John 21:15-19 | Food for Thought
Questions
Peter (and the other disciples) finished sharing a meal for the first time with Jesus since his arrest, death, and resurrection. Ironically, Jesus built a charcoal fire and fed them, two things that happened the same night that Peter denied Jesus three times.
Read John 18:15-18. Why would Jesus recreate a bit of this scene for Peter?
Would you want / expect Jesus to sweep Peter’s denial under the rug? …lay into him? How would you expect him to deal with Peter’s sin against him?
Jesus asks Peter three questions. In the first two, Jesus asks Peter if he “agape” loves Him (the most love). In the third ask, he uses the word “filia” (love like a friend or a brother). In every case, Peter responds that he “filia” loves Jesus.
Are there any connections to Peter’s denial (or any other part of Peter’s past) to be made?
Are there any other parts of Jesus’ questions that are different / interesting?
What point do you think Jesus is trying to make? What’s he trying to accomplish?
Jesus also commissions Peter after each of Peter’s answers. Baby sheep (lambs) need to be fed, sheep need to be tended, and sheep will also (once again) need to be fed. Jesus then draws attention to what was true in Peter’s youth and what will be true when he gets older.
What is Jesus saying about his people?
What’s Jesus saying about Peter?
Are there general truths that apply to you and me today?
How do you think Peter would respond to both being commissioned by Jesus hearing what his future holds from Jesus?
What do you think Peter was expecting to hear?
What do you expect to hear from Jesus when you feel like He (or His people!) are confronting you?
Jesus ends this part of their conversation by telling Peter to follow Him. This is something he asked / told his disciples to do at the very beginning.
How might Peter have experienced this conversation when it’s all said and done? He was grieved at first; would he have been relieved? …crushed?
How would you have felt?
What does Jesus’ basic invitation to Peter - someone who had been with him for a long time and would care for his people - mean for us? …if we’re new to Jesus? …be around Jesus for a long time? …are “a leader?”
What does it mean to follow Jesus?