, do you love me with the kind of love that will sacrifice everything? And Peter answers honestly, with the kind of love that he knows that he can claim. Lord, you know I love you like a faithful friend.
- [14:59]
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This is important. Peter's answer, like you said, it was honest and it's revealing because he's seeing things in a very different way than previously. He is humbly and reverently stepping beyond what once, not, too, too, too long ago, were the brash statements that he had previously made. Because we know that Peter, with his impetuous character, would say all of the right things, whether he was capable or not, because he wanted to be capable. That was his desire. I mean, let's look at. In the night before Jesus crucifixion, just a couple of statements that the apostle Peter made. Let's look at Matthew 26. Let's read verse 33 and 35.
- [15:40]
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But Peter said to him, even Though all may fall away because of you, I will never fall away. Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you. Oh, poor brother Peter.
- [15:53]
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Yeah, well, even though all may fall away, I won't. There's one statement, even if I have to die with you. There's the second statement, I will not deny you. There's the third statement. He makes these strong, strong, and he means them, he absolutely means them, but he's not capable. So there's a huge lesson, and Jesus is going right for teaching that lesson, to bring him to a place where he needs to be. And Peter's recognizing his own faults here. Peter is now willing to be seen as the man he knows he is, a broken, sinful work in progress. And that's why he says, lord, you know that I filial you. He doesn't use the other word because he knows he's not there.
- [16:36]
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So remember, we're breaking down. John 21:15. Do you love, do you agapeo me more than these? And yes, Lord, you know that I filio you. So how did Jesus answer Peter's response of Filio, I love that? Because he didn't say wrong answer or you didn't really answer my question, Peter. He didn't show disappointment, he didn't show anger. Jesus accepts Peter's answer, again as to where Peter is at that moment, and gives him the work to feed his lambs and feed here. Feed my lambs is a simple literal word for feeding animals. So Jesus begins with the most basic responsibility. Give spiritual nourishment to the youngest and most vulnerable to the lambs.
- [17:18]
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Feed my lambs so you get this sense of, this clarity. So Jesus accepts Peter as a work in progress, doesn't challenge anything, and he puts the responsibility of the gospel work, soon to be accomplished, directly on his shoulders. He's a work in progress. He knows he's not. Peter knows he's not there. Jesus knows he's not there. And yet Jesus puts the work directly upon his shoulders. The mission is to feed to pasture my little ones.
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And notice Jesus calls them my lambs. They belong to him. They don't belong to Peter. And the word Jesus used for lambs here are neon is in Greek. It's used only once in the Gospels, right here in John 21, everywhere else, especially in Revelation, it becomes a title for Jesus himself. Worthy is the lamb that was slain, says Revelation 5:12. So the Lamb entrusts his lambs to
- [18:14]
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Peter, who has admitted he's not in this big, high, strong position, you know, so you can see how this is all starting to work out. So Jesus is preparing Peter for a mission. And this mission, this mission could only be given to one who could be implicitly trusted. And you look at this, and what we see is Jesus is pouring that trust out to Peter. He is freely offering his trusting him, and he's putting it out there and saying, I will trust you. And here's what happens. Pentecost. And that's when the Holy Spirit came. That is when true Christianity actually began. Because Jesus is no longer on the scene. The Holy Spirit is. God's power and influence is guiding them. And in that event that actually began this feeding of the baby sheep, because there were no true Christians yet they became Christians. And at Pentecost, as a matter of fact, let's take a quick look at that event because it really shows us Peter rising up to the challenges put before him. Let's go to Acts, chapter 2, verses 1 and 2.
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When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind. And it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
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Didn't know it was happening. There's this miraculous event happening, and this is the way the God's power and influence is being introduced to them. The Spirit would move Peter to lead, for Jesus had been preparing him for this very moment. Let's go to Acts, chapter two. Let's skip down to verses 14 through 17. Just an overview of those verses.
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Peter, taking his stand with the 11, raised his voice and declared to them, this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel. In the last days, I will pour forth my Spirit.
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And.
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And Peter went on to quote the prophet Joel explaining that this outpouring of the Spirit was exactly what God had promised. So what's happening? Peter is feeding the first lambs.
- [20:14]
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He is. It says Peter raised his voice and declared, men of Judea, listen to me. Why? Because Jesus has basically put me in this position and I'm doing what he's given me to do. It's a powerful fulfillment. And it's not very long afterwards that he is putting in place all of that trust that Jesus put upon him. Now let's go a little bit further. As a matter of fact, let's go way further. Let's go. Much later in the Gospel's history, Peter, as an apostle, elder and a foundation pillar of the church, continues feeding the little ones. He didn't stop there. He only started at Pentecost. Let's go to the one of the Epistles of Peter. First Peter, chapter 1, verses 13 to 16.
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Therefore, prepare your minds for action. Keep sober in spirit. Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance. But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior, because it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy.
- [21:25]
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Peter doesn't lose his focus on taking care of the little ones. As obedient children, don't be conformed to where you came from. The younger ones would be much more likely to fall back into those things than those who had more experience. He is continuously living that. So Jesus in this first challenge, says, feed my little ones. And you can see the apostle Peter feeding his little ones.
- [21:50]
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Yeah. So question number one. Do you love me? Well, then care for the vulnerable.
- [21:54]
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Right? Preparing Peter to preach, nurture and lead. After a fruitless night of effort, Jesus had given the apostles a miraculous catch of fish and then fed them as well. His very next action was to confront Simon Peter with the reality of the future responsibilities waiting for him. Peter would need to learn to love Jesus on a whole new level, as he was to guide all others in caring for and feeding the most tender and inexperienced new disciples.
- [22:28]
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So what about me? Taking this to a practical question. Who are the lambs in my life? The newer or more fragile Christians who need gentle, patient, intentional care? Maybe it's someone discouraged or feeling invisible. Tending to lambs isn't glamorous, but Jesus didn't start out with lead my church, Peter. He started with feed my lambs. So I remember a moment early in my walk when I was spiritually small. Definitely a lamb. There was a mature brother in our church, literally a rocket scientist, brilliant, respected. Someone not even close to my level of understanding. And one Sunday during a break in church, I ended up sitting. Sitting next to him at the lunch table. And everyone else drifted away. And suddenly it was just the two of us. And he asked me a Bible question. And I was mortified. I didn't know the answer. I barely understood the question. But instead of reacting with surprise or disappointment, his face lit up. He opened his Bible, and step by gentle step, he walked me through one passage after another, showing how they connected. He was excited. Excited. I was excited. An entire hour went by, and he never once made me feel small. And that moment stayed with me because someone like that, that makes me. Makes me happy. Someone like that took the time to patiently Feed me someone who was still learning. And I saw those scriptures come alive. Old Testament, New Testament, they wove together. I felt this deep sense of connectivity to the Word, to the story God is telling, and to this brother in Christ who cared enough to guide me. That's what it looks like to feed my lambs.
- [24:08]
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That's a brother that took that command to the Apostle Peter very, very literally. Yes, and. And again, that has stayed with you for. I'm not going to ask you how many years, but for a long time.
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Decades and decades and decades.
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And there's a tremendous lesson in taking the time and being patient and being open and being. And being giving and being enthusiastic and lifting others up. Romans 15:1 and 2 is a really good way to sum this up.
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Now, we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.
- [24:48]
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Building one another up, Jesus told Peter, feed my lambs. This is the beginning of the responsibility of one Christian to another, and it's put upon Peter's shoulders. Peter was being prepared for a work that was entirely beyond his own personal capacity. Thankfully, Jesus was guiding him.
- [25:08]
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Jesus's first challenge to Peter was to care for the young and needy sheep of his flock. What could be more difficult than that?
- [25:14]
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Just wait. Jesus is, in this experience, planting the seeds of responsibility within Peter's heart and mind. This first seed of proving his love for Jesus by caring for the most vulnerable was just the beginning of what Peter would be asked to carry. The combination of Jesus's challenges along with the begettal of God's spirit at Pentecost would drive Peter to stand and thrive under this new and productive pressure. It was new pressure, but it was productive pressure.
- [25:48]
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And before we look at Jesus's second question, Christians throughout the centuries have traditionally paired these three questions with Peter's three denials. And that charcoal fire absolutely says we can make that connection. John wants us to remember that courtyard, but if we only read this moment backward, we're going to miss what Jesus was doing forward. Because these questions aren't just about healing Peter's shame, and they're preparing him for leadership. He's moving Peter from following to shepherding, from affection to responsibility, from loyalty to sacrificial love. So now Jesus is going to stretch Peter further. Caring for lambs was just the beginning. Love for him is going to also mean tending the maturing sheep, guiding those who are already walking with Jesus for quite a while.
- [26:35]
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And that's where it goes next. Again, Jesus is going to challenge Peter's love. And notice he's not just saying, here's a couple of things I want you to think about. He is stating these things in a way that challenges him. He's going to challenge Peter's love for him and he will again show Peter how to prove his love for him. He's not going to only challenge, but he's going to show him how to accomplish the answer. So let's go to John 21, verse
- [27:00]
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16 a second time. He said to him, simon, son of John, do you love me? And he said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, tend my sheep. Okay, same question. Do you agape o me? Same answer. You know that I filio you. But Jesus has a new, expanded response. Tend my sheep.
- [27:22]
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Tend my sheep. So this is the mission. Tend the more mature sheep who need guidance and direction. Tend those who are already established. You've got to take care of all of them. So let's just look into this word for tend before we go any further.
- [27:40]
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Well, it's a leadership word. It's a shepherding word. It goes beyond feeding and includes guarding, guiding, correcting, keeping the flock together. So Jesus moves Peter from the basic task of feeding to now the fuller work of shepherding maturing followers. And one example of how this word is used is in Acts 20:28. I'll read it from the Amplified Bible. Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers to shepherd. And it says in parentheses here, tend, feed, guide, here in the amplified version. So Shepherd 10, feed, guide the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
- [28:21]
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So this tending is a comprehensive work.
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It's a big deal.
- [28:27]
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Yes, it includes all of the parts of keeping them all healthy and vibrant and together and without disease and out of danger, all of those things. That's what tending is. And it's to tend my sheep, the whole big group. So obviously this is a much broader challenge from Jesus. And here he is talking about keeping the entire flock of more experienced Christians, disciples protected and in order. And that's no small task. Jesus is pressing Peter to clearly understand that faith following him would require leading others. And that kind of responsibility cannot be just about words. It can't be about feelings. It can't be just about decisions. It can't be just about plans or goals. That kind of responsibility is ever and only about action. Make no mistake, clear, selfless God glorifying action. When he says, tend my sheep. That is what he is actually commanding him to do. So we've got that command from Jesus, that challenge, tend my sheep. Well, let's look at how Peter actually accomplished that in his own life and ministry. Over time, Simon Peter would rise to meet this challenge, and he would meet it with grace and strength. His life would now be defined as a Christian leader and not as a fisherman. Is he Simon the fisherman or is he Peter the apostle? Let's look at Acts, chapter 5. Let's look at verse 12 and then go to 17 to 21.
- [29:57]
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At the hands of the apostles. Many signs and wonders were taking place among the people. But the high priest rose up along with all his associates, and they were filled with jealousy. They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out, he said, go stand and speak to the people in the temple. The whole message of this life. And upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach.
- [30:27]
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So you've got the apostles doing what they're doing. They're given the ability to have these signs and miracles and they are drawing people to Christ and they're doing their work, and there's the jealousy. And they get thrown into a public prison and they're told, and none of this, that's it, it's over. An angel comes in and says, no, actually, it's just beginning. Go back out and preach. And the angel miraculously frees them. And at daybreak, not at noon, not at three in the afternoon at daybreak, they're out preaching. This is a powerful explanation of what they were driven by and what they were driven towards when challenged by their accusers about continuing to preach. Okay, because now they're called back in because they. Everybody thinks they're in prison. They're not. They're called back before all of the Pharisees and so forth. Here's what they say. Acts 5:29.
- [31:17]
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But Peter and the apostles answered, we must obey God rather than men. So sorry, but I'm tending my Lord's sheep.
- [31:25]
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But Peter and the apostles answered, oh,
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that's a good catch. Yes.
- [31:30]
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The spokesperson. Yes, Peter. What is he doing? He is tending to the Lord's work. He will not be taken away. He will not be deterred. Yes. He was in chains. An angel freed him, and he's able to go back and do it. And he does. There is a fearlessness here. It's a beautiful, beautiful experience. Peter not Only shepherd. He encouraged others to rise up in humility and do the same. And Julie, we're going to read 1st Peter 5:1:3, and this is one of my favorite scriptures when it comes to understanding the role of leadership in the true church.
- [32:08]
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Therefore, I exhort the elders among you as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ and a partaker, also of the glory that is to be revealed. Shepherd, and that's the same word for tend, shepherd, the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God, and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness, nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. So what stands out to me here right away is that Peter could have said, introduced himself as I, the chief apostle, or I the one appointed over you, or I the shepherd of all the churches. But instead he chose to labor himself as your fellow elder. Peter's own words present him as a humble co laborer, not some supreme solitary leader. He saw himself standing with the elders, not above them.
- [33:07]
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If we look at that example, and this is why this is one of my favorite scriptures about Christian leadership, because you look at the greatness of the Apostle Peter, responsibility is given directly to him and he is exactly on the same level as everybody else. I am your fellow elder. We need to do this together. There's a profound clarity, a profound humility and a profound tending of the flock. He can't handle all of them, so he's delegating the responsibility equally to others as well. That's the apostle Peter.
- [33:39]
B
Yeah. He never had a lack of confidence, but it wasn't at that time anchored properly. So Jesus was really shaping a confidence that he knew Peter would need because he was going to have to stand firm in prison. He was going to have to stand before councils of authority and eventually die as a martyr carrying Jesus's name high. So that kind of courage can only come from being God dependent and not independent.
- [34:04]
A
Absolutely. Absolutely. Let's now take a look at the bigger picture. After walking with Jesus for three years, remember, he walked. He followed him everywhere he went for three years. Peter truly understood the need for faith and courage in the face of changing times. He drew in his teaching of others. He drew from his own challenges to build the other disciples up. Let's look at first Peter, chapter four, verses seven and eight. And as we read these verses, think of them as being written as Peter is remembering his own journey from before.
- [34:38]
B
The end of all things is near. Therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love. And that's agape for one another. Because love, agape covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. I think this is remarkable and I never saw this before. Remember, in John 21, Peter could only say, philio, Lord, I love you. Like a faithful friend. Jesus calls him to agape that God shaped self giving love that chooses sacrifice. Decades later, here in his own letter, Peter urges the churches to show agape. And not just agape, but fervent. Agape. Fervent in your love means a stretched out love. It's an extended love. It's love that keeps reaching even when it's hard. It's like a muscle pulled tight under the effort. Love that refuses to let go. So Peter grew into the very love that Jesus had asked him to develop. It's beautiful.
- [35:40]
A
It is. And think about it, you know, he grows into that and the way he says it, above all, keep fervent in your love for one another. Why? Because love covers a multitude of sins. Jesus loved Peter in that way and covered a multitude of his sins as such. So he is taking his own personal experience and saying, I know what the development of this kind of love can bring to you. Grab hold of it. Hold on tight. Don't let it go.
- [36:07]
B
So question number one, do you love me? Then care for the vulnerable. Question number two, do you love me? Then guide the maturing ones.
- [36:16]
A
We can see the challenges of Jesus unfolding and where they're bringing Peter down the road. So again, preparing Peter to preach, nurture and lead. Jesus challenged Peter's love for him a second time by focusing him on the need for guidance and protection that all of Jesus's followers would have. In the physical absence of Jesus, Peter would again be called upon to set the standard of guiding, protecting and leading the flock. Whether the sheep were young or old, Peter would lead them towards Christ. That was the key. That's the challenge. That's what Jesus is beginning to teach him as he's challenging him with these questions.
- [36:59]
B
Well, now we look at, what about me? Am I paying attention to the spiritual health of those around me? Not just the struggling little ones, but the steady ones who still need guidance, encouragement and honest shepherding.
- [37:12]
A
We're talking now about hard stuff, aren't you?
- [37:14]
B
It is the hard stuff because this is, this is what you're faced with.
- [37:17]
A
Well, you know what, in terms of shepherding, this is really where you have to prove your Dedication to something higher. Because there are times when shepherding is uncomfortable. I've had experiences in my own shepherding privilege where being called upon to face those who, for whatever reason, may be making decisions that would press biblical morality too far. And you need to be able to say, hey, hey, hey, you know what? Let's sit and let's talk. And this is uncomfortable, because if somebody's focused and determined to go down such and such a road and you don't believe it's a scripturally sound road, what do you do? Well, the first thing you do is you talk to them, not about them. Okay.
- [38:01]
B
Oh, that's good.
- [38:02]
A
And that's part of shepherding. Talk to them. That's not necessarily easy. So you study with them and have had the experience of talking with and then studying with. And let's go through this. Let's see what the word of God says about this, this, and this. And then pray with them after those studies so that you put it all together. And Julie, sometimes these conversations are very uncomfortable because somebody is seeing something in a different way and you're trying to gently and yet firmly say, thus saith the Lord. What are we going to do with this? Not easy. It's not the kind of thing you want. It's just, oh, I'll do it. It's, oh, I have to do it. And then we have to step up into the uncomfortable area. But that really brings us down to the responsibility we all have. Galatians 6:2 says, bear one another's burdens and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. So even when it's difficult, we need to do it. And Jesus was showing Peter it was going to be difficult, but he needed to step up. It's amazing what Jesus foresaw regarding the needs of his true church and how he guided and challenged Peter to meet so many of those needs.
- [39:18]
B
Twice, Jesus has challenged Peter to show his love for him. What would the third challenge bring?
- [39:24]
A
Because these challenges were so profoundly important for the work of the Gospel, Jesus, third challenge would be even more compelling. Up to this point, Peter's responses were that he did love Jesus with brotherly love. And we know, we know that was true. Jesus, however, would challenge Peter to dig even deeper with this love as well.
- [39:48]
B
Why?
- [39:50]
A
Because there was so much at stake.
- [39:54]
B
Yeah, there's one more layer, one more question to stretch Peter toward a calling he doesn't yet understand, requiring him to grow beyond the place that still hurts. We'll continue with John 21:17. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you filio me? Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, do you filio me? And he said to him, lord, you know everything. You know that I filial you. Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. So now we've got a different question, same answer, and an expanded mission. The question, do you philio me? And the answer, you know everything. You know that I filio you, feed my sheep.
- [40:36]
A
This is like a curveball coming. You don't expect this. Jesus asked this question, and it's a different question. Do you love me? On that brotherly level? That's what he's asking. Jesus is pushing hard. And Peter, as a result of that being pushed hard, he's grieved, he's hurt. He's like, lord, you know everything. You know, you know, this is important because this takes Peter completely off guard.
- [41:01]
B
Yeah, that word for being grieved or felt hurt. It's a verb. It means to be distressed, pierced with sorrow, or emotionally wounded. It's the same word that was used for the rich young ruler who went away sorrowful. And when Paul was grieving over the sin of the church. This is a really deep, painful, painful grieving.
- [41:21]
A
It is. Jesus is pressing Peter to know that whatever he felt and stood for in that moment would need to be deepened to a level that he just could not, at that point, understand. And there's great compassion in Jesus presenting these things. He recognizes Peter's not ready, but he's showing him. He's giving him an introduction. You need to understand where you're going. Again, this was a preparatory challenge for what was to very, very soon come before Peter. And once Peter Pentecost came and the Spirit came, Peter was on. He had to then put all of these things into action. And this mission was to feed my sheep. Feed. Just like with the little lambs, my sheep, all of them, all of his sheep, including those who may be weak in faith, who may need extra care. This mission that Jesus is giving him could only be given to one who was able to understand weakness and give what is necessary to overcome it. And Peter was just the man for the job.
- [42:26]
B
So this pattern that Jesus gave, feed, then tend, then feed again. It shows a progression. It's not a repetition. So he begins with nourishing the lambs. He expands to the full shepherding work of guiding and protecting the flock, and then he returns to feeding. Because nourishment is the core task at every stage of spiritual growth. Even mature sheep need food. So Jesus is showing Peter that shepherding always begins. And ends with feeding.
- [42:55]
A
It's amazing when you think about it, how straightforward this is. Of course, we can see it all in a nice package. Peter is like, what is happening?
- [43:03]
B
Why is he asking me the same question?
- [43:05]
A
Yeah, yeah. And then why is he changing the question? Doesn't he know? Of course he knows what is. Yes, but he'll figure it out. He will figure it out. When the Spirit comes, Jesus had to shake him up to get his really clear attention and remember. And I'm going to repeat something I said before because it's so important. Jesus is teaching Peter to clearly understand that following him would require leading others on many levels. And that kind of responsibility can't be just about words. It can't be about feelings. It can't be just about decisions or plans or goals. It's ever and always about action. Being out in front walking the steps so others can walk in those steps. It's about clear, selfless God, glorifying action. That's what feed my sheep is. It's being that person that can be relied upon. Now, later in Peter's life and ministry, much later, he taught others about coping with the distress that he himself was going through with this challenge to grow into Christ. Remember we talked about this mission could only be given to one who was able to understand weakness and understand what it takes to overcome. Peter is just the guy because he had to overcome his own weaknesses. So as we read this next scripture, think about it again in terms of Peter writing to others much later in his life. Related to his own experiences of having to overcome his own challenges is. Let's look at first Peter 1:3 to 7.
- [44:37]
B
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away. Reserved in heaven for you who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now, for a little while if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials. Distressed is that same word that hurt that Peter felt.
- [45:15]
A
Even though you've been distressed, he knows he gets what distress is. He understood the denials, he understood the brash comments. He understood all of that. And much later he. He's basically saying you, writing to the church, writing to the lamb, writing to the sheep, to the entire flock, is saying you will be beset by these various Trials that will be distressing. But take heart, and he's saying it because I know, I've been there. Take heart in the glorious power of deliverance that is in the call. Who are protected by the power of God through faith. That's what we've got. That's what he's talking about. That's the apostle Peter, how he grew into feeding Jesus's sheep. Also, many years later, Peter as one of the 12 pillars of the church. Here's what he wrote first, Peter 1, 22 and 23.
- [46:13]
B
Since you have an obedience to the truth, purified your souls for a sincere love. And that's Philadelphia. Brotherly love, a sincere love of the brethren. Fervently love, stretched out agape that won't let go. Fervently love one another from the heart. For you have been born again, not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. Sounds like he understands now this fervent
- [46:39]
A
love, and he understands it on both levels. Remember, the third question of Jesus is, do you, Filio, love me? And in this scripture he says, since you have, in obedience to the truth, purified your souls for a sincere filio of the brethren, he gets it. He's teaching it. And then he talks about the fervent agape as well. He puts them together and those are the things that Jesus challenged him on. And you can see that later in his life, this is now a lesson that he had learned and a lesson he would now teach doing exactly what Jesus was preparing him for. But wait, there's more. You know, we often, when we think about these three questions from Jesus, we stop at the third question. But what does Jesus say right afterwards? Jesus's very next words to Peter after this third pressing challenge, give us a glimpse as to why, as to why Jesus was pushing Peter in such a focused way. Julie, let's go to John 21, 18 and 19.
- [47:41]
B
Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go. He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.
- [48:01]
A
After these three challenges, Jesus essentially tells Peter, and by the way, it's going to cost you your life. Jesus was truly preparing Peter for what was to come. He really was. That's what he was there to do. He would be persecuted for his stand with Jesus, and it would cost him his very life. Peter's love for Jesus needed to grow to such a level as to not only intellectually accept it, but to embrace it with his whole heart. That's the why Jesus is preparing him. That's why he's challenging him in this instance.
- [48:37]
B
And we know that within a matter of weeks at Pentecost, Peter would stand in Jerusalem, the very city that killed Jesus. That was courageous. He would proclaim it with such a courage that it brought 3,000 people into this new movement. I've been thinking about the words costly obedience. You know, I'm not trying to compare this to the apostle Peter, but it reminds me when my husband was a firefighter to. He used to sit in the kitchen of the firehouse and read his Bible in downtime. He wasn't preaching. He's not trying to make a statement. He was just quietly spending time with God. But the other firefighters would scatter. They treated him differently. Conversations would stop when he walked in. And he felt the shift, that subtle social cost that comes when your faith makes others uncomfortable. And it wasn't persecution, it wasn't dramatic, but it was costly. And he had to decide if he was going to stop so that he could fit in better or keep sitting alone and not be asked to events on the days off. It's a small picture of the kind of obedience that Jesus was preparing Peter for when it costs something and even when no one sees it but God.
- [49:47]
A
Let's look at one example of Peter literally experiencing this kind of costly obedience, where Jesus talked to him about, you're going to stretch out your hands and someone else will take you, and they'll fasten your belt around you. They're going to take you where you don't wish to go. Well, let's look at Acts, chapter 12, verses 6 to 8.
- [50:04]
B
On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers bound with two chains. And guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. And behold, an angel. The Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell. And he struck Peter's side and woke him up, saying, get up quickly. And his chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, gird yourself, put on your sandals. And he did so. And he said to him, wrap your cloak around you and follow me.
- [50:35]
A
He is in prison. He doesn't know an angel's going to come and rescue him. He is locked down between soldiers, soldiers on the outside, chained on the inside. No way out except by the guidance of God. And it's interesting, the angel comes, tells him to get up and what does the angel tell him to do? Follow me. Doesn't that echo back to everything Peter has already been told? So you can see that during his life, during his ministry, that's where he was, that's where he went, that's what he stood for. He didn't back down, he moved forward. He accepted these challenges of Jesus. As a matter of fact, let's go to John 21, the last part of verse 19. What does it say after this?
- [51:14]
B
He said to him, follow me. So we're right back to the beginning. Nothing about the call had changed, only the weight of the responsibility which had now grown into something Peter could have not imagined. We have three questions, three missions. Do you love me? Then care for the vulnerable. Do you love me? Then guide the maturing. Do you love me? Then strengthen and sustain the whole flock.
- [51:39]
A
Preparing Peter to preach, nurture and lead. Jesus brings these challenges with right back to Peter's beginning to that first fishing experience three years before. Jesus challenged Peter's love to focus him on his whole experience from his beginning to truly follow Jesus right up to his present face to face encounter with the risen Lord. And the lessons on leading, following leading would cost him everything. Peter would humbly and eagerly accept, grow into and accomplish this mission. Do you love me? Then show me by taking care of my flock.
- [52:19]
B
So what about me? Where is Jesus stretching me into a responsibility I don't feel ready for? Something that I think is beyond my capacity, but not beyond the capacity of Jesus. And Rick, you told me a few years ago a story about being camp director and I begged you to tell this story here to everyone and I think, I think this is a good example of this.
- [52:42]
A
Yeah, talk about being pressed into something that is beyond you, Julie. This takes place when I was 23 years old just a few years ago. Yeah, I wish 23. And we had a youth camp I actually grew up going to and then I became a, one of the counselors at the camp and then I actually became the assistant director of the camp for a couple of years. Well we have the planning meeting and you know there's like 40 kids that go to this camp. It's a whole week long in the summer and there's a big agenda, there's lots of responsibilities, you got to get the cooks in order and, and the lessons and the vesper services get put, all that. So it's a lot, it's a lot and it's a big teaching Responsibility? Well, this particular year, I'm 23, and we're at the planning meeting and they're looking for the next director, and nobody is willing. Nobody's willing to do it. Some people are nominated and they decline. Someone else is nominated. And so the room gets really quiet and somebody says, what about brother Rick? And I said, all right, I'd be willing. It took me by surprise. And what happened after. Okay. So I said I was willing. I'm young, okay? I'm very young. I do have some experience, but I'm very, very young. They spent the next hour looking for somebody else.
- [53:50]
B
Right in front of you?
- [53:51]
A
Yes.
- [53:52]
B
Yeah.
- [53:53]
A
Calling this individual, that individual. Somebody three or four states away. Would you be willing, please? It was a tremendously powerful experience for me because after a little while, I'm thinking, I'm sitting right here. You don't want me. You just don't want me. And then finally there was nobody else. So they basically said, okay, let's move on with a vote. And they took the vote. And some didn't even vote for me. But the point was I was given the responsibility and it took me back. And I actually, after that, I called an intermission in the meeting. I had to go upstairs in another room and regather myself. It was me talking to the Lord saying, okay, Lord, I know you put me in this position and I know this is something I need to know and learn. I just don't know what to do.
- [54:40]
B
Yeah, no one else has the confidence in me. Maybe I can't do it right.
- [54:44]
A
So we went forward and we were able to get the job done. And interestingly, the next year, the exact same thing happened. You know, I'm still young, but it. Julie, it was a wonderful experience because I was stretched beyond what I could do. I was stretched beyond my capacity. And that's really been in many ways the story of my life. Christian questions did that to me and for me so many times in my life as a Christian. So when the Apostle Peter, he's being pressed, each of us should be able to look at that experience and say, if the Lord can see in you something, don't we need to just follow? Why? Because that's what the Apostle Peter did. That's the experience. That's the lesson we want to learn here. We want to take his doubt and his surprise at Jesus's challenges and then see what he did. Once the Spirit came to him, he was a new man. He wasn't mistake free, but he charged forward knowing that by God's grace and his spirit and by following in Jesus footsteps, he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him. What about us? Think about it, folks. We love hearing from our listeners. We welcome your feedback and questions on this episode and other episodes@christianquestions.com coming up in our next episode, are Christians today really capable of healing people or speaking in tongues?