Through Christ, God redeems sinners. That is, by the saving work of Jesus, God has forgiven sinners and made them new creations. When sinners come to Jesus in faith, they are changed. They are born again. The guilt of sin is removed and its power is broken. This is not self-improvement. This is redemption. In this final interaction between Jesus and Simon Peter, John puts on display a beautiful portrait of redemption. Peter’s grievous sin of denying Jesus is dealt with thoroughly and graciously so as to bring about genuine transformation.

As though mirroring Peter’s threefold denial, Jesus asks him three times whether he loves him. Peter’s pride has been chastened by his failure. Gone is the boastful man who took for granted that his loyalty to Christ would never fail. Now all Peter can do is appeal to Jesus’ own knowledge as support for his affirmation of love. And as John points out, Peter’s love for Christ will be displayed when he follows him all the way to his own cross.

The key matter for the Christian life is this: Do I love Jesus? Having first been loved by the Lord, the Christian now lives a life of love for Christ. There are times when it is right and helpful to consider such matters as whether we are worshiping and serving with God’s people, giving joyfully, praying daily, reading our Bible, or telling people about Jesus. All of those things are important means by which we grow in Christian maturity. But at the heart of it all is the matter of our love for Jesus. And love for Jesus, like all genuine love, is something that is expressed in acts. For the one who loves Jesus, that love will be demonstrated in following him. The Christian follows Jesus in terms of obedience to all that he has commanded. It means that even when it becomes costly, the one who loves Jesus will follow him.