Simon, Do You Love Me?

It is difficult in one word to characterize the interaction between the Savior and Simon Peter in our text. It is both tender and awkward at the same time. We find the obvious deep love between the two while also seeing that the relationship has been altered by both Peter's denial of the Savior – being intimidated by a young servant girl – and the Savior's stunning and triumphant resurrection a few days later. Peter's rash jump into the water upon recognizing the Savior is deeply contrasted by his deep grief when the Savior ask him the third time if he loves Him. And the climax of all this drama is the Savior's revelation that Peter will both live a long life and die violently in a manner he would not choose. Nevertheless, the call to discipleship to this zealous but often unstable disciple was the same as it was at the beginning; Jesus said, "follow me." The Savior even now can and does use such as Peter was. Peter would continue to learn some hard lessons over the course of his years (see Gal. 2:11). Yet, even in death, Peter would glorify His Savior (verse 19). – Pastor Schlegel