John 21:15-25

< Back to John Index


TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Restoration of Peter to Fellowship with the Lord

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The good shepherd restores the sheep.

  2. The good shepherd feeds His sheep.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Don’t keep looking around at other believers.

  2. Make sure you quote the word correctly.

QUESTIONS

  1. What did the Lord mean by asking Peter if he loved Him more then these?

  2. Which verses predict Peter’s death? How would he die?

  3. According to this Scripture, what two things does the good shepherd do?

  4. What are the two Greek meanings of the word, “love” in John 21:15-17?

  5. Did the Lord restore Peter in front of the other disciples?

ANSWERS

  1. “These” probably meant did Peter love Him more than the other disciples? Peter had said that he would lay down his life for His sake (John 13:37).

  2. John 21:18-19. Peter would be martyred, and there is reliable tradition that he was crucified upside down.

  3. The good shepherd restores his sheep and he feeds his sheep.

  4. “Agape” means self-sacrificing love, a love of the will. “Phileo” means affection. The Lord used agape love in John 21:15-16, but phileo in John 21:17. Peter responded with phileo in John 21:15-16.

  5. No, they were at a distance. Jesus spoke to Peter, one on one.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. The Lord worked with Peter to restore him, one on one. Do you find this to be your most effective method in working with others? Recall times when the Lord dealt with you one on one.

  2. The Lord told Peter to feed His flock. How are you being fed? How are you feeding others?

CHALLENGE

  1. Avoid comparing yourself with others. The Lord said to Peter, “What is that to you? You follow me.” Good advice. When we look at others and compare ourselves to them, we tend to become discouraged, jealous, disheartened. This does not honor the Lord. Each of us has enough to do to keep busy in His service.

KEY VERSES

  • “When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’” John 21:15

  • “Jesus said to him, ‘If I will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.’” John 21:22 “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.” John 21:25



John, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsJohn 21:15-25