“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.”
My Notes
What Does John 21:15 Mean?
After the resurrection, Jesus meets Peter at breakfast by the sea and asks him three times: lovest thou me? The repetition mirrors Peter's three denials. Each question is a restoration — undoing the betrayal one layer at a time.
"Lovest thou me more than these?" — the first question compares Peter's love to the others. Peter had boasted he would never deny Jesus even if everyone else did. Now Jesus asks: do you really love me more?
Peter's answer drops the comparison: Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He does not claim superiority. He does not promise grand things. He appeals to Jesus' knowledge — you know my heart.
Jesus' response to each declaration of love is a commission: feed my lambs, feed my sheep, feed my sheep. Love is expressed through service. The restoration is not just emotional healing. It is recommissioning for work. You denied me. You still love me. Now feed my sheep.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Why does Jesus ask Peter three times — and why beside a charcoal fire?
- 2.How does Peter's humble answer differ from his earlier boasting?
- 3.What does 'feed my sheep' reveal about how love is expressed?
- 4.Where do you need Jesus to take you back to a failure and rewrite it?
Devotional
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Three times. Once for each denial. The repetition is not punishment. It is restoration — a careful, deliberate undoing of the worst night of Peter's life.
Peter had denied Jesus three times beside a charcoal fire. Jesus restores him beside a charcoal fire. The setting is intentional. Jesus takes Peter back to the scene of his failure and rewrites it.
Lovest thou me more than these? Peter had bragged that his love was superior to everyone else's. Now Jesus gently asks: is that still your claim? Peter's answer is humble: Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. No more boasting. Just honest appeal to the one who sees his heart.
Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. Love is not a feeling to declare. It is a duty to perform. You love me? Prove it — by caring for my people. The restoration comes with a commission. You are not just forgiven. You are sent.
If you have failed — if you have denied what you promised to uphold — this scene is for you. Jesus does not dismiss Peter. He does not lecture him. He takes him back to the failure, asks the essential question, and then gives him something to do.
Lovest thou me? Then feed my sheep.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
So when they had dined,.... The Persic version adds,
Jesus turned his face to Simon Peter; he did not interrupt them…
Lovest thou me more than these? - There is a slight ambiguity here in the original, as there is in our translation. The…
Simon lovest thou me - Peter had thrice denied his Lord, and now Christ gives him an opportunity in some measure to…
We have here Christ's discourse with Peter after dinner, so much of it as relates to himself, in which,
I. He examines…
The Commission to S. Peter and Prediction as to his death
15. dined See on Joh 21:21.
saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son…
Cross References
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