John is impartial when he gives us the record of the days of Jesus. He didn’t cut corners. It wasn’t only the smooth side of Christianity. He told it like it happened. This was the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection. They were to go to Galilee and spread the gospel. Peter made a big mistake. All of history knows it because John wrote it down. Think about what Peter said to Jesus about John. “What will this man do?”
John 21:15 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the 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 said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. 20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? 24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.”
We can feel a change of tone in verse 21 when Peter asks his question and definitely feel it with Jesus’ answer. Do you ever feel like Jesus is harder on you than he is on others? Do you feel he picks on you? Do others seem not to try as hard, but the Lord doesn’t seem to be picking on them? This is what Peter felt. Seven of the twelve went fishing and should not have done so. Jesus singled out Peter. He probably thought “why just me?” We ought to be thankful when God “picks” on us. Sometimes we need the chastisement of the Lord.
What a change. “And what shall this man do?” In scripture right prior to this we read about the practical side of Christianity. Sometimes we tend to elevate the early church. They were witnesses of the risen Lord. They met with him many times. Did they ever make mistakes? Sure they did. The Bible tells us about Peter being angry with John. Paul called Peter down. Paul refused to let Mark go on a journey with him. The disciples argued with each other. Why? THEY WERE HUMAN BEINGS!
The disciples were instructed to go to Galilee and witness. What a blessing they had. Here we find doubting Thomas turning into fishing Thomas. They had set the truth down. Peter said he believed he’d just go fishing. There was an effect to his decision. Others joined him. Why not? It would be like old times. However, they fished all night and caught nothing. The Lord wanted them in town to witness not to fish. Was Peter having another relapse? Do you see yourself in him sometimes? How much are we living for ourselves and how much for the Lord? At the end of this Jesus asked Peter if he loved the fish more than he loved him.
When dawn came John saw Jesus on the shore. He told Peter. Of all things Peter was naked. His old uninhibited self was showing. After all he seen with the Lord—the cross and the resurrection, he was in this shape. He even ran with John to the tomb. The Lord forgave him for denying him. John wrote this down anyway. Peter was naked. How would you like someone to write that about you? This shows how fast things can happen. Peter’s impatience got him into trouble again. He jumped in the water and something bigger than Jonah’s whale got him. It was Jesus.
Jesus helped them catch 153 fish, but he already had breakfast ready for them. Why do we think we must have this and that to be happy? Jesus can supply all our needs. Peter wasn’t saying anything, but Jesus did. “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? Jesus was saying “Peter, do you love me more than these fish?” Peter said “yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.” Jesus answered him back, “feed my lambs.” In other words, Peter should have been doing what Jesus told him to do, and it wasn’t fishing. If doing what the Lord asks cuts something out of our lives, Jesus will give us what we need. One Master is better than having the whole world. Jesus told Peter he should have been feeding the lambs; he should have been witnessing.
A little while later Jesus looked at Peter again and said “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” The word love in this sentence meant “are you fond of me? Do you like me?” Again Peter said “Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.” Jesus said “feed my sheep.” Peter was really beginning to feel as if he was being picked on. We’re good at telling the Lord how much we love him, but what matters is how we show him. Jesus reminded Peter the second time “feed my sheep.”
The third time Jesus asked Peter if he loved him, he was asking Peter if he loved him with all his might. He was referring to the 1st and 2nd commandment. I can imagine Peter was getting aggravated by now. We’ve all been picked on. Our faults have been pointed out. We’ve done our fair share of pointing out faults too. Peter wasn’t the only one on the boat. Others were just as guilty as he, yet Jesus talked only to Peter and was in effect saying “quit wasting time and feed my sheep.” The time would come when Peter couldn’t do it. Jesus knew that. He told Peter to follow him.
Peter looked around at his old friend John. They have fished together. They had a history. Jesus hadn’t said a thing to John. Peter didn’t even call his name. He said “what shall this man do?” His tone had changed, but so did Jesus’. He told Peter it was not his business. “What is it to thee?” The vital lesson was for Peter. “Follow me. Peter, you follow me.” He was telling Peter not to be concerned about others. “You follow me.” How like Peter we are. We look at so and so. We put them down and elevate ourselves. Jesus says pay attention to yourself and not what others are doing. He told Peter not to worry about John. It was nothing to him. We’re quick to jump on others, but don’t want to do it ourselves. When someone does something for the Lord, others call them goody two shoes, yet they won’t step up and do it. Jesus told Peter he’d take care of John. It was serious business. “Peter, follow me.”
This is how we are successful. We can’t gauge ourselves by others. Each of us needs to concentrate on self. How close are you to the Lord? Don’t look at others. We ought to show God we love more that we tell him. If we don’t show him, he already knows it. When you stand before the Lord, it will be for self and no one else. Simon Peter said “what shall this man do?” Jesus said it wasn’t his concern. The question is “what are you doing?”
If we concentrate on what we should do, we can get something done for the Lord. The next time Peter was on a boat it was a missionary journey. All Jesus asks is that we love and follow him.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 