Thoughts on the Gospel of John (217) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

So 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

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (217)
After the successful catch of fish, the Lord invites His disciples to breakfast. Even after His resurrection, He is the Servant who provides for His own. However, the Good Shepherd not only takes care of their physical needs but also cares for their souls. This is evident now as He deals with Peter’s failure. He doesn’t want to embarrass Peter in front of the others, but He wants to show him the cause of his failure. At the same time, everyone is to know that He wants to use Peter in His ministry again after his repentance.

When Peter denied the Lord, he warmed himself by a fire of coals made by the servants of the high priest. Now he sits by a fire that the Lord has lit. Now he can warm himself and have breakfast in good company. At the fire in the courtyard of the high priest, Peter had been tested three times, and each time he had denied his Lord more and more vehemently. Now the Lord probes his heart three times, and with each time He penetrates more deeply until Peter finally entrusts himself unreservedly to Him.

The first question the Lord asks him refers to Peter’s arrogant statement shortly before Jesus’ capture: “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be” (Mark 14:29). Now Peter has to face the question: “Are you still convinced that you love Me more than the other disciples?”

What should he answer? It’s as if he were saying, “After my terrible denial, it seems as if I never loved You, but You know that I love You.”

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today’s reading: Habakkuk 3:1-19 · Mark 10:23-31