A Lesson in Total Dependance
A Lesson in Total Dependance
Mark 14:66-72 (KJV)
66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. 68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. 69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. 70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. 71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. 72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
After Peter’s failure, Jesus was crucified. After His resurrection, Jesus has another interaction with Peter.
To set the stage a little here, Peter has been fishing all night, but caught nothing. As morning came, Jesus yelled out to the disciples on the boat and told them to cast their net on the other side. When they did that, they caught a net full of huge fish. It was then that Peter recognized that it was the Lord who had called to them and caused the huge catch.
The disciples, led by the typically demonstrative Peter, who “threw himself” into the water to get to shore more quickly, ate fish—which, notably, were already on the fire when they got there—with Jesus for breakfast.
John 21:15-17 (KJV)
15 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. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Notice that right at the start Jesus asks Peter if he loves Jesus more than “these.” What Jesus is asking Peter hinges on what is being referred to by the word “these.” The Greek word here is τούτων (toutōn).
According to the New English Translation (NET), “Three possibilities are suggested by Bible translators:
(1) τούτων (toutōn) should be understood as neuter, “these things,” referring to the boats, nets, and fishing gear nearby.” In this case, “Jesus, as he restores Peter and forgives him for his denials, is asking Peter if he really loves his previous vocation more than he loves Jesus. The choice being offered to Peter between material things and the risen Jesus would seem rather ridiculous, especially after the disciples had realized whom it was, they were dealing with.
(2) τούτων refers to the other disciples, meaning “Do you love me more than you love these other disciples?” The same objection would apply here: Could the author, in light of the realization of who Jesus is which has come to the disciples after the resurrection, and which he has just mentioned, seriously present Peter as being offered a choice between the other disciples and the risen Jesus?
This leaves option (3), that τούτων refers to the other disciples, meaning “Do you love me more than these other disciples do?” It seems likely that there is some irony here: Peter had boasted in 13:37, “I will lay down my life for you,” and the synoptics (Matt., Mark, & Luke) present Peter as boasting even more explicitly of his loyalty to Jesus (“Even if they all fall away, I will not,” Matt 26:33; Mark 14:29). Thus the semantic force of what Jesus asks Peter here amounts to something like “Now, after you have denied me three times, as I told you you would, can you still affirm that you love me more than these other disciples do?”” --NET Bible.
I think this third option is very much preferred.
Jesus refers to Peter’s failure, but only indirectly. There is no hint of condemnation; no requirement that Peter ask to be forgiven; no penance or act of contrition required. Jesus merely shows Peter that bragging about how much he loves Jesus is not what Jesus wants from Peter.
Peter’s repeated response, “you know that I love you” shows that he is no longer making claims about himself. Instead, he defers to Jesus’ intimate knowledge of him. He does not set out to prove his love and devotion as we have come to expect him to do. Instead, he acknowledges that he is fully known and trusts that will be enough.
His actions in the moment were out of line with it, but Peter’s heart was one of love for the Lord because at his core he believed that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”, the truth upon which the Church is built and stands. (see Matthew 16:16 and following)
His faith has shifted from faith in himself, to complete dependence on Jesus.
Grace and peace to you.
--Larry Eiss
