John 21:15-17

I would want to concentrate this evening on verses 15 to 17 of John chapter 21. Here, on this Festival Day of Saint Peter, we ready that lovely incident of the restoration of Peter. I would want to notice four things
-the background to what is happening here
-the skilful way the incident is crafted by our Lord
-the real significance of those things he asked Peter
-his commission of Peter.

Fisrtly the, the background to what is happening here:

For this we must go back three chapters in John's gospel, but only a short space of time. In chapter 18 we read of the night when Jesus was betrayed and arrested and tried. And as we're thinking of Peter tonight, it's his role in that night that I particularly want us to think about. Earlier that night, as we read in John chapter 13, Peter had made his bold declaration; I will lay down my life for you (v29) and in other gospel accounts we have the the added detail that Peter declared that even if all the other disciples deserted Jesus, he, Peter, wouldn't.
  We know the plot! We know that Jesus warned Peter that he would publicly deny him three times and in John chapter 18 we read that, three times in the courtyard of the High Priest, Peter denies ever having known Jesus. When the pressure was on, when he was in a corner (perhaps of his own making) and facing daner (maybe imagined) then Peter gives way. He daren't risk his own neck, he can't even face public ridicule, which is what the incidents seems to imply.
  How easy it is to make bold declarations of faith. How easy it is, when the rubber hits the road to give way, to take the safe, easy and popular option.

Secondly, as we begin to look at this incident of Peter's restoration, let's notice the skilful way the incident is crafted by our Lord.
Firstly, there was a charcoal fire on the beach. Yes, Jesus had prepared breakfast for them, but he had lit a charcoal fire. It was before a charcoal brazier in the High Preist's courtyard that Peter had warmed himself. Does not our Lord show himself as skilled in the psychology of the human mind? Even in this detail he is deliberately setting the scene for Peter.
  There's one other point. Peter, with the others had spent the night fishing without success, and then when Jesus tells them to let down the nets on the other side of the boat, they catch the 153 fish. Did that resonate with an incident at the beginning of the gospel narrative which Luke records for us? Then when Peter was in one of two boats that had toiled all night without a catch and Jesus likewise tells them to try again, they have a catch which physically overwhelms them, so that Peter turns to Jesus and says to him: Depart from me for I am a sinful man. This is the point where Jesus calls Peter to follow him
  Jesus is now about to restore Peter. Just as when he had called him, he had to be a broken man. You know, if we are to achieve, really achieve, anyhting for God and his Kingdom, then first of all we have to be broken. So long as we think we can go on in our own strength, so long will be labour in vain.

Now we come to the nub of the story. For now we see the real significance of those things Jesus asked Peter.
And here we so easily miss the, I would almost say "punch line" of this incident, this threefold exchange. And let's not fail to note it's a three-fold exchange, just as Peter's denial was three-fold.
Firstly Jesus asks, Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?. Peter had said he would be faithful even if the others weren't. Now, his love, not his loyalty are put to the test in such a way as to remind Peter, if reminding he needed of his three-fold denial. Peter replies with a "Yes"
Again, Jesus asks  Simon, son of John, do you truly love me? Again Peter replies with an affirmative.
Now comes the "punch-line", we so easily miss. Jesus asks:  Simon, son of John, do you love me? This hurts Peter! Why, was it the third time as the account tells. Yes, I would say, but more. Behind our English translation, which does its best, we have two Greek words.
Agape, which is a specific word in the New Testament, found nowhere else and indicating the love which is the character of God. Jesus really had to teach what agape love really was. When we say quoting John's epistle, God is love and whoever loves lives in God, we're talking about that very special love, not philos love nor eros love.
Philos is the love between friends, brotherly love, a love which is a common-place in human life.
Let's rephrase those questions:
-Simon, do you love me as my Father does?
-Simon, do you love me as my Father does?
-Simon, are you my friend?
Wow! Didn't it hurt! Are you my friend, and Peter replies in hurt, "Yes Lord, you know I'm your friend".
It's enough! Peter is restored. But he is also re-commissioned.

So last, Jesus' commission of Peter. Feed my sheep. What would this involve. I believe if we look at the last verse of the Ezekiel reading we will see:
  I will seek the lost, I will bring back the strayed and will bind up the injured and I will strengthen the weak and the fat and strong I will destroy, I will feed them with justice. (34:11)
  In 10 days you will have a new vicar coming here to Saint Mary Magdalene. She knew what it was to be sought out, bound up and strengthened. And that I suggest is the role of one who would be pastor of a Christian flock. If Vivian is hiding behind one of the pillars, I'm not preaching at you! But, people of Saint Mary's, this is what you should be looking for in your new Rector. And under him the task of all. To seek out, to bring back, to bind up, to strengthen and, yes, to destroy (maybe not in a literal sense) those who are self-sufficient. Peter thought he was, but after his self-sufficiency was destroyed, then he could be restored and commissioned.