Dear Family and Friends,
 
We’re all familiar with the following encounter between Jesus and Peter. This, their third time together since Jesus was resurrected, was the first time that we know they spoke.
 
“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.’
 
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.’
 
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 NIV
 
This heart-warming story is filled with many lessons – repentance, forgiveness, restoration, love, and much more.
 
Today, we will spend our time on a lesser-known lesson – on how Jesus not only restored Peter, He transformed him.

To better see Peter’s transformation, let’s examine a few of Peter’s encounters with Jesus before the crucifixion. 
 
But before we begin, let me ask – have you ever been promoted or recognized over your peers?
 
I suspect many of us have. School systems are based on the best and the brightest rising to the top. So too at work where promotions go to the better performers.
 
One last question – how did being recognized make you feel? Pretty good?
 
I suspect Peter felt pretty good when Jesus ‘promoted’ him above his peers. 
 
“Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
 
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’”  Matthew 16:16-19 NIV
 
Our fallen human nature is to take credit for our success.
 
And when we rise above our peers, we start believing that we are better than others. This belief becomes a part of how we see ourselves – our self-image and identity.
 
The following signs reveal Peter’s self-image after being recognized by Jesus.
 
The first sign:
 
When, “A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.” (Luke 22:24 NIV), Jesus stepped in to teach a leadership lesson. 

“The greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.”  Luke 22:26 NIV
 
Then Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”  Luke 22:31-32 NIV
 
Jesus repeated Simon’s name twice for a reason – the leadership lesson was meant for him.
 
Jesus also affirms Peter’s leadership role but doesn’t call him Peter, He continues to call him Simon.
 
Jesus was reminding Peter that his role would be in the future. He twice said – I will – build my church and give you the keys.
 
The second sign:
 
“‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’”  John 13:8 NIV
 
As Jesus started washing the disciples’ feet, Peter told Jesus what to do.
 
After Jesus replied, Peter, still missing the point, tried again to tell Jesus what to do. “‘Then, Lord,’ Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!’”  John 13:9 NIV

Was Peter feeling so emboldened that he could now question Jesus’ decisions?
 
The third sign:
 
“‘You will all fall away,’ Jesus told them.”  Mark 14:27 NIV
 
To which Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”  Mark 14:29 NIV
 
Peter declared he would be better than all the others. Did he see himself as the greatest of the disciples?
 
The fourth sign:
 
“‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.’”
 
To which Peter makes the bold claim he was unable to keep. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”  Mark 14:30-31 NIV
 
After denying Jesus for the third time and the rooster crowed, Peter wept.
 
Yes, he was remorseful for what he had done.
 
But he also wept because his false self-image – built on being better than others – came crashing down.

Peter realized that he wasn’t better or even equal to the others – he was actually worse…
 
Peter ignored the warning that he would fail. 
 
As we approach Easter, this would be a good time to heed that same warning and re-examine ourselves.

Let’s ask ourselves the hard questions – Who am I? Is any part of my self-image based on false premises – like being better than others?
 
Let’s close by going back to Peter and Jesus’ conversation on the beach when Jesus asked Peter three times – do you love me.

Jesus gave Peter three opportunities to reverse his denials. 
 
Jesus was also giving Peter three opportunities to reset his self-image, to set his identity not on himself but on Jesus.
 
We see a new Peter in the Book of Acts.
 
I sense that Jesus is asking each of us the same questions:
 
Do you love Me? If so, you have been given the right to become children of God. (See John 1:12)
 
Do you love Me? If so, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you.” John 15:4 NIV
 
Do you love Me? If so, “Come, follow me.” Matthew 4:19 NIV
 
In love always,