Lesson: Lesson 45: He Restored Peter Lesson Overview Biblical Passage John 21:15–22 Matthew 26:31–35, 69–75; Mark 14:26–31, 66–72; Luke 22:31–34, 54–62; John Supporting Passages 13:37–38; 18:15–27 Memory Verse James 4:10 Biblical Truth When we make mistakes, we are to look to Christ for restoration. Prior to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, He predicted that Peter would deny Him three times. Although Peter insisted he would die with Christ rather than deny Him, Peter denied Him just as Jesus had foretold. Jesus was then crucified, Context buried, and on the third day He rose again, just as He had said. He appeared to His disciples. Then in John 21, He again appeared to seven disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. • Students will understand that Christ can still use them despite their failures. Learning Goals • Students will apply their understanding by seeking Christ’s restoration when they have failed Him. As you prepare to teach this lesson, pray for your students. • Pray that your students will understand that God stands ready to restore them when they fall. Prayer Suggestions • Pray that your students will submit to God’s redemptive ways, confess their sin, and acknowledge their love for Him. • Pray that your students will follow Christ in obedience, knowing that He will use them in His eternal plan. Page 1 of 20 Lesson: Lesson 45: He Restored Peter Biblical Commentary Investigation On the same night Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied Him. Earlier that evening, Jesus foretold that all the disciples would fall away, and “the sheep of the flock will be scattered” (Matt. 26:31). During the trial and crucifixion, the disciples must have felt confused. The man they had followed for three years was publicly humiliated, beaten, and murdered. The once bold-mouthed Peter denied Christ three times, even to a servant girl (John 18:17). His boldness for Christ melted away in the midst of conflict. Jesus died, was resurrected, and appeared to the disciples on several occasions. In John 21, Jesus appeared to seven disciples who were fishing on the Sea of Tiberias. These men had not caught any fish all night. Jesus, whom they did not recognize, told them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. When they did, they brought up a great catch and then knew it was Jesus. Jesus had performed an almost identical miracle when He called Simon to follow Him (Luke 5:4–11). When the disciples arrived on shore, Jesus was cooking fish over a fire. He served them a breakfast of fish and bread. Only the Gospel of John records this poignant exchange where Jesus reinstates Peter. Importance This passage teaches that Jesus is God and Savior. This passage of Scripture is important for students because it reminds them that Jesus can still use them despite their failures and that humility—a quality not valued much today—is one of the keys to restoration with Christ. Interpretation John 21:15 When they finished eating, Jesus addressed Peter. First, Jesus fed the disciples, providing for their physical needs. Then He focused on Peter’s failure. God persistently loves His people. He did not let go of Peter. Peter had not ruined God’s plan for his life. Jesus still loved Peter, and He knew Peter would greatly glorify God. He now raised a question about Peter’s love for Him. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Jesus’ tender care enables people to bring their sin to Him. Without this grace, sin would be overwhelming and unable to face. Throughout Scripture, God’s grace is the focal point. Commentator William Barclay suggests two ideas Jesus may have referred to when He used the word “these” in verse 15 (Barclay 1975, 285–6). First, He may have been referring to the fish. Consider the setting. The disciples were fishing. They had returned to their boats. Fishing is what they knew before their encounter with Jesus. It Page 2 of 20 Lesson: Lesson 45: He Restored Peter was their livelihood. Because Jesus met them at that particular place, we must consider the question: Do you love me more than your career? Another option suggests Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him more than the other disciples. On the night of Jesus’ betrayal, Peter had confidently asserted, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away” (Matt. 26:33 NASB). It seems Peter thought of his devotion to Jesus as greater than the others’ devotion; he learned it was not. Jesus asked, “Do you truly love me more than these?” (v. 15). When Peter replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you,” he no longer compared himself with the others. He did not claim to love Jesus more than they. In response to Peter’s confirmation of his love, Jesus charged him: “Feed my lambs.” He did not tell Peter to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor. He did not tell him to study the Scriptures more or to increase his fellowship with the other disciples. He did not even tell him to remember His teachings. While all these things are important, they are not the focus of a life changed by the love of God. A life consumed with God’s love reaches out to others. By instructing Peter to “Feed my lambs,” Jesus charged him to do what only God could equip him to do. And the Holy Spirit would soon come and radically transform Peter’s heart. Pastors are called to serve as shepherds over other believers. They follow Jesus’ instruction to Peter as they feed the flock of God. Peter took Jesus’ words to heart. He became the chief apostle of the church in Jerusalem. John 21:16 Jesus asked Peter the same question again. Verse 15 uses the word “lambs” (or “little lambs, lambkins”), but verses 16 and 17 use the word “sheep.” Similarly, verse 15 “feed” and verse 16 uses “take care of.” By repeating the same idea with different wording, Jesus affirmed His point. John 21:17 Jesus’ three questions to Peter correspond to Peter’s three denials of Christ. For each time Peter denied Jesus, Jesus questioned Peter so he could reaffirm his love for Him. Also three times Jesus entrusted Peter with caring for His sheep. Peter went on to do that very thing. On the day of Pentecost, Peter boldly preached to the people in Jerusalem, and about 3,000 people believed (Acts 2:14–41). He served as the spokesman for the church in Jerusalem (Acts 1:1–15:41; Gal. 1:18; 2:7–9) and was given the task of preaching the gospel to the Jews (Gal. 2:7). Peter instructed pastors and elders to “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care . being examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:1–3). Jesus commanded Peter to feed His sheep. How could Peter “feed sheep”? With the milk and meat of the Word of God. In his first epistle, Peter wrote, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Pet. 2:2). Jesus’ three-fold questioning and commissioning is reminiscent of the Old Testament poetic style of emphasis. Psalms and Proverbs contain much of this device known as parallelism. John 21:18–19 The wording here does not indicate the kind of death Peter would experience but rather the “kind of death by which Peter would glorify God” (v. 19). The emphasis is not on death but on bringing God glory. Church tradition holds that Peter lived as a martyr and was crucified upside down for his faith. His martyrdom brought glory to God. God can use evil to work out His plans and bring glory to Himself. Peter had said earlier, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you” (Matt. 26:35). Here, Jesus told Peter he would in fact die for Jesus. After foretelling Peter’s death, Jesus returned the focus to Peter’s present responsibility: “Follow me!” Jesus had initially called Peter with these same words (Matt. 4:18) and at the same place (Sea of Galilee). Jesus did not ask for merely a day of surrender; He asked for Peter’s life. At the beginning and the end, the call to follow was the same. Page 3 of 20 Lesson: Lesson 45: He Restored Peter John 21:20–22 Peter declared his love for Christ. Jesus placed His flock of sheep in Peter’s care, foretold Peter’s death, and called him to follow. Then Peter turned his gaze from Christ to other things. When Peter had walked on water the wind and waves distracted him. Then he doubted, and began to sink. Again in this passage, Peter turned his focus away from Christ to inquire about John. Jesus quickly refocused Peter by telling him it was not his concern. Instead, Jesus reminded Peter his only concern should be to follow Him. Implications Jesus still asks us the same question He asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” Each of us must answer that question. He has called us to trust Him. Then His love will transform our lives. Peter became the leader of the Church not by his own strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit. How has God’s love transformed your life? How have you seen God empower you and your fellow Christians to serve Him? In what ways can you encourage your students as they love the Lord and experience His changing power? God redeems our failures.