Red Letter Questions, Part 8: “Do You Love Me?”

Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

The Denials
¹⁷ Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”
         He said, “I am not.”
         ¹⁸ Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.  John 18:17–18, New King James Version

²⁵ Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore, they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”
         He denied it and said, “I am not!”
         ²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?”
         ²⁷ Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.    John 18:25–27, New King James Version

Breakfast with a Risen Savior
⁹ When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
         ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”   John 21:9–12

The – triggering a memory

The – remembering a miracle

The and the – recalling the moments of failure

“The pattern of the prodigal is:
rebellion, ruin, repentance, reconciliation, restoration.”
Edwin Louis Cole

The Restoration
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.”
        ¹⁶ 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.”
        ¹⁷ 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.” John 21:15–17

Peter fully failed and yet was .
…if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
2 Timothy 2:13

Failure is neither nor .
No matter my failure, God’s restoration is more powerful.

Small Group Questions

1. Where is your favorite place if you go out for breakfast? Favorite breakfast food?
2. Take some time and read the accounts of the denial and restoration of Peter. What does God say to you about your own denials and restoration through these stories?
3. What happens in your heart when you see the details (the fire, the food, and the failure) Jesus used to bring Peter to the point of restoration?
4. If Jesus asked you right now, “Do you love me?”, how would you answer his question?
5. How can you “feed and care for God’s sheep” this week?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?