18.01.18 Jn. 21:15-19
PETER REINSTATED AND HIS DEATH FORETOLD
15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”
“Feed My lambs,” He told him.
16 A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”
“Shepherd My sheep,” He told him.
17 He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.”
“Feed My sheep,” Jesus said. 18 “I assure you: When you were young, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” 19 He said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. After saying this, He told him, “Follow Me!”
In a private meeting with Peter, Jesus reassured him of his forgiveness. The three-fold denial was cancelled by the three-fold affirmation. At the end of his ministry, Peter’s martyrdom demonstrated his agape love for Jesus.
“Feed my lambs.” Three times Jesus gave Peter instruction to be a shepherd. At first when Jesus specifically told Peter to feed “my lambs,” He used a word in verse 15 to mean little lambs.[1] This was because when Peter denied Jesus three times, the first was to a young girl. Peter was to feed the young believers. When Jesus asked Peter a second time, Jesus used the word in verse 16 to mean young sheep.[2] Jesus always had a special place in His heart for children and youth. The third time Jesus referred to adult sheep. Peter now confirmed his love for Jesus three times.
For more than three years that Peter traveled with Jesus, he was always one who seemed to speak first and think last. He was eager to help and not always in tune with what God had planned for him to do. Yet, after experiencing the Passion Week and Pentecost, his life was radically changed. By the time John wrote this gospel, Peter had already died the martyr’s death. The third century father Tertullian said Peter died in Rome. Origin recorded that Peter did not consider himself worthy to be crucified in the same manner as was Jesus. Therefore, at his request, he was crucified upside down to have the kind of death that would glorify God (Jn 21:19). This passage implies the gospel writer was aware of his death.
[1]. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament. 2:300.
[2]. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament. 2:300.