Mark 16:1 (NIV) When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Instead of finding Jesus’ body, they discovered that He was no longer in the tomb. In the tomb was an angel who gave them a message for the disciples: Mark 16:6 (NIV) “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.”

Mark 16:7 (NIV) “But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’” This was Peter’s first step toward healing. Jesus had the angel give Peter a special invitation into His discipleship meeting. Without that special invition, Peter would have probably taken his first steps into alienation. He would have heard about the meeting; but, he would have probably not attended it.

Mark 16:14-15 (NIV) Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; He rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Peter was there as one of the eleven. Since Judas was dead, Peter’ being there made it eleven.

John 21:14 (NIV) This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. Peter was back in the meeting with the disciples; but, he was no longer his old self nor was he a new self. He was a damaged Peter that needed to be humble but not depressed. Peter hated himself, doubted himself, and rejected himself. Jesus wasn’t going to restore him, repair him, or remodel him. He was going to transform him into a new Peter.

Jesus illustrated the difference between repair and rebirth, restoration and transformation in Matthew 9:16 (NIV): “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

John 3:3 (NIV) In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” If you try to simply use your old self, your old training, your old skills, and your old abilities, you are trying to pour the great things of God into your old self. If you try to use salvation to improve your old way of life, you will be putting a new unshrunken patch on an old garment. It is going to be new wine into new wineskins.

In Greek, as in English, there are three levels or types of emotional and relational attachment of two people. In Greek there is agape, which is a similar word to our word love when used properly. There is phileo, which is similar to our word like. And there is eros, which is similar to our word lust. In Jesus’ dialogue with Peter, the first two levels of emotional, relational involvement with two people are being used--love (agape) and like (phileo).

John 21:15 (NIV) When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love Me (agape: love Me as your God) more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I love (phileo: like as a friend) You.” Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.” Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him and Peter responded with the fact that he liked him. Jesus wasn’t asking Peter if he liked Him; He was looking for Peter to love Him. Peter wasn’t going to learn how to resist temptations with love if all he had was like.

Rom 5:5 (NIV) And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out HIS LOVE (agape) into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Whom He has given us. Peter didn’t have what it took to love (agape) Jesus; all he had was human love (phileo). Peter was giving it his best, which was like; but, Jesus wanted more--love. Also Jesus was calling Peter back into following Him in being a shepherd for His sheep and loving them. This was the same call Peter got years ago; it was just a reestablishing and an identifying call.

John 21:16 (NIV) Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love (agape: love from God) Me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love (phileo: like from humans) You.” Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.” This challenge from Jesus was asking Peter to open his heart to the fulfillment of God’s commandment concerning love: Mark 12:30-31 (NIV) Love (agape) the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love (agape) your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Jesus was asking Peter to love (agape) Him and to love (agape) His sheep. This was an appeal for Peter to get this love from God so he could resist all those things that would hinder him from loving God and loving the people around him.

John 21:17 (NIV) 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 (phileo: like from humans) me?” He said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love (phileo: like from humans)You.” Jesus said, “Feed My sheep. The first two questions from Jesus were challenges for Peter to yield to spiritual growth. The last question was starting Peter from where he was so he could be taken to a new level of emotional and relational involvement with Him and others.