VERSE:
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 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."
16 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."
17 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.
LESSON:
Why did Jesus ask the same question of Peter three times?
Firstly, remember that on the night that Jesus was betrayed, Peter denied Jesus three times. The Bible commentary that I have read concerning this verse tells us a few other things related to this. It tells us that Jesus purposely asked Peter the question three times, to allow Peter to answer that he did Love Jesus three times...reinforcing Peter's acceptance of Jesus..not his previous denial. Secondly, the commentary notes that Jesus used two slightly different word in Greek for the word "Love". The first time he used the word that translates as "agape" or self-sacrificial "Love". A similar way of asking this today would be to say "How far would you go to prove your love for me?", or "What would you give up to prove your love of me?". The final time Jesus asked Peter, he used the word that translates as "Phileo" or "Brotherly Love" or the "Love of a friend". Jesus was asking...are you really my friend? Peter answered each of Jesus' questions with the same answer, "yes"...but consistently used the work translated as "Phileo". Peter was consistent in accepting Christ...three times...without wavering. Jesus request of Peter, to demonstrate his love for Jesus...was to "Feed my lambs.", "Take care of my sheep.", "Feed my sheep". Jesus was telling Peter that he must demonstrate his claim of Love for Jesus...by doing for others, as Jesus commanded him.
