Peter had denied the Lord in public not once but three times. He had failed and others knew it. But even before he had failed, the Lord was working for Peter’s blessing. He had told Peter, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:3232But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Luke 22:32)). As soon as Peter had denied the Lord for the third time, “the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. ... and Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:61-6261And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:61‑62)). That bitter regret began a deep work in Peter’s heart. Whenever we sin the Lord must show us how awful that sin is, and then we are ready to see and receive His restoring grace.
Next, the Lord met privately with Peter to continue the work He was doing in Peter’s heart. On that resurrection day the disciples announced, “The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon” (Luke 24:3434Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. (Luke 24:34)). It seems no one else was there but Peter.
Public Restoration
Now Peter was ready to be restored publically. The Lord Jesus doesn’t mention that Peter had denied Him. He doesn’t berate or rebuke Peter but rather exposes a root of self-confidence in Peter that had led to the sin of denial. Recently I dug up a huge bush in the back yard. It took 15 minutes to remove the branches but over 100 minutes to get out the big root. The Lord was about to finish exposing that root in Peter’s heart. Peter had said, “All shall be offended, yet will not I” (Mark 14:2929But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. (Mark 14:29)). He compared his love to others and “knew” that it would withstand any test. That night his love failed when a young girl spoke about him. The Lord began at that point and said, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these?” Peter was asked how his love compared to others. He had learned enough not to claim a greater love and he simply confessed that he did love the Lord Jesus. The word that Jesus used for love means a divine love but Peter used a word that means brotherly attachment.
Peter had denied the Lord three times and so the Lord probed his love with three public questions. The second time the Lord asked only if Peter had divine love for him and Peter responded with the thought that the Lord knew his love. These words must have penetrated deeply in Peter’s heart, searching out his inner motives. The third time the Lord spoke He asked whether or not Peter had this brotherly attachment that he claimed. Peter could only throw himself on the One who knew his heart. Others might not see the love but Peter knew that Jesus could. With that work in his heart, Peter was ready for the service that the Lord had just publicly given to him of feeding the lambs and feeding the sheep. He shared the simple basic truths about the Messiah with the “lambs” in the Acts. Later, he shared in his epistles more truth of God with those who had already believed and were perhaps more like sheep.
Even letting Peter know that he would get to die for the Lord was an act of grace. He had feared even a young maid just days before. Now the Lord revealed to him that he would be given the courage to be executed for His name.
Simply Follow the Lord
Peter was restored but he seems to have always kept his impetuous character. The Lord had said to Peter that he was to follow Him and they apparently started out together but John who loved the Lord also followed. Peter wanted to know what service John would have. The Lord’s simple response was to focus Peter once again on following Him. We should have our eyes set on only One as we go through our life in this world.
Further Meditation
1. Why did the Lord ask Peter three times if he loved Him?
2. Who else in Scripture was restored by the Lord?
3. Simon Peter: His Life and Letters by W. T. P. Wolston is easy and helpful reading on this passage.