Some background....

Peter was one of the first disciples to follow Jesus during His earthly ministry.  As we follow Peter through the Gospels, ....we see him as passionate, impetuous, boastful.  But seeing something more in Peter, Jesus said, "Come along with me and I will show you how to fish for the souls of men!"  (Matthew 4:19 TLB)

Peter traveled with Jesus for three years.  Ate meals with Him. Saw many miracles.  Heard Jesus' preaching.

 Peter also....

walked on water ....in a storm with Jesus (see Matthew 14:24-33)

declared Jesus to be "the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:13-17)‍

saw Jesus "transfigured", talking with Moses and Elijah, and heard the voice from heaven saying "This is my dearly loved Son...." (Matthew 17:1-13)

‍boasted vigorously of his love for Jesus, saying "Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you." (Matthew 26:31-35)

....and yet, within a few hours after Jesus' arrest in the garden, ....Peter had denied knowing Jesus ....three times.  (Matthew 26:57-75)

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Peter denies knowing Jesus....

Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered. Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.  ....A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”
 
.......Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying — I don’t know the man!”  And immediately the rooster crowed.  Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”  And he went away, weeping bitterly.
    — Matthew 26:57-58,69,74-75 NLT

Peter was devastated by guilt.  ....How could he have done such a thing!?  How could he reconcile, recover from such failure?

....But Jesus loved Peter, ....just as He loves you and me!

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Why is this story in the Bible?‍

Let's pause here a moment to ask ...."Why?" is this story about Peter in the Bible?  ....What can we learn from it?

We need to see how God's "perfect" counterintuitive plan ....actually works out in someone's life.  

Show me, ....so I can believe it is possible for me to have an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus, .......when I need it most!  

God's "perfect plan" is ...."Jesus as our Savior, Lord and Friend"....

For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.  So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
    — Romans 5:10-11 NLT

Peter needed a friend, ....and Jesus is One and More!

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....THAT is what this website is all about!

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Okay, back to Peter's "God-Moment" ....with some background on the Greek words Jesus used talking with Peter in their breakfast meeting.

"Agapao" verses "Phileo"

In translating the Bible from original languages — Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic — into English, nuances of an original word might be "lost in translation" to English. Especially, when there is not an exact equivalent word in English.  ....For example, the English word "love" can have a lot of different meanings ....depending on context (how the word is used).  ....By contrast, in the Greek language ....different "context" meanings for the concept of "love" ....have their own unique Greek word.  

We see this in the Greek words "Agapao" verses "Phileo".  These are the two words Jesus used in His breakfast meeting with Peter, ....asking Peter "do you love Me?"

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Peter's "God-Moment" ....at "Phileo"

....In Jesus' three questions to Peter, notice the progression of meanings for "love" in the Greek language.  ...."Agapao?", ...."Agapao?", ...."Phileo?"

We overhear their conversation....

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love (agapao) me more than these?" Peter said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love (phileo) you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
 
Jesus said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (agapao) me?" Peter said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love (phileo) you."  Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep."
 
Jesus said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (phileo) me?" Peter was grieved because Jesus said to him the third time, "Do you love (phileo) me?" and Peter said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love (phileo) you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep."
    — John 21:15-17 ESV

Perhaps verse 17 could be rephrased as, ....Jesus finally asked, "Simon, son of John, can we be close friends?"  ....Jesus knew everything about Peter's denial knowing Him.  He knew Peter saw himself as a failure.  ....And yet, ....Jesus, the risen Son of God, ....asks Peter to be His "close friend" (phileo), ....so Jesus could bring Peter back into a loving (agapao) relationship with Himself.  ....How many ways can you spell "Wow!"

Why is this important?  

"Seeing" how Jesus and Peter's relationship was lovingly restored, ....we have found a treasure for knowing God's (agapao) love for us!  ....See it.  Believe it.

May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.  Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
    — Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT

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Empowered by God the Holy Spirit

How did Peter respond when Jesus said, "Feed my lambs", ...."Tend my sheep", ...."Feed my sheep"?  ....SMILE, ....Peter was "ALL IN!"

Let's follow him....

Just before ascending into Heaven, Jesus said....

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
    — Luke 24:49 NLT

And just as Jesus said, it happened on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-12....

Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit ....and empowered by God ....to be ALL IN!  ....And Peter steps forward to preach the first sermon about Jesus as the Risen Christ.

Peter's words about Christ's death and resurrection pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"

Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God."
 
Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!"  Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
    — Acts 2:38-41 NLT

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‍1 Peter & 2 Peter

History tells us that Peter was ALL IN, dying a martyr for believing in Jesus as Savior, Lord, and his "Friend".  ....Peter did "agapao" love Jesus, and wrote about it in one of his two New Testament letters....

You love (agapao) him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.  The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.  
    — 1 Peter 1:8-9 NLT

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Why am I telling you this story?

Because we all need to see how God's "perfect" counterintuitive plan ....actually works out in someone's life.  Just as Jesus changed Peter's life, so too He can change yours and mine.  ....We too need to be ALL IN with Jesus!

But the above is Peter's story.... ‍

What is your story?

Okay, ....let's stop here a little while, ....think about "your story".  What has God been doing in your life?  ....And why am I asking?  Because it is important for you to OWN YOUR BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW.  And from my experience, it helps to both speak ....and write out the details ....of "what?" you believe and "why?"

Whether you like writing with paper and pen, ....or prefer writing with computer, ....now might be a good time for you to ....write "your story" from your heart.  ....What do you want to tell yourself about Jesus in your life?  Take your time, ....write honestly to yourself for yourself, ....because He already knows everything.  SMILE....

Then tell someone what you believe and why....  

.......You may be the encouraging voice ....they need to hear today, ....to help them find more of God in their life ....now ....and for Eternity.

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Speak / write from your heart about Jesus, and
....someone listening may never be the same again....

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....Isn't it a great way to travel, being ALL IN with Jesus!

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^{*Credits: writing scripture image anonymous / Peter preaching day of Pentecost from Biblword / Jesus calls first disciples from pinterest / Jesus and Peter in storm from paintingvalley / anonymous images found on multiple sites and blogs — Jesus cooks breakfast on beach /  Peter denies Jesus / day of Pentecost}