Peter’s Restoration

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You" Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep. – John 21:17 (NASB)

Peter had vowed that he would be the most loyal of all men to the Lord[1]. But when Jesus wouldn’t let Peter show his loyalty in the way he wanted[2], I think Peter got mad. He was not a fearful man; he demonstrated a willingness to face thugs in the middle of the night with only one sword. But Jesus rejected his gift, in much the same way that God rejected Cain’s offering[3]. And I believe that just like Cain, Peter pouted and then became angry. Soon after, Peter denied the Master three times before people who, compared to the bloodthirsty mob that had come to arrest the Lord hours earlier, were positively non-threatening[4].

His sin was short-term, spanning a few hours at most. His sin was verbal and attitudinal, without the long-term consequences inherent in sins against the body or against the trust of others. And as soon as Jesus looked at him, Peter reacted with repentance. He didn’t try to deny it any further and he even made a public spectacle of his contrition.

After seeing the empty tomb[5] and perhaps seeing Jesus privately[6] as well as publicly[7], Peter was willing to leave his ministry[8] because of this one late-night, emotionally driven, stress-ridden reaction.

It was only when he recognized that he was probably unfit for ministry and actually returned to his old vocation that Jesus came to restore him. When Peter recognized his Master, he did not speak a word. He simply threw himself into the sea and by the time everyone else got to shore, he had a fire going with fish and bread cooking. Then Peter personally drew a net full of 153 fish to shore alone. He no longer spoke. He served.

That lake-side meal was a silent one. The Bible says that is was when they were done eating that Jesus challenged Peter’s love. Peter humbly qualified his passion and placed his trust in Jesus. Immediate remorse, contrition, public repentance, leaving the ministry, quietness, service and humility all had to precede his restoration.

And his restoration was limited. Besides that first great sermon, you don’t really hear much about Peter, except when Paul had to rebuke him for hypocrisy[9]. James took the leadership of the Jerusalem church[10] and Paul became the great founder of the early churches.

We need to understand that sin always has a consequence. We can be forgiven and we can even be restored. But we will never be quite as good as we could have been. It’s best to simply not sin in the first place. We need the shield of righteousness[11].

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[1] Matthew 26:33
[2] Matthew 26:51; Mark 14:47; Luke 22:50; John 18:10
[3] Genesis 4:3-8
[4] first Matthew 26:69-70; Mark 14:66-68; Luke 22:55-57; John 18:15-18 – second Matthew 26:71-72; Mark 14:69; Luke 22:58-59; John 18:25 – third Matthew 26:73-75; Mark 14:70-72; Luke 22:60-62; John 18:26-27
[5] Luke 24:12; John 20:3-10
[6] 1 Corinthians 15:5a
[7] Mark 16:14; Luke 24: 36-48; John 20:19-25; 1 Corinthians 15:5b; John 20:26-29 and then 20:30-21:14
[8] John 21:3
[9] Galatians 2:10
[10] Acts 15:13-20
[11] Ephesians 6:11-17