In the scene in John 21:9-149As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. (John 21:9‑14), Jesus fed and satisfied all His disciples, testifying thus to a love which made no distinction between them. The Lord then took Peter apart with Himself, and asked him, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” Peter loved the Lord, but there was another disciple who loved Him, I do not say more, but better than Peter. While the latter was occupied in the Lord’s service, John was occupied with the Lord. He never calls himself the disciple who loved Jesus, but the disciple “whom Jesus loved.” What seemed wonderful to him to record was that Jesus should love someone such as he, and he does not weary of repeating it.
Jonathan loved David as his own soul, and yet did not sacrifice his position for him. Abigail’s love, which more resembled that of John, was the sense of its being possible for her to be loved by such a man — she who was but “a servant to wash the feet of the servants of her lord.”
Lovest Thou Me
John, like Mary Magdalene, was occupied with the person and the love of Christ; therefore he was prompt in recognizing Jesus, and did not, like Peter, need someone to tell him, “It is the Lord.” Peter, with all the impetuosity of his nature, cast himself into the sea to get to Jesus and show his affection. John is satisfied to be the object of Jesus’ love.
“Lovest thou me more than these?” Peter had said that he loved Him more, and yet had denied Him. The Lord takes him, so to speak, by the hand, and leads him back to the spot where his fall originated — confidence in his own strength and in his love for Christ. Three times during the Savior’s last interviews with His disciples Peter clearly manifests his self confidence. “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended” (Matt. 26:3333Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. (Matthew 26:33)). “Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death” (Luke 22:3333And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. (Luke 22:33)). And, “Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake” (John 13:3737Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. (John 13:37)). The Lord takes up these three words, beginning with the first: “Though all men shall be offended.” “Lovest thou me more than these?” Alas, all had forsaken Him, but only Peter had denied Him, and can therefore no longer rely on his love compared to that of others. Thus humbled, he appeals, not to his feelings, but to the Savior’s knowledge. He knew. “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.” He does not add, “More than these,” for he compares himself with Christ, and in humility he esteems others better than himself.
Feed My Lambs
Then Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” Pastoral care for young souls springs from humility, together with love for the Lord. Where the Lord finds these things in His people He can trust them with this service. Other gifts are perhaps not so absolutely connected with the inner state, but one cannot really take up the needs of tender souls without self-abnegation and much love, not only for them, but for Christ.
“Feed my lambs.” This one word shows us what they are for Jesus, and the value of what the Lord confides to Peter. They are His property. The heart of Christ had not changed in regard to Simon, and He entrusted him with what He loved, at his first step in the painful pathway leading to restoration. Peter’s heart was broken, but sustained by Christ in the breaking. Jesus did not probe it three times to give him an answer only at the third question; He gave it already at the first one. What delicate affection and care in the discipline! If the three questions had been put without the encouragement of a promise with each, Peter’s heart would have been overwhelmed with sorrow; but the promise sustained him each time under the stroke intended to break him down. It was like the burning bush, which grace prevented from being consumed. Jesus probed Peter three times; he had denied Jesus three times. The last time nothing remained but what the Lord had produced and could approve. Sorrow was there too, no doubt, but joined to the certainty that the love which was the fruit of His love, though buried to the eyes of all by manifestations of the flesh, the all-seeing eye of Christ was able to discern. “Lord, Thou, knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.” After the second and third questions, the care of the sheep and the feeding of the whole flock were confided to Peter. It was when, through grace, he had seen himself, and been obliged to appeal to the Lord to discover what he gave up seeking to discover in himself, that he found himself possessed of full and unreserved blessing.
Christian Friend (adapted)