John 21:15-17 — The God of second chances

Consider this exchange between the two:

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

— Luke 22:31-34

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Peter says: “I’ve got your back.” But did he? He did in the Garden of Gethsemane. He would have died, if necessary, to protect Jesus. He drew his sword and cut off the ear of a soldier named Malchus. So what happened later on? Scripture says after he heard the cock crow, Peter went outside and ‘wept bitterly’.

Peter’s denial was an act of weakness, not wickedness, as in the case of Judas. Imagine how Peter felt after the crucifixion. The disciples were in hiding, and he’s probably sitting in a corner, hands on his head, trying to reconcile what he had just done. And his own brother, Andrew, is unable to console him.

Sure, he would have felt a sense of relief after Jesus rose from the grave, but he would not be the same without some closure.

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Jesus appeared to the disciples for the third time after His resurrection.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”

— John 21:15-17

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Three times Peter denied Jesus; three times Jesus asked Peter ‘Lovest thou Me?’ It is hard for us to understand what happened during that exchange, other than to know he was completely restored.

Now, remember the title of this column:

The God of 2nd chances.

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What do we think of when we think of Peter? He is Petra, the rock, the foundation on which the church would be built, according to Jesus. Denier of Jesus was something he did, not who he was.