References (5)
Then Jesus answered him, "Blessed (happy, blessed) are you, Simon, son of Jonah. Flesh and blood (any human being) has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Andrew then took Simon [Peter] to Jesus.
As Jesus looked at him (into his eyes, directly at him), he said, "You are Simon, son of John, you shall be called Cephas" – the [Aramaic] name means Peter [a small stone].
Jesus wants to establish Peter as the leader and shepherd of the church that he was called to be. Two different Greek words for love are used in the dialogue between Jesus and Peter in verses 15, 16, and 17. Jesus begins by using the word agape – which stands for the highest form of selfless, giving love – while Peter responds with fileo – which more describes a friendship relationship. These words can be used synonymously in Greek. Can the choice of words in a Greek text have any significance in a conversation that probably took place in Aramaic? What suggests that the nuances do matter is that John, who was there by the fire, also includes another difference. Peter's reply "you know everything" is changed to the more personal "you know everything" in his third answer. The Greek ginosko is used instead of oidas. The main point, however, is that Peter is allowed to confess Jesus three times, whom he had denied three times, see ; .]
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me [with the highest form of self-sacrificing, giving love] more than these?"
[It must have hurt Peter that Jesus now addressed him as "Simon," the name he had before he became a disciple. Even the addition of "son of John" points to his life before his calling. It was Jesus who had given him the name Peter, see ; .
"These" may refer to the fishermen and the fishing profession that Peter had returned to, or to the other disciples. Peter had previously compared himself to them and said that he would not betray Jesus even if the others did, see . Regardless of what "these" refers to, Simon is faced with a choice to choose Jesus over everything else. He answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I care for (have a strong bond of friendship with) you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs!"
Jesus asked him a second time:
"Simon, son of John, do you love me [with the highest form of self-sacrificing, giving love]?"
[Jesus uses "love" once again, perhaps to give Simon another chance to say "Yes, I love you"?]
He answered him:
"Yes, Lord, you know that I care for (have a strong bond of friendship with) you."
Jesus said to him,
"Continue to be a shepherd for (take care of, watch over) my sheep!"
[Peter responds in the same way again that he cares for Jesus. In , Jesus responded that Peter would "feed lambs," now Peter is promoted to be a shepherd and take care of adult sheep.]
Jesus asked him a third time:
"Simon, son of John, do you love (have a strong bond of friendship with) me?"
[The third time, Jesus chooses the weaker expression "do you love me". Jesus comes down to Peter's level and meets him there. The question Jesus seems to be asking is: "Do you at least love me?"]
Peter was saddened (sad and hurt) because he asked him a third time, "Do you love me?"
He answered him:
"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you (have a strong bond of friendship with you)."
Jesus said to him,
"Feed my sheep!"
[Peter has completely surrendered and says that Jesus knows everything, his failures but also his desire to be restored. Once again, Peter is urged to feed adult sheep. When Jesus predicted Peter's denial, see , Jesus promised to pray for Peter that he would keep the faith. He also said that after Peter's restoration, he would strengthen the believers. In this chapter, Jesus compares the Christian mission to both fishing and sheep farming. The disciples were called to go out into the whole world and be fishers of men, see ; . The catch of fish became a reminder of the catch that awaits. The conversation with Peter concerns the second part of the Great Commission: to "teach" the believers to keep the commandments, see . In God's church, there are both lambs and sheep that need shepherds to protect them and give them spiritual food. In these three questions from Jesus, it also becomes clear that the motive for Christian leadership must be love for him, Jesus.]
