Peter: Restored or Authorized?

As much as I would love to let you all know what is happening in my life, instead I am going to post this little Bible lesson from John 21, because I know this is what Nate wants to read, and he is the one who reads this most often. Nate, you still haven't read/commented on my discussion of Genesis, which I have eagerly awaited.


Now to the good stuff...


At the end of John's gospel, in 21:12-19, we see Jesus and Peter in one of their longest conversations found in the gospel account. Here is the text in it's entirety so you can read it yourself.

"Jesus said to them, "come and have breakfast." None of the disciples ventured to question Him, "Who are You?" knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread, and gave them, and the fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead. So, when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" he said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You. He said to him, "Tend My lambs." He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Then My sheep. Truly truly I say to you, when you were younger you used to gird yourself, and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someont else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go." Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had speken this, He said to him, "Follow Me!""


As we begin to think about this passage, it sounds as if Jesus is giving Peter some new task, some new role that he places him in a prominant role of leadership. This has traditionally been a passage that is used to help support papal authority. However, I am convinced that this passage, when looked at in the overall context of the gospel narrative, points to something different entirely. I believe that in this text, Jesus restores Peter to his previous role of disciple and apostle alongside the other ten who remained.

Let's start with a list of things to consider from the gospel account:

1. Peter was a very small character before the passion week. In fact, he was really mentioned in two instances. First, he was mentioned in John 1 during the calling of the first disciples. The second passage is John 6, and here he has one key line. Peter was just one of the disciples in John's gospel. The synoptic gospels place him in a much more prominant role than John. In fact, until the passion week, Thomas plays a more significant role than Peter in John's gospel.

2. The passage of John 6 is interesting to look at. In verses 66-71 is the Johannine rendition of Peter's confession. Immediately following this statement, Jesus replies, "Did I Myself not choose you, THE TWELVE..." Jesus makes clear in this passage that the twelve were his vessal.

3. Jesus prayer in John 17 is that he would not lose any of his initial followers, the twelve, except the son of perdition. This points out that Jesus needs to make sure that the other 11 are ready and equipped to do the task.

4. In John 20, Jesus restores faith to Thomas. Thomas appeared to be on the verge of leaving the faith, and Jesus already prayed that it was necessary for the eleven to remain intact. He therefore restored the first one that needed it, Thomas.

5. Peter became a major character in the passion narrative to highlight his misunderstandings. He didn't want Jesus to wash his feet (John 13), he tries to start a political revolt in the garden by slicing of the ear of Malchus (John 18) and he denies knowing Jesus three times during the trials (John 18). In other words, Peter made a mess of his position. He failed to follow Jesus. He needed restoration too. He needed to be encouraged that he could handle the role of apostle.

So, we come to this text. Let's see what we notice:

1. The context of the conversation between Peter and Jesus is after breakfast. We have no indication that the other disciples weren't listening. In fact, John's writing this makes me assume that he did hear this conversation. If this was a higher role for Peter, I would surely expect some backlash from other disciples.

2. We know the conversation about the "do you love me" phrase. It has been well discussed by every preacher since the beginning of preaching.

3. Perhaps the most crucial phrase is the command following the question of Peter's love. The command is to Tend/Shepherd the sheep. Shepherd was not a role of authority, but a role of service. This was the basic task of the apostles. Jesus is simply telling him that he still can guide the followers of Jesus if he truly does love Jesus. The primary requirement for his role of leadership is devoted love.

4. Jesus again predicts the future of Peter's life. He predicts the death that he will die "to glorify God." It is interesting that the same basic concept of death as glorifying is present for Peter like it was for Jesus. It appears to point to self-sacrifice as a form of worship and glorification.

5. The last phrase to look at is the simple "Follow Me." It is one of the first phrases the disciples heard during his earthly ministry, and now they hear it again. It is time for them to continue following Jesus even though he won't be there to physically lead them.

I love this passage, and I think it is obvious that Peter was not authorized above the other disciples, but restored into their midst. Jesus didn't want to lose any of this followers, and because of this conversation, he didn't lose Peter.

Grace and Peace

Matt