Peter’s Peril

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.”

(John 21:15-17 NLT)

What is this conversation between Jesus and Peter? What was its significance to Peter? And does it hold, for us a lesson to be learned?

By this time Jesus had already been resurrected. Peter, lost without his Lord and friend, and not having a clue what to do now, had decided to go back to what he knew best, fishing. Other disciples joined him. Jesus appeared on the beach, made them breakfast and after they had eaten (engaged in fellowship) with Him, Jesus turned to Peter and this was the exchange that ensued (see John 21:15-17).

You see, years before, on hearing of the coming Messiah, like most Jews of the day, Peter anticipated a deliverer who was militant – a fierce warrior, a man of war, a great military leader. He believed that this promised Messiah would storm in and vanquish the enemy. All through his walk with Jesus, that was Peter’s hope, and because of this, he strongly opposed Jesus’ prediction of His sacrificial suffering at the hands of the elders, chief priests and scribes (Matthew 16:21-23). That Peter was still hopeful even to the end at Gethsemane is evident, for when they came to arrest Jesus, ready for battle, he drew his sword struck Malchus, the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear (John 18:10).

What bravado! But was it really? Sometimes when we are passionately hoping for or expecting something to occur that isn’t happening exactly as we’d like, we can display behavior that can only be described as irrational, even fearsome. We act hastily in our own efforts to bring about or initiate our expectations. Peter often exhibited a ferocious aggression but perhaps it was in an effort to conceal his own fears, and cowardice. Beneath Peter’s bravado was a man who was more insecure than courageous, a person in peril – exposed and laid open to ruin because of pride, arrogance and a fear of failure and defeat.

Peter, full of courage while walking beside the miracle-working Jesus, reduced to a coward after Jesus’ arrest. 

“So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance.” – Luke 22:55 (NLT)

With the apprehension that everything he imagined Jesus, the Messiah, would be and do was but a dream of his own making, Peter shrunk under the clout of the reality of truth, his superficial bravado all but a fading memory. He could only cravenly follow at a distance, as he conceded that all of his aspirations for Jesus and himself were now completely shattered.

Just mere hours before, Peter had asserted, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.” But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” – Luke 22:33-34 (NLT)

…and Peter did exactly as Jesus had predicted when three times identified, he three times indeed denied.

Like most of us, Peter was deluded about his own character and also the character of the Messiah. But God knew Peter perfectly, just as He knows you and me perfectly, and He revealed Peter to Peter. God sees past our façades. God knew who Peter could be and what he could do, and used this knowledge to teach Peter an invaluable lesson about himself, love and leadership. A lesson that should not escape us.

Three times Peter’s character was revealed through his three denials of Jesus, so that, three times Christ’s character could be instilled in him. In that conversation on the beach, Jesus reaffirmed His love for Peter and gave Peter an opportunity to reaffirm his love for Jesus. At the same time, Jesus assures Peter of His trust in him by affirming his call to ministry and leadership: 

“feed my lambs,”; “take care of my sheep,”; “feed my sheep.”

Peter, now completely humbled, would never again associate leadership with military might or force, for leadership in God’s Kingdom is about service to others, it’s about being a shepherd – laying one’s life aside to take care of and feed the Lord’s sheep. Jesus told Peter then and is telling us today to follow His example of true leadership (see John 21:19). Despite Peter’s behavior – his bravado, his pride, his insecurity, his opposing Jesus, his speaking out of turn, his denial of Jesus Christ – God lovingly restored him. Beloved, if you too have wandered away in the direction of peril, simply turn back and follow Him, He will lovingly restore you to the fold. 

Amen† 

Peter’s Peril

Shelley Johnson March 16, 2017