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The Risen Lord Forgives Peter and
Entrusts Him to Feed His Sheep

John 21:15-18 Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)
15 Then when they ate-breakfast, Jesus says to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you devotedly-love Me more than these?” He says to Him, “Yes, Lord. You know that I affectionately-love You”. He says to him, “Be feeding My lambs.” 16 He says to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you devotedly-love Me?” He says to Him, “Yes, Lord. You know that I affectionately-love You”. He says to him, “Be shepherding My sheep”.
17 He says to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you affectionately-love Me?” Peter was grieved because[c] He said to him the third time, “Do you affectionately-love Me?”. And he says to Him, “Lord, You know all things. You recognize that I affectionately-love You”. Jesus says to him, “Be feeding My sheep.
John 21:`15-18 (NIV): 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.

I read through several translations of these verses just to satisfy my curiosity as to how Jesus was framing the “Do you love me” question to Peter. Originally Jesus spoke to Peter in either Aramaic or Hebrew, and John records the conversation in Greek. As you may know, the Greek New Testament (NT) has three words for “love”. In the Greek NT, these three different words used are:

• agape (grc: ἀγάπη; love, charity) and words derived from it
• philia (grc: φιλία; friendship, love) and words derived from it
• storge (grc: στοργή; natural affection), only as astorgos (grc: ἄστοργος; lacking natural affection) in Rom.1:31 and 2 Tim.3:3.

The fourth Greek word for “love”, eros (Greek: ἔρως; attraction, sexual love) is not found in the Greek NT, neither the word itself nor as root of another word.
Now that you know this, these passages can be looked at a little differently, and how Jesus may have asked these questions is striking. First, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me”, first using a form of AGAPE (pronounced AH-GAUP-A), that wild term for unconditional, sacrificial love. Peter, perhaps taken aback, responds, “ Lord, you know I’m your friend !”, using the word (Philia).

Jesus asks again in the same context (Agape), and again Peter, perhaps getting uncomfortable, responds, perhaps a little more loudly, “Yes Lord ! You know this, you know I am your friend.” Finally, Jesus comes around to where Peter is in his faith. The third time, He asks, “Peter, are you my friend ?”(Philia). Peter, the tears in his eyes, replies, perhaps with a sob, “Yes Lord, you know it all ! I am your friend!”

We know that Jesus was reinstating Peter as a disciple and a leader in this passage, giving Peter the ability to wipe away his failure and three denials. Jesus also gave Peter his new vocation, feeding and shepherding the flock of Christ. Yet even in doing this, Jesus accepted Peter’s faith, just as it was, fresh, new and budding. He was Jesus’ now and forever, faithful friend, never to deny Him again, but just that, for now, His friend.

I don’t think Peter had gotten to Agape with Jesus yet, that place of “devout-love”. He still had some growing to do, some sheep feeding to accomplish and some visions about the Kingdom to see. I do think Peter got there, I believe he got to Agape. When the Romans hung him on a cross upside down to die, when Peter cast everything on Jesus, even his last breath, Peter got there. He answered with his life, “Yes Lord, I Agape You !”

I wrote these thoughts some time ago with the confession that I was not at Agape love with Jesus. Indeed I know that I am still not there. He knows that too, He knows me inside and out, and meets me anyway, at that place where I am just beginning to understand Him. I am just beginning to realize my Divine friendship with Him. For now that’s all I can handle, for that is really all I understand. I am still trying to wrap my mind and heart around this wild type of love God has for me. Nevertheless, I do have Hope that a day is coming when I find Agape with Jesus, when I trust Him with my last breath. For that will be my best breath, for with that one, I will see my Friend and Savior with Agape.

Peace.

Phil Parsons
**According to Church tradition Peter was executed in Rome by Nero. Jerome (327–420) wrote that “at Nero’s hands Peter received the crown of martyrdom being nailed to the cross with his head towards the ground and his feet raised on high, asserting that he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord.”

Reflection: The Risen Lord directs His attention to Peter whose embarrassing three-fold denial was still ringing in his heart. The questions posed by Jesus help Peter to find reconciliation and to embrace his new mission to tend and feed the sheep. Their encounter reminds us that forgiveness is always available, even for the most serious of mistakes we can make. This warm embrace of forgiveness strengthens our resolve to be reconcilers and healers in the Spirit of Jesus. Only love can overcome guilt and deception. Only love and forgiveness can make us whole.