Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. –John 21:7
Peter Jumps from the Boat
He is known for grand gestures like this. Peter is usually the first to answer, to try walking on water, to tell Jesus of his loyalty and love. But his answers are usually wrong. He almost drowned when he took his eyes off Jesus and denied him three times. To make up for his faults, he makes another grand gesture: “See Jesus, how I am willing to jump off the boat and swim while the others slowly row the boat?!” Peter is also the most relatable apostle. There are times we want to get forgiveness over early, so we make a show of “I’m sorry.” But forgiveness does not demand a show, but a commitment to change.
Gestures are cheap. Life change is expensive.
Rather than just accepting his eagerness as a sign that he is sorry and back in good standing, Jesus grounds Peter in the two things required for transformation – love and repentance. Jesus asks three times if Peter loves him. Jesus’ love is never in question. He loves Peter enough to die for him; loves him enough to forgive. It is Peter’s love that needs to be reckoned with. For each denial, there is a question of love because it is only by love and love returned that Peter can be restored for his failure. Each time, Peter says he loves Jesus. And for each acknowledgement of love, Jesus charges him with a change of behavior – “feed my sheep.”
The way forward for Peter is not a return to what life was like before, but a new normal ahead. Because Jesus loves him, and because Peter has accepted Jesus’ grace to love him in return, Peter has a mission. He is to turn around from what was before and move in the will of the savior. Feeding Jesus’ sheep, taking care of the community of believers and sharing the Gospel, will cost Peter. He will need to leave his nets again, love others boldly, and open himself up to the question again, a question that will cost his life, “Do you know him?” And this time, because of love, grace, and the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus, the answer will be “Yes.”
What will our answer be? The way we’re known to be followers of Jesus is not by grand gestures but our love for God, others and a commitment to participate in the pattern of Christ.
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