Picking Up the Pieces: Peter

Some time between Day 9-40 after Easter, Jesus gives seven of His disciples a miraculous catch of fish and breakfast-on-the-beach. Following breakfast, Jesus has one-on-one time with Peter. Jesus begins by addressing Peter exactly as He did when He first called and renamed him in John 1:42, “You are Simon, the son of John.” Jesus is deliberately working to help Peter pick up the pieces from his triple denial of Him in John 18. Therefore, three times Jesus asks Simon, son of John, if he loves Him, followed by a triple instruction to feed His sheep. Simon is grieved by Jesus’ persistence, especially since Jesus truly knows all things – including his love for Jesus. In this way, Jesus is restoring Simon and appointing him to subordinately shepherd His people – even though it will eventually cost him his life too. Jesus ends His talk with Peter in much the same way that discipleship began in John 1: “Follow Me.” (v19)