February 10, 2003
LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Feb. 23
Jesus did not leave Peter to wallow in guilt
___ John 21:1-25
___By Robert Creech
___University Baptist Church-Clearlake, Houston
___The Gospel of John opened with a prologue (1:1-18), and it closes with an epilogue (21:1-25). The risen Jesus who encountered his disciples in their grief, fear and doubt in 20:11-29, now comes to Simon Peter in his experience of failure and guilt.
___No one boasted more loudly than Peter about his loyalty to Jesus. When Jesus announced he was going to a place where his disciples would not be able to follow, Peter declared, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you" (13:37). Jesus then foretold Peter's coming denial (13:38).
___As soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter attempted to make good on his boast. Using a short sword, he hacked off Malchus' ear (18:10). Jesus rebuked him for this violence and submitted to the guard.
___Peter still intended to keep his promise. Along with John, Peter "followed Jesus" into the courtyard of the High Priest (18:15) and warmed himself over a charcoal fire (anthrakia). Caiaphas interrogated Jesus, while slaves and servants cross-examined Peter (18:17-18, 25-26). Peter fulfilled Jesus' prophecy to the letter, three times denying a relationship with him. Peter does not appear again in the story until Easter morning (20:2).
___The events in chapter 21 occur some time after Easter. Peter and his friends spend the entire night fishing, but they catch nothing (21:3). At daybreak, a stranger on shore asks about their success. When they admit their failure, he instructs them to try again, casting their nets on the other side of the vessel. They take his advice with astounding results--the nets are too full to retrieve (21:6).
___Once more, the beloved disciple is a step ahead of Peter. He recognizes the stranger as Jesus and says so. Peter reacts in his typically impulsive manner. Diving into the water and swimming for shore, he leaves his friends to manage the bulging nets (21:7-8). When they arrive on shore, they find Jesus already has prepared a meal, cooking it over a charcoal fire (anthrakia) (21:9). Every breath Peter draws reminds him of the aroma of Caiphas' courtyard, and of his failure.
___John includes one of his mysterious details--the net contained 153 fish. Interpreters have often suggested symbolic meanings for that number, but have yet to provide a convincing interpretation. It may be simpler. Fishermen always count their fish.
___After the meal, Jesus begins the gentle process of restoring a disciple who has failed miserably. He draws Peter aside and begins a new round of interrogation. Under pressure, Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times. So three times Jesus gives him the opportunity to affirm his love (21:15-17).
___Peter had once boasted that, regardless of what others might do, he would follow Jesus to the death. He loved Jesus more than did anyone else. His behavior had contradicted the boast, however.
___So Jesus first asks, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" (21:15). Humbled, now, he replies, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Receiving that confession, Jesus commissions him, "Feed my sheep" (21:15). Twice more Jesus asks Peter about his love for him, receives a confession of that love, and commissions him as a shepherd (21:16-17).
___Interpreters sometimes make too much of the fact that in the original language John employs different words for "love" as he recounts this story. Jesus twice asks about Peter's "agape" (21:15, 16). And Peter affirms his "philos" (21:15, 16). The third time Jesus inquires about Peter's "philos," which Peter again affirms (21:17).
___It may be unwise to draw many conclusions from this exchange. In the first place, Jesus and Peter were likely speaking to each other in Aramaic rather than Greek. The distinctions between those words would not have been the same. Additionally, John often uses words as synonyms that other writers use distinctively.
___Even in this exchange, Peter is commissioned to "tend" Jesus' "lambs," to "shepherd" his "sheep," and to "tend" his "sheep." Making a distinction between "tending" and "shepherding" or between "lambs" and "sheep" would be an over-interpretation.
___The same is true of the words for "love." John uses them interchangeably. The Father's love for the Son is expressed with both the root of "philos" (5:20) and "agape" (3:35), as is the Father's love for Jesus' disciples (16:27; 14:21), and Jesus' love for Lazarus (11:3, 5). Even "the disciple Jesus loved" is expressed with both words (20:2; 13:23).
___The point of the story is that Jesus gives Simon Peter a second chance. This time, Peter succeeds. Jesus tells him he also will be given another opportunity to make good on his willingness to "follow" Jesus even to death (21:18-19). When Peter inquires about the future of the beloved disciple, Jesus simply reaffirms the essential call of discipleship: "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me" (21:22).
___Jesus' words resulted in a rumor that the beloved disciple would never die (21:23). He did die, however, but not without leaving behind written testimony to the life-giving story of Jesus (21:24-25).
___Questions for discussion
___ When have you made promises to God you intended to keep, but found you could not?
___ What is the path back to fellowship with Jesus when we have failed?
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