7.30.2026 - Matt Hekman
July 30
Today we turn to John 21:15-19 to continue our study of the Patience of God.
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 is patient with us but sometimes the waiting is not easy. Let’s back a bit in scripture to the beginning of this interaction between Peter and Jesus where we find Peter exuberant in following Jesus, even saying, “I will lay down my life for you” in John 13:37. But Jesus questions the sincerity of Peter’s willingness to follow, and foretells Peter’s denial. “Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”
Moving forward in the story, after Jesus’ arrest, we find Peter in the courtyard outside Jesus’ midnight hearing. And we know the story, Peter denies knowing Jesus not once, not twice, but three times. There was no chance for misunderstanding the situation, Peter made it clear to those around him that he was not associated with Jesus. Of course this was untrue, and when the rooster crowed Peter was reminded of what Jesus had said to him, and he was certainly grieved.
Now to our passage for today. We see Jesus asking Peter if he loves him. Jesus knows the answer, but he takes this chance to do restorative work in Peter. The commentator Matthew Henry notes that Jesus addresses Peter as “Simon son of John”, not the name, “Peter” that Jesus had previously given him. It is as if Peter had forfeited his apostolic honor in denying Jesus, yet now Jesus patiently gives him publicly a chance to be restored.
In asking Peter, not once, not twice, but three times, Jesus addresses all three of the times that Peter denied him that night in the courtyard. Jesus doesn’t rush it or only go part way. He fully brings Peter back to the place that he wants him. Patiently, and gently, Jesus gives Peter the chance to be fully repentant for his denial. Ultimately, he restores Peter and commissions him to feed and take care of his sheep.
In God’s patience, Jesus deals loving with his own, not discarding them but restoring them. Thank God today for his patient dealing with you in your failures and that through Jesus he restores you to himself, for your good, and for his glory.