Leader Guide Sermon Text: 2 Cor. 7:9-11; Complementary Text: John 21:15-17 Author: John ​ Audience: The whole world ​ Big Picture: The text demonstrates how Christ restored his relationship with Peter following ​ ​ Peter’s genuine repentance after he denied his Lord three times. What is the main truth or point of the passage? ​ What does the text say about God? The Holman Bible Commentary gives us the following thoughts on the text: ​ ​ After he ate with his friends, Jesus turned his attention to Peter, probably because of the dominant role that he would play in the early church. Three times Peter had denied the Lord, so three times, Jesus asked him, ‘Do you truly love me?’ 21:15. Embarrassing as it must have been at the time, this tender exchange restored ​ Peter to leadership--a role he exercised early in Acts. Throughout the history of the church, thousands have been scattered on the roadside of good intentions for ministry; they traded God’s call for something else--like fishing. Even though this night of fishing may have just been a casual night with the guys, as a professional fisherman Peter could have entertained thoughts of going back to his former work. Being with Jesus had been great, and it must have felt wonderful to have him alive again. But who knows what might be next? A fellow has to make a living. For the next nine verses, John has brought his Gospel to a close with the clear enunciation of Peter’s call to ministry. Jesus asked Peter almost the same question three times. This could reflect the three denials, but whether it did or not, the command was similar each time: Feed my lambs… Take care of my sheep… Feed my sheep. A quick ​ ​ glance at 1 Peter lets us know the disciple never forgot this moment. Several questions jump at us from the text of these three verses. Even if we agree that the threefold reference probably does connect with the threefold denial, specific questions remain unanswered: 1. What is the meaning of the words more than these? ​ 2. Why did the Lord change the command after each of Peter’s responses. Some indicate specificity in both the noun and verb changes such as reference to 1 children’s ministry (lambs) and service to adults (sheep). Also the varied ministries of apostleship and service and later eldership would include spiritual feeding and taking care of the flock. Perhaps all of this is implied in the text; perhaps none. The point is that Jesus called Peter to shepherding rather than fishing. His future work would involve ministry to people. 21:16. The shepherding call continued a second time as Jesus used Peter’s old name ​ (Simon), referring to “pebble” rather than “rock.” The flow of the text emphasizes humility and service rather than primacy over the other apostles. Commentators note that this passage is a reference to Peter’s restoration to service, not an elevation in hierarchy, as is claimed by the Roman Catholic Church. The point is that Jesus is beginning the painful process of restoration, and we know it was painful because of what happens in v. 17. The Holman Bible Commentary continues as follows: ​ ​ 21:17. At this point in the text there is a change of verb in Jesus’ question while ​ the verb in Peter’s answer stays the same. We also learn that Peter was hurt by ​ ​ the third question. In Jesus’ first two questions he used the words aqapao; hence ​ ​ the NIV translation, ‘truly love.’ In the third we find the word phileo and the NIV ​ ​ drops ‘truly.’ Most interpreters find no significant difference in the words, particularly since the conversation took place in Aramaic. Nevertheless, John’s record in Greek did, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, adopt a different word. It seems difficult from the grammar of the text to argue that Peter’s hurt was brought about only by ​ ​ the connection of a third question with his three denials. We might conclude that Peter was hurt because the question had been asked three times. But one should not dismiss the possibility that his discomfort lay in Jesus’ use of a lesser word. On this point, Westcott observes: Just as the idea of comparison was given up before, so now the idea of the loftiest love is given up. It is as if the Lord would test the truth of the feeling which St. Peter claimed. The three questions could not but recall the three denials and the form of this last question could not but vividly bring back the thought of the failure of personal devotion at the moment of trial so Peter was grieved not only ​ ​ that the question was put again, but that this third time the phrase was changed; ​ ​ that the question was not only put once again, but at the same time put so as to raise a doubt rather he could indeed rightly claim that modified love which he had professed (Westcott, p. 303). 2 Carson takes a different view in claiming, ‘When Peter in particularly grieved (v. 17), it is not because Jesus has changed verbs, but because the same question has been asked for a third time (678). The preponderance of contemporary scholarship sees no difference between the words, but the careful Bible student should consider all the options. And before we leave this verselet us notice the brief but clear reference to omniscience in Peter’s reply, Lord, you ​ know all things. Peter switched words here as well. Know translates ginosko instead of ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ oidas, which he has used twice before. Again, one must decide whether a conversation ​ that probably took place in Aramaic using different words could possibly have any significant difference in the Greek translation--weighed against the exactitude of biblical words, particularly key words in John’s Gospel like know and love. ​ ​ ​ According to Morris: There can be little doubt that the whole scene is meant to show Peter as completely restored to his position of leadership. He has three times denied his Lord. Now he has three times affirmed his love for Him, and three times he has been commissioned to care for the flock. This must have had an effect on the others of a demonstration that, whatever had been the mistakes of the past, Jesus was restoring Peter to a place of trust. It is further worth noting that the one thing about which Jesus questions Peter prior to commissioning him to tend the flock is love. This is the basic qualification for Christian service (875). What does the text about yourself? Jesus’ restoration of Peter teaches us that discipleship is a painful process. Sin must be dealt with, and it will not always be easy. While we are forgiven, there are always consequences. The Scripture indicates that Jesus was making a point and making sure that Peter remembered what was said to him, and never made the same mistake again. Peter was truly sorry for his sin. Mark tells us that “he broke down and wept (14:72) when he realized what he had done. In John’s Gospel, we see how Jesus restored the one who had denied him three times. The passage certainly indicates that Jesus asked him if he loved him three times to picture the three times he denied him, and thereby publicly restore him to leadership. Scripture indicates there had been a private restoration already (cf. Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5). Dr. Wiersbe gives us the following thoughts: Sin should be dealt with only to the extent that it is known. Private sins should be confessed in private, public sins in public. Since Peter had denied his Lord three times. Jesus asked him three personal questions. He also encouraged him by giving him a threefold commission that restored Peter to his ministry. 3 How does the sermon text complement this text? Jesus’ restoration of Peter to public ministry was painful for him. In the same way, true ​ repentance is to be a painful process, or the Bible tells us that we will treat sin flippantly, and not be genuinely sorry for our sin (cf. 2 Cor. 7:9-11). The passage in John uses the same word for “grieved” that Paul uses in 2 Corinthians 7. The restoration process was painful for Peter because he had to look back and reflect on what he had done. While he had dealt with it privately, Jesus expected for it to be dealt with publicly, to teach the other disciples a lesson, and to show them the grace that Jesus was extending to Peter. Sin is a serious matter. We should come to God with sincere humility, and weep over the decision we made to disobey His laws. We should agonize over the way we have turned from the Lord, and ask Him for true forgiveness with sorrow. We should cry out to Him for mercy, and then thank Him for the grace He extends. This is true godly sorrow, that which Peter demonstrated when Jesus restored him to leadership. Remember, he ended his exchange with Jesus, “Lord, you know all things.” He was humbling himself there, recognizing that this conversation would not have been necessary had he never denied him. At the same time, he realized that Christ knew his heart and that he truly loved him, and that he understood that this test was necessary to restore him completely in fellowship with the Lord and into his role of leadership in what would become the early church.