The previous post looked at Christ reconciliation of the wayward disciple. This post will take a closer look at Christ restoration of Peter. Simon’s open denial of Christ can hardly be misconstrued as a minor infraction. It is in the company of another disciple and before the eyes of Jesus that thrice Peter denies being one of the followers. But the resurrected Lord calls for Peter, Peter responds, and they reconcile. Now Jesus needs to restore Peter with an assignment to tend the flock going forward.
Christ Third Appearance to the Disciples
John recalls the risen Lord appeared a third time at the Sea of Galilee to seven disciples: Peter, Thomas the “Twin,” Nathanel of Cana in Galilee, the two sons of Zebedee — James and John — and two other unnamed followers. On that occasion, Peter gathered the rest to go night fishing, but they caught nothing (John 21:1-3).
Morning broke and there stood the risen Jesus on the shore about 100 yards from the boat with Peter and the others. They failed to recognize Him, but the Lord asked whether they caught any fish, and they answered they did not. Then Christ said, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some” (John 21:6a).[1] So, they casted the net as the Lord instructed and hauled in a huge catch!
“It is the Lord,” said the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 21:7a).
Simon then put on his cloak, jumped into the water, and swam to meet Jesus on the shore. Normally one strips down to the bathing suit before swimming, but Peter excited to see the risen Lord again does it all backwards. He is already stripped down for fishing, but redresses and then jumps in the water to be Christ on at the shore. The fisherman leaves behind the boat, nets, tackle, and catch to meet with Jesus. Meanwhile, the others took the boat ashore dragging the net full of fish (John 21:7b-8).
Jesus already had prepared a coal fire and cooked some fish and bread but asked Simon to “Bring some of the fish that you caught.” Peter then went back to the boat, hauled in the catch, and counted 153 fish. Surprisingly, there were no tears in the net despite the size of the catch. Then the seven disciples had breakfast with the resurrected Lord. Since they knew it was Jesus, none requested to know His identity (John 21:9-14).
This miraculous catch of fish echoes the time Jesus first called Peter, James, and John to be fishers of men. The fishermen were out all night on the boat, and caught nothing, but the Lord instructed them to go out one more time, which resulted in such a large catch their nets began to break. Experiencing the miracle, Simon said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” But Jesus replies, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men” (Luke 5:1-10).
Christ Reconciles with Peter
Peter not only experiencing another miraculous catch but also receives a renewed calling from the Lord. Finishing breakfast, Jesus asks, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15). What does the demonstrative pronoun “these” refer? One possibility is “these” refers to fishing. Afterall, Peter got the guys together to take the boat out for fishing expedition on the Sea of Tiberius (Sea of Galilee). Another is “these” refers to the disciples. This would hearken back to Peter’s boast about dying for Christ even if the others defected (Mark 14:29; Matthew 26:33; Luke 22:33; John 13:37). The question posed would then concern whether Simon’s love for Christ exceeded the love of the other disciples, which would make for a good shepherd. The Good Shepherd cares for the flock more than the hired hands so to speak. Hard to tell but, “either way, Jesus’s challenge to Peter is that he consider carefully his love for his Lord and take up the task of shepherding.”[2]
Thrice Jesus asks Simon, “Do you love me?” —mirroring the three denials. Each time Peter replies, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” And each time, Jesus responds with a commissioning: “Feed my lambs;” “Tend my sheep;” “Feed my sheep.” The disciple who thrice denied Jesus now thrice reaffirms love for the Lord. This is done in the hearing of the other disciples. It signifies Christ restoration of Peter as the one to care over His flock.
Love is the appropriate word of this moment. What are the three denials but a triple dose of loved defiled. Simon’s threefold denial (John 18:15–27; cf. Matthew 26:69-70; Mark 14:66-68; Luke 22:55-57) is beyond cowardice—it betrays true love. Cephas had boldly proclaimed willingness to die for Christ (John 13:37; Matthew 26:33–35), but when confronted by the possibility of suffering, Peter denies even knowing Him. No lapse of courage here; this is full blown relational rupture. The professed love is found wanting—defiled by fear.
True love entails risk and sacrifice. When tested, Peter chooses self-preservation. This act reveals the brokenness of his earlier claim to love Jesus supremely.
Jesus is not shaming Peter, but restoring him—giving him opportunity to reaffirm love beyond meager sentiment, but as costly fidelity. This makes Peter’s grief at the third question (John 21:17) deeply significant: it shows a heart that knows it has failed, and now seeks to love rightly.
The Lord reconciles with Peter and commissions him to leadership. He entrusts Cephas to care over His flock. The one who failed becomes the one who feeds. The season of separation and grief ends with renewed commitment to love. The time to strengthen the brethren has begun. Peter begins the day by leading the disciples out to catch fish, going forward he will lead them to catch men.
Christ Foresees Peter Finishing Well
The Risen Lord then prophesies over Simon: “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go” (John 21:18).
The youthful Simon went about unrestrained according to his passions. Beholding the Transfiguration, Peter impulsively expresses the intention of building three tabernacles one for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, but erecting shrines was never the intended goal of the happening, instead God instructs Peter along with James and John to listen to the Beloved Son (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36). Jesus began to wash the feet of His disciples to model servant leadership. Peter immediately objected. The Lord, however, insisted upon having the foot washing done, if any of them were going to be among His disciples. Simon conceded but insisted his feet, hands, and head be washed too! But Christ explained only the foot washing would be necessary to understand the point on servant leadership (John 13:1-20). The youthful Peter thus acted upon impulse, spoke his mind, and made his own demands.
But Christ foresaw the mature Peter being restrained and carried off to an undesired destination. The Gospel writer explains the prophecy: “This [Jesus] said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.” The point is clear — Cephas will be martyred. Thus, Christ once again bids Simon, “Follow me” (John 21:19). Peter received an invitation for a second chance to live up to his own bold declaration of giving up his own life for Christ.
According to Eusebius of Caesarea, Peter was crucified in Rome during Nero’s persecution of Christians (Ecclesiastical History 2.25.5–8). Eusebius also relays the tradition from Origen about Peter being crucified head-downwards (Ecclesiastical History 3.1.2).[3] Cephas never experienced peaceful death surrounded by his family and other loved ones, and quietly passing in his sleep. But in the long run, he stood firm as a follower of Christ suffering as a martyr and being taken into glory.
Simon’s denial is not the end of his story. The same Jesus who looked at Peter in the courtyard also extended grace to redeem and restore the fallen disciple. The Lord even foreknew that despite the initial failure Peter would one day stand firm as a faithful Christian martyr.
It would be wrongheaded to suppose the lesson here is that a Christian leader guilty of moral failure can basically come to Jesus for forgiveness and then return to ministry as usual as if nothing happened. There is more to it. Leaders are under stricter judgment (James 3:1) and leadership can be forfeited on account of sin (Ezekiel 34:1-10). The lesson is that for those who fail, whether great or small, the primary thing is to reconnect with God by the mercy, grace, and forgiveness provided by Christ.[4] The brother wounded by sin is best off under the care of the Great Physician for healing and wholeness. If there is any restoration from the years that locust have devoured, it begins with Christ who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire.
— WGN
Notes:
[1] All Scripture cited from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), unless noted.
[2] Gary M. Burge, The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary, ed. Gary M. Burge and Andrew E. Hil (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012), 1162.
[3] Martyrdom of Peter is addressed in Sean McDowell, “Did the Apostles Really Die As Martyr’s for Their Faith?” Christian Research Journal, 39, 2 [2016]: https://www.equip.org/articles/apostles-really-die-martyrs-faith/
[4] For further discussion, see Anne Kennedy, “A Christian’s Response to Pastor Lawson’s Moral Failure,” Christian Research Journal, 47, 4 [2024]: https://www.equip.org/articles/a-christians-response-to-pastor-lawsons-moral-failure/
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