Did you get time to do your own digging to find out what is happening behind the scenes on this verse?
Before we start, let’s look at the source of their breakfast before we get into the deeper stuff. In verses 21:7-9 we are told that Peter dives into the water and swims to shore. When he gets there, there are fish cooking on the barbie. Jesus tells him to go and get some of the fish they have just caught. So he goes back to the boat and they bring the net to shore. The question is where did Jesus get the fish that he was cooking on the fire when Peter arrived. He was not cooking the fish they caught, he was cooking other fish. Where did the fish come from? Either it was bought or Jesus used another kid’s lunch for “breakie”.
Jesus waits until after breakfast before hitting Peter three times with the same question? “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” He doesn’t call him Peter or Rocky; the name Jesus uses is “Simon son of John” which was used in John 1:42. His pedigree, his roots are used again. Why specifically? I don’t have an answer at this stage. You work it out – then tell me. Hey it’s only fair; I am sharing all this other good stuff with you. By the time Peter is asked the question for the third time he is hurt by the on-going probing question. Verse 17 makes it clear that Peter was hurt by this continuing questioning. And maybe the fact that it is happening in front of the others although the text is not clear on that. But something else is also going on. While it looks like the same question being asked three times that is not true.
The first time the question is asked it is a little different from the others in that “more than these” is added. More than what? It is ambiguous. “These” could be masculine plural referring to the disciples or neuter plural meaning these things. Peter do you love me more than the others love me? Or Peter do you love me more than all these things around you. Fishing, the boat, all the things you have? What is the extent of your love Peter? I think it is a comparison with the other disciples. Peter twice made bold statements in front of the others about following the Lord anywhere. I will die for you Lord. Oh really, will you?
Now we come to something that we don’t pick up on in English or in Indonesian from the text because the change in wording in the original still uses the same word to translate the concept each time. This is where translation is difficult to preserve all the nuances and yet remain faithful to the original. A difficult task.
Let me spell it out for you and then I will leave you to ponder on it.
The first question: “Simon son of John, do you love (agape) Me?”
Peter’s answer: “You know I love (phileo) You.”
The second question: “Simon son of John, do you love (agape) Me?”
Peter’s answer: “You know I love (phileo) You.”
The third question: “Simon son of John, do you love (phileo) Me?”
Peter’s answer: “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love (phileo) You.”
Then to add to the mix Jesus responses to Peter’s answers – Feed My lambs – Take care of My sheep – Feed My sheep
Do some thinking about it; more tomorrow.
Now for some funny one liners:
The tragedy of Canada: They could have had French cuisine, British culture, and American technology. Instead, they ended up with British cuisine, American culture, and French technology.
Anon
An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets the more interested he is in her.
Anon