Jesus’ encounter with Peter after the Resurrection maybe one of the most profound encounters in the gospels and the New Testament and yet it is often overlooked. Jesus was celebrating the Passover at a feast called The Last Supper. The Last Supper was a celebration of the Passover lamb that would be killed and sacrificed for the sins of humankind. This was both celebratory and mournful occasion for Jesus. He was celebrating his last time with his disciples before his death. But it was also a mournful time for Jesus because he was that Sacrificial lamb of the coming Passover. He was celebrating his own death! That bread that they were eating represented his body and that wine that they were drinking represented his blood that would be shed for humankind. (The disciples had no clue.)
The Last Supper is mentioned in each of the gospels. It was recorded that right after Judas left to betray him, Jesus spoke of his death. He told his disciples that where he was going, they could not follow. In John 13:37, Peter asked, “Lord, why can I not follow you now?”
Jesus tells Peter that Satan had demanded to sift him like wheat. He knew that Peter would be sifted and that he would betray him. Jesus tells Peter, “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)
Peter goes on to say, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33)
Then Jesus asked Peter, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.” (John 13:38)
After the Resurrection, Jesus met up with his disciples at the Sea of Galilee. John 21:15-17 records his conversation with Peter at that time. He asked him the same thing three times. Jesus asked Peter the first time, “ Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?”
He (Peter) saith unto him, “Yea Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.
He (Jesus) saith unto him, “Feed my lambs.” Then Jesus asked a second time, “Simon, son of Jonas, loves thou me?
He saith unto him, “Yea Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.
He saith unto him, “Feed my sheep. Jesus then asked Peter a third time, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, “Lovest thou me?”
And he (Peter) said unto him, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.”
Jesus said unto him, “Feed my sheep.”
Commentaries have suggested that asking Peter three times if he loved him and telling him to feed his sheep was a form of redemption and restoration for Peter. Peter had denied Jesus three times before his crucifixion and resurrection. (Luke 22:54-62) So, Jesus gave Peter (who was devastated by his denial of Jesus) three chances to reaffirm his dedication and love for him.
Notice also that Jesus asked Peter in the first question if he loved him (Jesus) “more than these.” These probably meant the other disciples. Remember, at the Last Supper, Jesus predicted that all the disciples would desert him. Peter quickly blurted out, “Though they (the other disciples) all fall away . . . I will never fall away. But he did fall away! (Matthew 26:33) So, Jesus was giving Peter a chance to counter his falling away with a declaration of commitment to him!
Jesus knew Peter’s heart; Peter now needed to be strengthened in his heart. He needed to know that his relationship with Jesus was restored. Jesus knew this and was showing Peter that it was no mistake that he was his disciple; he had been chosen. Peter needed to know that all was not in vain; Jesus was still with him. Jesus’ affirmation was to prevent Peter from losing sight of the grand plan—salvation for the lost. He was commissioning Peter as a church leader, a Shepherd, who would “feed his lost sheep.”
To go even further, that trial—Peter’s betrayal of Jesus—brought about a deepening and spiritual maturity that resulted in an unwavering commitment and consecration that would bring deliverance and salvation to God’s people. Before Jesus died on that cross, Peter was flippant, untested and all over the place. He would sometimes speak as a sage of God (Matthew 16:16) and at other times, his words would be influenced by Satan. (Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33) To shake the world upside down, he had to “experience a rock bottom death” to his self life. It was then that Peter began to “see” with the eyes of Jesus and “hear” with the ears of Jesus.
It was then that “Do you love me and feed my sheep” became rhema words for Peter. They were the mantra that pulled him out of his lethargy and put a fire in his belly! He knew that he still loved Jesus, but what he did not realize was that Jesus still saw him as the man he called to be his disciple in the first place. It’s almost like Jesus wanted Peter to know that, “I know you love me, Peter. I’m with you, so you’ve got this!” It was time for Peter to put his discipleship into action. After Peter’s denial and consequential death to himself, he was able to “see” the multitudes and be moved with compassion as Jesus was in Matthew 9:36-38:
. . . when He (Jesus) saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, “the harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. (Matthew 9:36-38)
I believe Peter left that divine encounter with Jesus with a burning desire in his heart to feed the Lord’s little lambs—his lost sheep. I believe that Jesus had also commissioned Peter to shepherd them.
That fire was evident on the Day of Pentecost when Peter received the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. The Holy Spirit baptism emboldened him even the more. He was no longer fearful, ashamed and timid. He boldly proclaimed the gospel that day and three thousand souls were added to the kingdom! (Acts 2:41)
You see, Jesus already knew what Peter would do. It’s just that Peter needed to move beyond his denial of Jesus. Jesus gave him the impetus and burning on the inside he needed to go out into the harvest field. His encounter and commissioning by Jesus led to a heart-felt compassion for lost sheep—the Lord’s weary and scattered little lambs. He had a rhema revelation that his work was to do the will of the Lord here on the earth!
As we commit our lives to Jesus, our ultimate desire becomes the desire of Jesus, too—to do the will of Father God. Jesus left the Great Commission not just to the disciples, but to us as well.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19)
It is my prayer that Jesus will give each of you a burning heart’s desire and revelation that will prick you out of complacency and luke-warmness. He has already left you with marching orders just as he did with Peter. Now go!
Be blessed.
Scripture References:
Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Matthew 18:12-14 What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray . So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost. (Also, Luke 15:1-7)
Ezekiel 34:12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered. . .
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