Simon Peter’s mission - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, 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.
John 21:15.

Simon Peter's mission
The Lord Jesus had forgiven Peter in a personal encounter on the resurrection day. But Peter had denied the Lord in public; so his restoration had also to be public, before the other disciples.

The Lord had prepared a meal for His disciples. He invited them to eat and served them Himself. Then there, before them all, He again spoke to Peter.

Peter had denied Him three times. Now Jesus asked him whether he loved Him three times. Peter answered three times that he did; and three times Jesus gave him a mission to fulfil. How that must have touched Peter's heart!

First the Lord asked him if he loved Him more than the others did. Peter had once maintained, "Even if all I will not" (Mark 14:29). Now he humbly answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." The Lord asked him a second and a third time. But Peter could only say, "Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you."

Peter lost his self-assurance and now left it to the Lord to express His judgment on him. He learned that he was no longer to be just a fisher of men, but a shepherd. The Lord gave him a threefold commission: "Feed my lambs"; "Tend my sheep"; "Feed my sheep".

With Peter's self-confidence destroyed, he no longer regarded himself, but looked to His Lord. That made him able to help others.

Today's reading: 1 Chronicles 16:7-22 · Psalms 89:1-10