Restored and Called Again

John 21:15-19 (ESV)

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, "Feed my lambs."
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."
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 everything; you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go."
(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this, he said to him, "Follow me."

How should we read this text?

Now this is the scene — it’s after breakfast on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus has already fed his disciples fish and bread over a charcoal fire (we looked at that yesterday). Now it’s the early morning — perhaps the smell of sea salt in the air and the sound of the waves lapping at the shore.

And then Jesus — perhaps a bit abruptly — turns to Peter, who’s probably still a little damp from jumping out of the boat, and he calls him by his old name: Simon, son of John.

It’s a bit like when a mum busts out your middle name along with your first and last — you know you’re in for a serious conversation. Now, I don’t have a middle name, so I’ve been spared that particular indignity, but you get the point.

Jesus says, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"

There’s been a lot of debate about what the “these” refers to. Maybe it’s the fishing boats and nets — Peter’s old career, the life that felt familiar and safe. Or maybe Jesus is asking, "Do you love me more than these other disciples do?" Either way, it’s no small question.

Peter stammers his way through it — "Yes, Lord, you know I do." And Jesus replies, "Feed my lambs."

Then Jesus asks again. And again. Three times in total. By the third time, Peter’s really feeling it — the text says he’s grieved because Jesus keeps pressing the question.

And if you think back just a few chapters, you’ll remember why. Peter had denied Jesus three times on the night of his arrest. Now Jesus gives Peter the chance to triple down on his love for him — three confessions to match those three denials.

It’s this powerful moment where Jesus restores Peter, not just to who he was, but to something even deeper.

And notice Jesus changes the verbs a bit each time — feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep. Jesus is covering the whole scope of caring for his people. It’s not just feeding them snacks. It’s guiding them, protecting them, nurturing them, teaching them. In other words, Jesus is handing Peter back his leadership over the flock — the leadership Peter thought he’d thrown away the night of the crucifixion.

Then Jesus does something even more sobering — he prophesies over Peter’s future. Jesus tells him, in so many words, that one day he’ll be taken where he doesn’t want to go, with outstretched hands. It’s a pretty clear reference to crucifixion.

Church tradition tells us Peter was, in fact, crucified upside down because he didn’t feel worthy to die the same way as his Lord.

It’s a heavy moment, but Jesus ends with something so familiar: "Follow me."

Those are the exact words Jesus spoke to Peter the very first time he called him, back at the start when Peter first stepped off the boat to follow Jesus.

It’s Jesus saying: "Even though you failed, I’m still with you. You still get to follow me. But it won’t be an easy road."

Peter will follow Jesus all the way to the cross.

How should this text read us?

The first thing we need to see is that Jesus doesn’t sidestep the elephant in the room. Peter really has messed up. Denied Jesus three times — and in the highest-stakes moment imaginable.

But Jesus doesn’t give Peter the cold shoulder. He doesn’t pretend it didn’t happen. He also doesn’t leave Peter to stew in it. Instead, Jesus creates this opportunity for Peter to say out loud that he loves him — and to restore him, fully and completely.

I reckon a lot of us know what it’s like to mess up in our faith journey — whether that’s denying God in front of others, pretending we’re not Christians when it’s inconvenient, or just living in ways we know don’t honour him.

And I reckon a lot of us have secretly wondered if we’ve been scratched off God’s “nice list” and shifted onto the naughty list — disqualified from being useful to God ever again.

But here’s the reality — even the most serious failure, like Peter’s, is forgivable when Jesus restores you. Jesus meets Peter intentionally in his failure and uses that very failure as the doorway to heal him, restore him, and commission him for ministry.

That’s ridiculously good news for anyone who’s ever felt like they’ve let God down.

The second thing is this — Jesus links Peter’s love for him with Peter’s service. Jesus doesn’t just say, "Do you love me?" and leave it there.

Every confession of love is followed immediately by a job description — feed my sheep, care for my lambs, look after my people.

If you love Jesus, you serve him. It’s not optional. It’s practical. Even inconvenient. Loving Jesus means loving the people he loves — and stepping into the calling he’s got for you, no matter how ordinary or difficult it might be.

And lastly, Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat the cost of discipleship. Peter’s love for Jesus will eventually lead him to his own cross.

That’s so different from the way we often talk about faith. We focus on blessings, success, personal growth — and sure, following Jesus brings all that. But at its heart, discipleship is laying down your life.

For us, it probably won’t mean literal martyrdom — but there’s still a cost. Our time, our comfort, our reputation, our money — they’re all on the table.

And finally, this passage absolutely shuts the door on the lie that your failures disqualify you from serving God. Peter is living proof that the biggest disasters don’t have to define your future.

Jesus doesn’t avoid the failure. He faces it head on, then offers Peter restoration — and with it, a whole new life of service.

That’s good news for you and me.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you that you don’t leave us stuck in our failures, but that you restore us — through your work on the cross and through your ongoing relationship with us.

Help us to hear your question — "Do you love me?" — and answer it honestly. Show us how to feed and care for those around us, even when it costs us.

And when the cost starts to sting, help us remember that you are worth it all — because you gave everything for us.

We pray this in your mighty name. Amen.