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The Bible tells us that as Jesus began His ministry,
As [He] was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him (Matthew 4:18–20 NIV84).
Peter responded to Jesus’ call and, for the next three and half years, studied in the school of the Savior, an intern in Immanuel’s residency, a trainee of the greatest teacher to ever live. He sat on the front row for the Sermon on the Mount; he shared in distributing the multiplied loaves and fishes (twice); he saw the many miraculous healings; he participated in witnessing about Jesus; he saw the raising of Lazarus from the dead; he walked on water; and he was there when Jesus was transfigured. He believed that Jesus is the Son of God. When Jesus asked the disciples who they believed Him to be, it was Peter who said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mark 16:16 GNT).
Yet, despite Peter’s belief, despite what he knew to be true, despite his choice to follow Jesus, he was still not fully converted. At the end of His ministry, at the Last Supper, Jesus warned Peter—and informs us—that Peter hadn’t fully surrendered to Jesus, that fear and selfishness were still alive in him and battling for supremacy in his heart.
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me (Luke 22:31–34 KJV, emphasis mine).
And we know what happened. When, during the trial of Jesus, Peter was confronted about being one of His followers, Peter denied it three times and with cursing. How could this be? Peter knew who Jesus is—he had already testified to the reality that Jesus is Savior and Lord. Peter loved Jesus. But the problem was that Peter still loved self more! Peter was willing to follow Jesus up to a point, but when self was threatened, Peter, in that moment, allowed fear and selfishness to rule his heart and denied his Lord. This exposed to Peter the depth of his own sin-sickness and need for heart transformation, and he went out and wept bitterly, surrendering fully to Jesus, receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit, and was now not only converted in his mind, his mental understanding, in his beliefs about who Jesus is, but also in his heart, his affections, his spirit. He had a new heart and right spirit of love and trust and no longer trusted or depended on self.
Peter was now ready to serve in the fullest capacity, but he still needed reconciliation with Jesus. Therefore, Jesus met Peter on the beach after His resurrection and had the following conversation, which was recorded by John. As you read, consider what is revealed in this discussion. What is evidenced, what truths are contained in this account, what are we seeing, and what are we not seeing?
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
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 tell you the truth, 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.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:15–19 NIV84).
What do you understand this conversation to be about? Does it tell us anything about the character of God? Does it tell us anything about God’s methods? Does it tell us anything about our human nature and what we need for salvation?
Perhaps the most obvious lesson and reason this interaction is included in Scripture is to assure the church, the believers, that Jesus had accepted Peter back into full fellowship and recommissioned him as His representative, ambassador, and apostle. Thus, one reason this story is written down is so that all Christians through history can know that Peter was reconciled to Jesus, that his ministry was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that his writings are inspired and trustworthy.
But this exchange also reveals the grace, mercy, and love of God—that God is forgiving and longs for our reconciliation to Him. When we act selfishly, when we willfully choose what we know is wrong, God is longing to restore us to sonship with Him. As Paul wrote, God is for us—always for us, even when we sin (Romans 8:31).
Have you considered why Peter needed this experience?
What had his denial of His Savior done to him? Did Peter love Jesus less after his denial? No, he still loved Jesus. And do you think that because of that love and the realization of his actions, Peter struggled with self-loathing? Did Peter have guilt and shame? Did Peter’s actions inflame his own fear and insecurity and cause him to doubt whether Jesus and the others would accept him back into fellowship?
Had Jesus become Peter’s enemy? Was Jesus against Peter—angry and resentful of him? Did Jesus need something done to Him in order to accept Peter back? Did Jesus make any legal demands? Did Jesus require something to be done to propitiate or expiate either His or His Father’s anger and wrath before Peter was accepted? Was there anything of a penal/legal nature transpiring in this encounter that restored Peter? No! Jesus, who is God in humanity, required no legal adjustment, no payment, no appeasement! Nothing needed to be done to Jesus or His Father in order for Peter to be reconciled into unity with Them—but something did have to happen in Peter. Peter needed to repent, be reborn, be recreated in his spirit, and be converted from fear and selfishness to love and trust. Peter needed to die to self and be reborn in righteousness.
Peter’s denial of Jesus caused Peter to experience fear, guilt, shame, doubt, worry, dread, apprehension, and inadequacy. These negative emotions caused him to wonder whether Jesus was upset or angry and to doubt whether he could be accepted back.
Peter needed to have his guilt, shame, fears, doubts, and all such consequences of his sin removed from his heart and mind! And Jesus met him on the beach to do just that.
And Jesus longs to meet you on the beach, in the garden, along the sidewalk, in the basement, workshop, or wherever you find yourself struggling with your own guilt, shame, fears, and doubts so that you can experience for yourself His forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love for you. He is longing to remove from you all doubt, fear, insecurity, guilt, and shame; to cleanse your heart and mind; to restore you to full fellowship, friendship, and unity with Him; and to recommission you for His calling in your life.
So, don’t wait! Go to Jesus right now and talk with Him, experience His goodness for yourself, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; [for] blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8 NIV84).
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