Peter's Restoration To Office

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: John 21:15-17
Psalters: 374, 232, 52, 221
  1. The necessity.
    1. Jesus leads Peter to see his sin and its seriousness.
      1. Jesus shows him (and us) that the heart of his sin was a lack of love for Jesus.
      2. Note that Jesus uses the name “Simon, son of Jonas.”
      3. Jesus’ three questions reminded Peter that he denied his Lord three times.
    2. Jesus’ questions of Peter were increasingly intense.
      1. The first question asked Peter to compare his love for Jesus with the other disciples.
      2. The second question asked Peter individually: do you love me – at all?
      3. The third question used a different word, because it was the one Peter used in each of his previous answers.
    3. Jesus’ questions are very instructive.
  2. Peter does publicly confess his public sin, and does so by publicly professing His love for the Lord.
    1. In front of the other disciples Jesus speaks with Peter.
      1. His sins were in front of them.
      2. The other disciples/apostles needed to see that Jesus had restored him to the office so they would receive him.
    2. First, note well that Peter’s confession is obviously sincere because he avoided using other things (two very common).
      1. He did not hide behind mitigating circumstances to deny or lessen his sin.
      2. And Peter did not do any comparing of self with others.
    3. Second, true confession requires humility which sees only self and what I did against the Lord and against His love.
      1. Peter becomes increasingly aware that his denial was a violation of the love-relation.
      2. All boasting is gone, and so Peter uses the weaker word.
      3. There is the complete absence of any self-reliance.
  3. The restoration.
    1. The restoration to office is accomplished by the Chief Shepherd.
    2. The chief responsibility of the office is to nurture the flock.
      1. The flock is distinguished as “lambs” and “sheep.”
      2. The flock he is to “feed” (15,17) and to “tend, keep” (16).
    3. The chief quality required for the office is to love the Lord Jesus Christ.
      1. Love for Him breeds love for the sheep.
      2. Proper care for God’s sheep in their sins and difficulties arises from loving them for Christ’s sake.