Beyond Restoration
An Article by Renée Harms
The Gospel of John ends with a rather candid and surprising interaction between Peter and Jesus after the resurrection. Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, three times Peter states emphatically that yes, of course he does!
This is an important moment between two friends. Peter especially must have been feeling a sense of awkwardness and deep shame, knowing he had just recently turned his back on Jesus in His time of greatest need; and this was now compounded by his new understanding of who Jesus really was. In this moment of reconciliation, Jesus offers His unconditional forgiveness, as both His friend and Savior. Jesus wasn't trying to reassure himself that Peter loved Him, He already knew Peter's heart. This was for Peter's sake-an affirmation and restoration to discipleship.
But then Jesus takes Peter beyond just restoration. Three times He responds to Peter's avowals of love with a simple command: "Feed my sheep."
Jesus was asking for more than a declaration. In essence He asked, "What do you really mean when you say you love me? And what are you going to do about it?"
When we find ourselves far from God, His desire is to restore us, through His mercy, to a state of communion and relationship with Him. But our journey should never end there. Jesus says, "I know your heart, I forgive you, you are still my child-now go tell others that I want to do the same for them."
As the Psalmist-who knew well about shame and forgiveness-writes:
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me
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