We all have our defaults.  When it all goes bad, we like to return to normal.  And that’s exactly what Peter did.  He went fishing.

Peter was struggling.  He had denied Jesus 3x in the face of danger, something he swore out loud he would not do.  But he did it.  I’m sure his guilt felt heavy.

There’s so much he wanted to say to Jesus and there hadn’t been opportunity.  Jesus had met them twice before and said nothing.  But the tension was still not resolved.

Until this moment.  The moment Jesus confronted Peter the same number of times Peter had denied him.

¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you 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 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. ¹⁸ Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

God’s heart is for restoration.  And Peter was deeply repentant.

Some make a big case here that Jesus changes the words for “love.”  There is an interplay of words between phileo love (more friendship love) and agape love (more sacrificial love).    Some scholars have said that the word agape had yet to become known as a highly sacrificial love.  It’s uncertain.  But possible.  That Jesus was challenging him to a greater love.

Then there’s the reality that Jesus called him Simon, and even the apostle John referred to him as “Simon Peter.”  Peter was the word for “rock” and the new name that Jesus had given him.  It’s likely that there was an undertone of confrontation, that he had yet to come into his identity and calling.

Regardless, we see the restoration of Peter.  Further Jesus is commissioning him.

This is grace.

Jesus’ closest friend turned against him in his darkest hour.  Yet he desired mercy and not judgment, restoration and not rejection.

We can blow it.  But for those who repent and turn to Jesus, there is still hope.