Restoration

He said to him 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, "Tend my sheep."

John 21:16 ESV


By this second time, I think Peter was getting a sense of what Jesus was doing. Jesus asked  him the same number of times he'd denied Him if he loved Him. It must have hurt, but 'the wounds of a friend are faithful'.


Jesus refers to Simon as Simon rather than the nickname He'd given him of Peter. It seemed that Simon had given up being a fisher of people and had decided to go back to being a fisherman. But Jesus had other plans.


Jesus asked Simon if he 'agaped' Him- loved Him with the kind of love with which He loved him- sacrificially giving His life for him. Simon however, replied that he 'philosed' Him- loved Him like a brother or a friend. Jesus however persisted a third time for Simon to give an assurance of his love.


Simon had thought of returning to fishing. But Jesus had other plans. He'd originally asked him to become a fisher of people. Now He asked him to be a shepherd of people. The man who had denied his Lord would become a foundational stone in his Lord's church.


'O Lord our God, how grateful we are that if we deny You, there is hope of restoration. Please help us to fish for people and shepherd Your flock, to Your honour and praise, amen'

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