SCRIPTURE READING:
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but 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. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” John 21:15-19
Peter’s defining moment wasn’t the night he denied Jesus — though that memory likely haunted him. It wasn’t the sound of the rooster, or the shame that followed. It was this moment, on the shore, with the risen Christ beside a fire.
After breakfast, Jesus turned to Peter. Not to shame him. Not to lecture him. But to restore him.
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Three times He asked. Three times Peter replied. And three times, Jesus commissioned him: “Feed my sheep.”
This wasn’t a coincidence. It was a re-creation of Peter’s denial — but this time with grace. Each question undid a failure. Each answer brought him back into fellowship and purpose.
Notice what Jesus didn’t say:
He didn’t say, “Peter, why did you mess up?”
He didn’t say, “Are you sure you won’t fail again?”
He said, “Do you love me?”
Peter’s restoration wasn’t based on perfect performance, but on love. That’s the moment everything changed.
Jesus doesn’t discard broken people. He redeems them. He builds His Church not on flawless saints, but on forgiven sinners who know what it means to be restored.
This moment launched Peter into his calling. The man who once ran from a servant girl would go on to preach at Pentecost, heal the sick, and lay the foundation for the early Church.
Your defining moment may come long after your failure. But failure doesn’t disqualify you. In fact, it might just be what God uses to humble and prepare you for what’s next.
Something to prayerfully think about: Do I believe that Jesus wants to restore and use me — not in spite of my failures, but through them?
