Let Jesus take you through this situation with Peter one more time. Let Him show you that He isn’t just trying to heal Peter from the damage that came from denying Him, He is leading him into the next level of spiritual growth. Peter was trying to go back to his old way of life; and, Jesus was trying to take him to a totally new way of life.

John 21:15 (NIV) When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I love You.” Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.” First, Jesus dealt with Peter's trade. John 21:3 (NIV) “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Do you love Me more than your old source of income? Sure, no problem there.

John 21:16 (NIV) Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love Me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.” Do you love Me, was the next two questions. Peter was happy to report that he really did love Jesus when asked the first time. The problem is, even a confident commitment concerning love isn’t enough here. The second and third times Jesus asked, Peter got the impression that Jesus had doubts about his love. This hurt Peter. Jesus seemed to be doubting his commitment. But, as usual, Jesus had a purpose.

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 me?” He said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said, “Feed My sheep. Jesus wasn’t just bringing Peter back into His discipleship training program, He was taking Peter to the next level of spiritual growth. When you fail, Jesus won’t just restore you back to where you were. He will use it to help you be stronger and more committed than ever.

John 21:18-19 (NIV) I tell you (Peter) the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then He said to him, “Follow me!” The future demands on Peter were going to be far greater than those that had just taken him down. Jesus was telling Peter that he was going to be a martyr.

When you finished the first grade in school, you were going to face a more difficult second grade. They were going to expect you to use all the things they had taught you in the first grade so they could require you to learn all the things in the second grade. That is the way life is; it keeps requiring you to grow, learn, progress, and mature. If those things you failed at set you back and you stayed there, you would not be ready for the future. But, if you let Jesus use them, He will take you far beyond anything you have ever been before.

Now, let Jesus show you what He used to help Peter get ready for the denial challenge and the future demands on his life.

Mat 14:28-29 (NIV) “Lord, if it’s You,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to You on the water.” “Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Peter failed to be able to walk all the way to Jesus. Jesus ended up asking him: “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” Even though it looked bad, Peter was the only one who learned about having consistent, stable faith; he got out of the boat. That helped Peter grow in his understanding of the principles of faith.

Mat 15:15-16 (NIV) Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. That sounded like a harsh evaluation; but, it got Peter to open his heart and let it start looking for spiritual truths. Peter was seeing things from a human perspective. Jesus wanted him to start seeing in the spirit realm. Peter was training to be a mighty child of God. That class and Jesus’ critiquing helped Peter start hearing from God.

Here’s the results of Jesus’ critiquing and that Understanding-Parables class: Mat 16:15-17 (NIV) “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven. Soon Peter was going to need his spiritual eyes seeing all kinds of things in the spirit realm. As you read through the book of Acts, you will see a transformed Peter who got incredible revelations from the Holy Spirit. This class was very important.

Mat 16:22-24 (NIV) Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. Peter failed his “Standing-Up-For-Jesus” class and denied Him because of this fear of persecution and death.

Peter finally passed his No-Fear-Of-Persecution-Or-Death class and here are the results: Acts 4:18-20 (NIV) Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Even though Peter was talking to those people who had condemned Jesus to death, he wasn’t afraid of them anymore. He had been healed through Jesus’ training in his life.

Mat 17:24-25 (NIV) After Jesus and His disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your Teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, He does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes--from their own sons or from others?” Peter didn’t have Jesus’ permission to say He was going to pay taxes. Peter was just guessing.

Mat 17:27 (NIV) “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.” Even though Peter stepped out of bounds on this one, Jesus used it to teach Peter about supernatural supplies from God. Peter was going to need to trust God for his finances and material needs for the rest of his life. He also learned to not speak for Jesus and put words in His mouth.

Mat 18:21-22 (NIV) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Sometimes you may not want to ask Jesus for the answers to questions for fear of what the answer might be. But, Peter learned a very IMPORTANT principle that had his relationship with God at stake.

Mat 6:14-15 (NIV) For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Peter’s question opened a door for him to always get his heavenly Father’s forgiveness. This training class gave Peter some things to pray about that would build his relationship with God on many levels.

Mat 16:18-19 (NIV) 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.” These words weren’t just for Peter; but, they were going to be flowing through Peter into the lives of multitudes of people. Peter still had a ways to go; but, Jesus was letting him know he was on the right track.

It was right after the Matthew 16:18-19 affirmation from Jesus to Peter that Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him. Prov 16:18 (NIV) Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. You, like Peter, need affirmation; you need Jesus to tell you that you are doing good and are progressing. You need Him to let you know that He is going to use you in a mighty way for His glory and honor. But, it can cause you to see Him giving you the credit for your growth. Peter wasn’t getting better; he was getting more yielded to the flow of Jesus through him.

John 15:5 (NIV) I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. Let Jesus take you to a place where you believe that apart from Him you can do nothing. It is only when you believe this and yield fully to His influence in and through you that you will be ready to be helped yourself and be a channel through which He flows into the lives of others.