This is the third time Jesus has appeared to his disciples (and his fourth appearance altogether including Mary Magdalene) (v.14).
Jesus appears in the ordinariness of simple daily life. You do not necessarily need to do extraordinary things. Jesus meets you wherever you are. Peter is fishing. Six of the disciples join him. Jesus tells them where to catch fish and then cooks breakfast for them. Here is Jesus risen from the dead – the one through whom the whole universe came into being – saying to his friends, ‘Come and have breakfast’ (v.12). The God who is revealed in Jesus Christ is life-affirming and such fun!
When John recognized Jesus he exclaimed to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ (v.7a). Peter is so filled with excitement, enthusiasm and zeal to get to Jesus as quickly as he can that ‘he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water’ (v.7b).
Sometimes in our enthusiasm and zeal we may do some rather crazy things. But what matters is a heart of love and zeal for Jesus. Peter’s eyes were riveted on Jesus. All he wanted was to be with Jesus.
In Jesus’ conversation with Peter after breakfast, we see what it means to have this passionate love for Jesus:
Supreme love
Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ (v.15). ‘These’ may refer to his fishing gear or the other disciples. Whatever it means, Jesus was calling him to make his love for Jesus his supreme love. Our love for Jesus should be more than our love for anything else.
Peter’s zeal had not been without its obstacles. He had denied Jesus three times, so Jesus gives him the opportunity to affirm his love three times. Three times Peter tells Jesus, ‘I love you’ (vv.15–17).
Sacrificial love
Jesus hints to Peter that his love and zeal for Jesus and his church is going to be costly. Indeed, it would cost Peter his life. Jesus says to him, ‘“When you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God’ (vv.18–19). This is the earliest evidence for the martyrdom of Peter by crucifixion. To be a follower of Jesus is a dangerous undertaking.
When Peter is told this he turns, sees John and asks about his future. In this intimate moment with Jesus, Peter is distracted by comparison with John. Jesus ‘politely tells him to mind his own business’. Joyce Meyer writes, ‘When you are tempted to compare yourself with others or be jealous, remember this advice!’
Servant love
Each time Peter tells Jesus ‘I love you’, Jesus tells Peter, ‘Feed my lambs… Take care of my sheep… Feed my sheep’ (vv.15–17). Peter can only guide, nourish and be responsible for people if he loves Jesus passionately.
Then Jesus says to Peter very simply, ‘Follow me!’ (v.19). This love for Jesus means following his example of love. Jesus showed the supreme example of servant love. He said, ‘Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’ (15:13). He gave a very practical example of what this kind of servant love involved, when he washed the disciples’ feet (John 13). It is a commitment to help people, to whom we are not necessarily attracted, to grow in their love for Jesus, not seeking to control them but to liberate them.
Jesus calls you to the same kind of love. You express your passionate love for Jesus by a passionate love for other people, by giving yourself to take care of his sheep, to feed, serve and love them.
Peter was willing to make Jesus the supreme love of his life; he was willing to pay the price and to follow in his footsteps of servant love. He loved the one who did so many things in his brief life on earth that ‘if every one of them were written down… the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written’ (21:25).