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The Book of John is one that always lifts my spirit. Whenever I need encouragement, I know the words in this book will bring clarity and peace. Recently, John 21:15-23 stood out to me in a new way—at just the right moment—reminding me how Scripture has a way of speaking exactly to what’s on our hearts.

This passage captures a post-resurrection moment, where Jesus appears to His disciples for the third time. What stands out is His interaction with Peter—yes, let's pick on Peter again! After his pre-crucifixion failure and denial (Luke 22:60-62), Peter is not cast aside by Jesus but restored and given a renewed purpose. But what makes this story even more interesting is what happens next—Peter, instead of fully embracing his renewed calling, turns his attention to John and asks, "What about him?"

We see two key themes unfold:

1. Jesus' restoration of Peter—showing us that failure is never final, and God's grace is always greater.

2. Jesus' redirection of Peter's focus—teaching us that comparison only distracts us from our unique calling.

   
   

John 21 represents a moment of grace, conviction, and redirection, reminding us that our journey with Christ is not defined by past mistakes or by others' experiences, but by His call to keep moving forward in faith.

A Restored Purpose

Jesus turns to Simon Peter and asks: “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Peter replies, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”Jesus says to him, “Feed my lambs.”

A second time, Jesus asks: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter answers, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus says to him, “Tend my sheep.”

Then Jesus asked him a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because Jesus had asked him three times, “Do you love me?” He says, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus once again says to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Before Jesus' crucifixion, Peter denies knowing Him three times in His darkest hour (Luke 22:60-62). Now, in a moment of restoration, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Just as Peter had turned away, Jesus offers him a chance to turn back. Three times, Jesus reaffirms Peter’s calling: “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.” Not as a reminder of Peter’s failure but as a renewal of his purpose, demonstrating that grace is greater than weakness and that failure is never the final word.

How often do we feel unworthy of another chance? How often do we allow our past mistakes to define us, rather than embracing the renewing grace of God?

Jesus meets us in our weakest moments—not to cast us aside, but to restore, redeem, and call us forward. Just as He reinstated Peter, He calls us to step back into our purpose—not defined by our past, but by His love and divine plan for our lives. His grace rewrites our story.

A Shift from Comparison to Calling

As the conversation unfolds, Peter listens, but his focus quickly shifts—not to his own calling to follow Jesus, but to what will happen to his friend John, who was walking behind them. Instead of embracing his renewed purpose, he asks, “What about him?”—a question driven by curiosity, yet tangled in the trap of comparison.

It’s easy to get caught up in measuring our lives against others. We compare our challenges, callings, struggles, and even blessings. We look at someone else’s journey and wonder, Why is my path harder? Why do they seem more blessed? Why am I facing this, but they are not?

Peter's curiosity is essentially asking, "If I have to endure suffering, what about John?" But Jesus redirects him, making it clear that the details of another person’s journey should not distract from personal obedience and faithfulness.

How often do we find ourselves looking sideways instead of forward? Comparison has a way of breeding discontentment, jealousy, or even discouragement. But Jesus calls us to shift our focus.

His response to Peter is the same for us today: what Jesus planned for someone else is not our concern. Our focus should be on following Him. God’s plan for our life is unique, and our calling is not defined by anyone else's journey.

Moving Forward in Faith

John 21 serves as a reminder that our faith is a journey forward—not one where we dwell on past failures, not one where we obsess over someone else’s walk, but one where we trust that God is working in our lives, uniquely and purposefully.

Each of us has a role in God’s kingdom, and it won’t look exactly like someone else’s. Some will face challenges that others do not. Some will be given platforms, while others are called to quiet faithfulness. But comparison only distracts us from what God is doing in our own lives.

Let's fully embrace our calling, wherever it may lead. To trust that no matter what our journey looks like, it is leading us to an eternal future with Christ. There will be bumps along the way, but the Lord is faithful. And at the end, it’s all worth it. And as the old saying goes, “Please be patient with me, God is not finished with me yet.”

Stepping Into Renewal

If you’ve felt weighed down by past failures, or if you’ve been distracted by comparison, John 21 offers a beautiful reminder:

• Jesus meets you where you are.

• Your failures do not define you—God’s grace does.

• Your calling is uniquely yours—don’t let comparison rob you of your purpose.

  
  

Now is the time to move forward. To embrace renewed faith, renewed purpose, and renewed love for Christ. Are you ready?