Runninghead:Jesusaschangeagent(John21:1­25)

Jesusaschangeagent(John21:1­25)

BryanEasley

RegentUniversity

Jesusaschangeagent2

Abstract

JesusactsasanagentofchangeinreversingPeter’srelationshipwithJesusduetohisdenial

ofJesus.Asaleader,Jesusinitiatesandfacilitatesthisreversalandrestoration,something

Peterisunabletodoonhisown.SeeingJesusasaleaderofchangeinthissettingprovidesa

deeperunderstandingofhowtoday’sleaderscanproperlyviewthepeopleandcircumstances

inwhichtheylead.

Jesusaschangeagent3

InnerTextureAnalysis

NarratologicalUnitsinJohn21:1­25

TherearethreeidentifiablenarrativeunitswithinJohn21:1‐25bracketedbyan

introductorytransitionsentenceandsummarizationoftheauthor’sveracityregardingthe

entiregospelaccount.ThefirstunitbeginswitharosterofcharactersinJohn21:2and

concludeswiththenarrator’ssummaryinJohn21:14.ThesecondunitbeginswithJesusasking

aquestionofPeterandendswithJesustellingPetertofollow.ThethirdunitbeginswithPeter

seeingJohnandendsinJohn21:24withJohn’stestimonial.

Unit1focusesontheactionsofPeterandahandfulofotherdisciplesduringthetime

followingtheresurrectionofJesus.Theeventcentersonanunsuccessfulovernightfishingtrip

thatendswithPeterjumpingfromtheboattoruntomeetJesus.Hisinstructionresultsina

miraculouscatchoffishandasubsequentbreakfastonthebeach.Theauthorselectively

concludesthismeetingbyinformingthereaderthatthiswasthethirdappearanceofJesusto

thedisciples(John21:14).

Unit2shiftsthescenetofocusprimarilyonJesusandPeter.Thissectionisbuiltarounda

progressiverhetoricalargumentaboutPeterthatcuriouslyterminatesinarecitationofthe

author’sfuturefate.Thisunitisprimarilydialogical.Thesetting(sittingaroundthefireeating)

issimplybackgroundtotheconversation.

Unit3recountsaquestionPeterasksJesus,namelyaboutthefateofJohn,whowasthere

eatingwiththem.Thisunitissomewhatstrangeinthatthesubjectmatterhaslittletodowith

theprecedingversesortopic.Theonlyobviouspointofconnectionisthereaffirmationthat

PeteristofollowJesusregardless.Itsprimaryfunctionseemstobetomakeastatementabout

theauthorratherthanPeter.

Repetitive­ProgressiveTextureandPattern

ProgressionofTheme

Jesusaschangeagent4

Figure1showsalistofrepeatedwordsandideasfoundinJohn21:1‐25.Thisprogression

revealsadistinctshiftinsubjectbetweenthefirsttwounits(John21:1‐14and21:15‐23).Inthe

firstunit(John21:1‐14),fishoccursfrequently.Theactoffishing,thecatchingoffish,andthe

eatingoffishforbreakfastarecenterpiecesintheplotofthissub‐unit.Thesubjectoffishdoes

notoccuragaininthelargerpassageafterJohn21:13.

Inthesecondunit(John21:15‐23),adifferentthemeisrevealed.Here,theprimary

elementsarethequestionoflovingJesus,feedingsheep,andfollowingJesus.Theseideasare

notpresentpriortoJohn21:15.Aclearshiftoccursatthestartofthissection,thusmarkingit

asadistinctivesub‐unitinthepassage.

Figure1

RepeatedwordsandideasinJohn21:1‐25

21:1

JOHN21:2‐14

21:2

21:3 fishing,

caughtnothing

21:4

21:5 fish

21:6 fish net

21:7

21:8 fish net

21:9 fish

21:10 fish

21:11 fish net

21:12

21:13 fish

21:14

JOHN21:15‐19

21:15 love?sheep? yes

21:16 love?sheep? yes

21:17 love?sheep? Yes,youknoweverything

21:18

21:19 followme

21:20 following

JOHN21:20‐23

21:21

21:22 followme

21:23

21:24

21:25

Jesusaschangeagent5

Progressionofnames

AsimilaranalysisoftheprogressionandrepetitionofnamesandcharactersinJohn21:1‐25

alsorevealssignificantpatterns,visualizedinFigure2.ThesepatternsrevealthatJesusand

SimonPeterarethetwodominantcharactersinthenarrative.Thispassageisprimarilyabout

thetwoofthem.Otherdisciplesappearinthefirstunit(John21:1‐14)and,curiously,the

author(John)placestwothird‐personreferencestohimselfintheendofthepericope.

Figure2

ProgressionofnamesinJohn21:1‐25

Severaltimes,thedisciplesrefertoJesusas“Lord.”ThisishowPeteraddressesJesusinthe

thrice‐repeatedinterrogationinJohn21:15‐17.PeterissometimesreferredtoSimon,

sometimesasPeter,andsometimesasSimonPeter.Inthenarrative,Jesusdoesnotaddress

PeterusingtheGreekappellationwhichJesushimselfgavePeter(John1:42).

21:1 Jesus

JOHN21:2‐13

21:2 Peter Thomas,Nathanael,sons,2others

21:3 SimonPeter

21:4 Jesus Disciples

21:5 Jesus they

21:6 He they

21:7 JesustheLord Peter,SimonPeter thatdisciplewhomJesusloved

21:8 otherdisciples

21:9 they

21:10 Jesus

21:11 SimonPeter

21:12 Jesus,Lord Them

21:13 Jesus Them

21:14 Jesus Disciples

JOHN21:14‐19

21:15 Jesus,Lord SimonPeter,Simon,sonofJohn

21:16 Lord Simon,sonofJohn

21:17 Lord,Jesus Simon,sonofGod

21:18

21:19

JOHN21:14‐19

21:20 Jesus Peter disciplewhomJesusloved

21:21 Jesus,Lord Peter

21:22 Jesus

21:23 brothers,thisdisciples

21:24 thedisciple

21:25 Jesus

Jesusaschangeagent6

Progressionofscope

Thepassagebeginswiththegroupofdisciplesoutfishingandprogressestoadialogue

aboutPeter’sfuturewithChrist.Peterisacentralfigureinthisprogression.Heistheonewho

initiatesthefishingtrip(John21:3).HeistheonewhoactsfirsttogotoJesusafterJesusis

recognized(John21:7).HeistheonewhomJesusinterrogates(John21:15‐17).Finally,heisthe

oneJesusinstructsto“followme”(John21:19,22).Thescopenarrowsfromagroupactivityon

thewatertoachange‐orientedexchangewithJesus.Theopeningunit(John21:2‐14)servesto

settheinterrogativeconversationinameaningfulcontext.Thefishing,thefire,andthenature

ofthequestionsJesusasksrefertoearliereventsinwhichPeterwasaparticipant.

Opening­Middle­ClosingTexture

AsanarrativepericopewithinthelargergospelofJohn,21:1‐25isanorganized,definable

unitwithadistinctbeginning,middle,andend.Theopening‐middle‐closingtextureofthe

wholepassage(John21:1‐25)canbeillustratedasseeninTable1.

Table1

Opening‐Middle‐ClosingTextureofJohn21:1‐25

Location Summary

Opening: 21:1 Jesusrevealshimselfonelasttime

Middle: 21:2‐24 JesusappearstoPeterandtheothersandrestoresPeter’s

relationshiptoJesus

Closing: 21:25 Jesusdidmanyotherunrecordedthings

Thisopening‐middle‐closingtextureanalysisalsohelpsidentifythebreakdownofthe

passageintoitssmallerunits.Theopening‐middle‐closingtextureforeachoftheunitsinthe

passagecanbeseeninTable2.

Unit1:John21:2‐14

Theopeningofthefirstunitestablishestheplaceandsetting.Havingunderstoodthatthis

narrativeisultimatelyaboutanappearanceofJesus(theintroductorytransitioninJohn21:1),

Jesusaschangeagent7

wenowlearnthatatleastsomeofthedisciplesaretogetherandhavesomeformoforganized

relationship.Basedonearliergospelnarrativesregardingtheirformeroccupationsasfishermen

(Mark1:16),wemightassumethattheyhavereturnedtothisvocationinsomedegree.

Thisopeningestablishesthecontextnecessarytomakesenseofboththemiddleandthe

endofthisunit.ThedisciplesbeingtogetherandreturningtofishatPeter’ssuggestionplaces

themnaturallyinthepositionforJesustoappeartotheminsuchafamiliarfashion(Luke5:4‐

9).TheendingoftheunitsetsthestagefortheconversationbetweenPeterandJesus.

Table2

Opening‐Middle‐ClosingTextureinUnitsofJohn21:1‐25

Location Summary

John21:1 IntroductoryTransition

John21:2‐14

Opening:21:2‐3 Simonandsixdisciplesgofishing

Middle:21:4‐13 badfishingturnsgood,eatingbreakfastwithJesus

Closing:21:13 Narratorannouncesthisisthethirdappearance.

John21:14‐20

Opening:21:14a Breakfasthasconcluded

Middle:21:14b‐18 JesusinterrogatesPeteraboutlovinghim

Closing:21:19 NarratorexplainsreasonforJesus’words

John21:21‐24

Opening:21:20 PeterseesJohn

Middle:21:21‐23 PeterasksJesusaboutJohnandisanswered

Closing:21:23 Narratoridentifieshimselfandsummarizes

John21:25 Conclusion

Jesusaschangeagent8

Thereisachangeintopicsfromopeningtoclosing.Inthisunit,catchingtoomanyfish

replacestheproblemofnotcatchingany.Thecharacterschange,aswell.Therearesix

disciplesatthestartandJesusispresentattheend.

Unit2:John21:15‐19

Theopeningisquitebriefhere.BreakfasthasconcludedandJesusasksPeteraquestion.

Therelationshipofthisopeningtotheunit’sconclusionissubtlebutsignificant.Theconclusion

isanaffirmationthatPeterwillglorifyGodinhisdeath.Thiscomesinthecontextofashared

mealaroundburningcoalsandaconversationwherePeteraffirmshisloveofJesus.This

combinationofopeningandclosingisadirectcontrasttoPeter’searlierbetrayalofChristwhen

deathloomedasarealthreattohim(Luke22:61).

Inthesecondunit,thesubjectmovesfromloveandfeedingsheeptothenatureofPeter’s

futuredeath.

Unit3:John21:20‐24

TheopeningofthethirdunitseemsalmostanticlimacticafterJesus’conversationwith

Peter.PeterasksJesuswhatwillhappentoJohn.Theprimaryfocusofthislastunitisnoton

PeterbutonJohn.Itseemstoserveasanextendedapologeticfortheveracityofthelarger

storyitself.Johnintentionallywantstoplacehimselfinthestory.Thisisperplexingonthe

surfacebutmakesmoresensewhenconnectedtotheclosingoftheunitwhereJohnclaimsto

havewitnessedtheseeventsandistestifyingtotheirtruthfulness.Thisclosingunitdoesnot

extendthemeaningofthenarrativebutservesrathertovalidateit.Johnknowswhat

happenedtoPeterbecauseJohnwasthereandsawithimself.

NarrationalTexture

Scenes

Therearetwoscenesinthenarrative,onebeginningwiththePeter’sannouncementofhis

intentiontogofishing,thesecondwhenJesusservesbreakfast.TheboatscenestartsinJohn

21:3andcontinuesuntilJohn21:12.Thescenechanges(narrows)tothebreakfastfireonthe

beachinJohn21:14andremainsuntiltheend.

Jesusaschangeagent9

BothscenesarestrategicinJesus’reinstatementofPeter.Peterwasafishermanby

vocationandhadbeeninthemidstoffishingwhenJesusissuedhiscall.Jesus'fishingmetaphor

pointedtoPeter'sspiritualdestiny:“Iwillmakeyoufishersofmen”(Mark1:17).SincePeter’s

betrayalandJesus’deathandresurrection,therehasbeenlittlecontactbetweenPeterand

Jesus.InJohn’sfinalchapterofhisgospel,thecurtainraisesonPeterinhispre‐disciplesetting:

fishingfromaboatforrealfish.

Thesettingontheboatinvolvestheelementofvaineffort,athemethatissignificantboth

literallyandspiritually.Asafisherman,SimonPeterencounteredJesusinasimilarmannerin

thepast.Luke5recordsthestoryofPeter’scalltofollowJesusinitiallyascominginasimilar

context.Simonhadbeenfishingallnightandhadcaughtnothing.Jesuscomesalongandtells

themtoputthenetsdowninacertainplace.Thenetscomeupfullandonthevergeof

breaking.ThenarrativeofJohn21functionsasareinstatementofPetertoadiscipleofChrist.

Thepresenceofafishingboatintheopeningsettingreinforcesthisintention.JustasJesus

calledPeterfromfishinginthebeginning,sonowwillhisreinstatementtakeplaceinasimilar

place.

Spiritually,thecontrastofPeter’sinabilityandJesus’abilitytofillthenetsechoesPeter’s

abilitytofollowJesuswhenitwasmostdifficult.HisbetrayalandflightonthenightofJesus’

arrestmirrorsthelong,emptynightoffruitlessfishing.ThearrivalofJesusonthebeachwith

divineinstructionandprovisionmagnifiesPeter’sownneedfordivineinterventiontofollow

Jesustothedeath.

Thesecondsceneinthenarrativeisalsofamiliarandreachesbacktoacrucialeventin

Peter’spast.Thesettingaroundthefireofburningcoalsonthebeachcombinedwiththree

questionsaboutPeter’srelationshipwithJesusisunmistakable.JesushasbroughtPeter

emotionallyandspirituallybacktotheburningcoalsofthefirebarrelthereinthetemple

courtyardthenightofthearrest.

Voices

Jesusaschangeagent10

Therearethreedistinctvoicesthatspeakinthisnarrative:Peter,Jesus,andJohnasthe

narrator/author.StatementsofJesusandPetermarkthepacingofthenarrative.Peterhas

threespeaking“parts”thatframethisnarrativeintoitsessentialmeaning(Table3).

Table3

Peter’sspeakingpartsinJohn21:1‐25

Verse Phrase

21:3 “Iamgoingfishing”

21:15‐17 “Yes,Lord;youknowthatIloveyou!”

21:21 “Lord,whataboutthisman?”

ThesethreelinesofPeteressentiallyformthehooksuponwhichthisnarrative,itsplot,and

itsstructurehang.Peter’sannouncementinJohn21:3leadstothesevenmenbeingoutinthe

boatinthefirstplace.Peter’sthreerepeatedresponses(andJesus’threequestions)inJohn

21:15‐17istheclimaxoftheentirepassage.Peter’squestioninJohn21:21affirmsthe

presence—and,thus,veracityasawitness—ofJohnintheseevents.

TheotherprimaryvoiceinthetextisJesus.ItishisquestioninJohn21:5thatshiftsthe

moodfromfailuretosuccess.Hisinstructionin21:10transitionsthestoryfromtheboattothe

beach.Inthesecondunit(John21:14‐19),theclimacticsectionofthenarrative,Jesusasksthe

questionofPeterthatisfoundationaltoPeter’srestorationtoafullfollowerofJesus.

ThevoiceofJesusisthisrestorativequestion‐askingreinforcesthenecessityfordivinehelp

inbeinga“fisherofmen”.WhenPeterdeniedChristthreetimesaroundthefire,itwasaslave

girlwhoaskedthequestion.Jesuswasthusbetrayed.WhenJesuscomestoPeterandasksthe

sameessentialquestion–“doyouloveme?”–itisademonstrationtoPeterofforgivenessand

aninvitationtorestoredfellowship.

ThefinalphrasethatJohnrecountsJesusashavingsaid:“followme,”repeatedinJohn

21:19and21:22confirmsthisintention.PeterhadbeenfollowingJesusbeforethenightofthe

Jesusaschangeagent11

arrest.Hisreturntothefishingboatwasperhapsindicativeofhisownsenseoffailureand

inabilitytofollow.HistrajectorywastheoppositeoffollowingJesus.Jesus’exhortationtohim

afterthethreequestionsisareversalofthattrajectory.Inthisway,Jesus’voiceinthistextis

redemptiveandrestorative.

Thenarrator’svoiceappearsfourtimesinthetext,punctuatingthenarrativewithsummary

andexplanation.Intheopeningtwosentences,thenarratorsetsthepremise(Jesusreveals

himself)andthecase(sevenofthedisciples).InJohn21:14,thenarratoragainverifiesthiswas

thethirdtimeJesushadappearedtothedisciplesafterhisresurrection.Itmaybesignificant

thatthiswasthethirdappearance,tyingintothethreequestionsandfurtherreinforcingthe

actionsofPeterinthecourtyardandenhancingthereversalwhichJesusisintheactofbringing

about.

ThenarratorappearsagaininJohn21:19,explainingthereasonforJesus’statementinthe

precedingverseregardingPeter’sdeath.Thenarrator(John)emphasizesthatPeter’sactions

(anddeath)willglorifyGod,aclearcontrasttohisdenial.

ThenarratoridentifieshimselfclearlyastheauthorinJohn21:24,andoffersthereader

strongreasontotakehisaccountofPeterastruebecausehe(theauthor)wasphysicallythere.

Sequence

[Thediscussionofscenesandvoicesabovehasalreadyaddressedthesequenceofthe

narrative.]

Plot

ThisnarrativeisaboutJesusreinstatingPeterintofellowshipwithhimasadisciple.Thisisa

change‐orientedepisodeintendedtoreversetheconsequencesofPeter’sdenialinthetemple

courtyardduringJesus’trial,highlighttherealityofspiritualinabilityanddivinetransformation,

andsetthestageforPeter’sowndestinyasaleaderamongtheapostlesinthedaysfollowing

Pentecost.Theplotofthisbriefstorycomestogetheragainstthisbackdrop.

Peterhasevidentlyreturnedtohisformervocationofprofessionalfishing.Whetherthis

wasapatternsincethePassovereventsoraone‐timeepisodeissimplyunknown.Yet,itis

Jesusaschangeagent12

significantandrevealingofhumanbehaviorthatPeterhasgonebacktosomethingthathe

appearsnottohavedonesinceJesuscalledhimtofollow.Perhapsoneoftheconsequencesof

Peter’sdenialofJesuswasareversalofhisownlifeasadisciple,onehecouldevidentlydolittle

toremediate.

Thedisciplesonafishingboatunabletocatchfishisafamiliarsub‐plot.Asmentioned

earlier,Luke’saccountofPeter’scalltodiscipleshipbeganinjustsuchasetting.Thismaywell

explainthereasonJesuschosetoappearinthismannerwiththismethodofintroduction.It

wouldhavebeenobvioustoPeterwhoitwasandforwhomtheappearancewasintended.

Thisisnotaconfrontation,however,butarestorativemoment.Theinvitationtobreakfast

hasaEucharisticsensetoit;itisaninvitationtofellowshipandcommunion.Thebreakingof

bread,theprovidingofthemeatforthemeal,thequestionsandresponsesareallclearsignals

thatJesusdesiresthisrelationshiptocontinue.JesusinitiatestherestorationofPeterbut

carriesitoutinhighlysymbolicfashionthatdoesnotoverlookPeter’spastactions.

Jesusdidn’tneedtoaskPeterquestionsinordertoknowanswers;rather,thequestions

weremeantforPeter.Throughthem,heconfrontsthefactthatfollowingJesuswasnot

somethinghecoulddoonhisown.Earlier,whenfacedwiththethreatofarrestanddeath,he

deniedJesus.Yet,bytheendoftheirconversationonthebeach,JesuspredictsPeterwilldie

forhim.

Argumentativetexture

TheexchangebetweenPeterandJesusinJohn21:15‐17mostclearlyrevealsthe

argumentativetextureofthepassage.Therestofthepassageis,insomesense,

preparationandjustificationforthisrhetoricalpresentation.Theargumentmadehereis

thewholepremiseofthepassage.Table4presentstherhetoricalpatternofthesethree

verses.

Table4

ArgumentativeconstructionofJohn21:15‐18

Verse Pattern Character

21:15 question Jesus

Jesusaschangeagent13

answer Peter

command Jesus

21:16 redirectoforiginalquestion Jesus

answer Peter

repeatedcommand Jesus

21:17 redirectoforiginalquestion Jesus

answer Peter

repeatedcommand Jesus

21:18 propheticprediction Jesus

Thisistheclimacticargumentofthepassage.Thethree‐foldrepetitionofthequestion

aboutlovingJesusclearlyrelatestoPeter’sthree‐folddenial.Yet,thepatternrevealsnot

rebukeandjudgment,butrestorationandcompassion.ItisnotPeterwhoinitiatesordirects

theconversationbutJesuswhooffersPetertheopportunitytohavetheconsequencesofhis

actionsreversed.Theonewhowasbetrayedactstorestorefellowship.

Peter’srestorationcomeswithacaveat:heistoleadandcareforthosewhofollowJesus.

WhereasPetercaredonlyforhimself,inthatmomentoftrial,JesusiscallingPetertocarefor

othersasthemeansofdemonstratinghislove.Thisdemonstrationwillbewhole‐heartedand

culminateinPeter’smartyrdomforthesakeofJesus,aclearreversalofbothfortuneandmoral

backboneforPeter.

Sensoryaesthetictexture

Ananalysisofthesensoryelementsofthepassage(speech,emotion,andself‐expression)

doesnotrevealagreatdealmorethanhasalreadybeennoted.Theseelementsarechartedin

figure3.Forexample,theexperienceofthefullnetdoesn'tappearhereinaparticularly

emotionalfashion.Littleissaidabouttheepisodebeyond“theycaughtnothing”(John21:3)

and“nowtheywerenotabletohaulitin”(John21:6).Wedonotseethereactionofthe

disciplesherethewaythatwedoPeter’sinLuke5:8.

Onedynamicthatdoesemergemoreclearlyinthisexaminationistheunderlying

atmosphereoftensioninthepericope.Peter’sinstantresponsetoJohn’srecognitionofJesusis

Jesusaschangeagent14

reminiscentofPeter’szealousventureinMatthew14:29.Themomentseemsalmostinstinctive

hereasifPeterhasbrokenfreeofhispity‐inducedisolation.Thedisciplesaregatheredaround

thefirewithJesus.Clearlytheyknewwhohewas—Johnsaysasmuch(John21:12)—yethe

couchesthisknowledgeinthecontextofbeingtooafraidtoask.Whetherthissimplymeansit

wassoobvioustothemallorthattheyweregenerallyafraid,theuseof�τ�λμα(Gk.

Figure3

AesthetictextureinJohn21:1‐25

“boldness”)actstoheightenthesenseofaweandtensionaroundthefire.Themoodseems

tobeoneofuncertaintyandnervousanticipation.

ThetensioninthestorycarriesonthroughPeterandJesus’conversation.WhileJesus,

althoughdirect,isnotconfrontationalorargumentative,itnonethelesspricksPeter.Heis

“grieved”(John21:17)attheprobing,althoughtheimplicationisathimselfortherealityof

whathashappenedratherthanatJesusforasking.Then,inJohn21:22,Jesusmildlyrebukes

PeterforaskingaboutJohn,“whatisthattoyou?Youfollowme,”hetellshim.

21:1 revealed

21:2

21:3 caughtnothing

21:4 didnotknow

21:5 “Children”

21:6

21:7 threwhimself

21:8

21:9

21:10

21:11

21:12 nonedaredask

21:13

21:14 revealed

21:15 love feedmylambs

21:16 lamb feedmysheep

21:17 love feedmysheep grieved

21:18

21:19 “donotwanttogo” death,glorify follow

21:20 loved betray

21:21

21:22

21:23 “whatisthattoyou?”

21:24 true

21:25

Jesusaschangeagent15

Interestingly,thetensionhereremainsunresolved.Johnplacesthisfinalquestioninthe

roleofaffirminghisownpresenceinthestoryforthesakeofveracity.Onceheaccomplishes

hispurpose,thestoryconcludeswithoutfurtherdetail.We’renotleftknowingwhatoccurs

betweenJesusandPeterfromthispointon,atleastnotinthegospelaccount.

JesusasChangeAgentinJohn21:1‐25

Thispassageissignificantlyaboutchange.Peter,theprimarycharacter,isaprimaryfigure

throughouttheentirestoryofthelifeofJesusandthebeginningoftheChristianchurch.Peter

isavolatileandzealousdisciplewhoepitomizesboththelowpointandthehighpointof

discipleshipinthegospelnarratives.ThepictureofPeterthatemergesfrommostofthegospel

accountsisofahot‐headed,well‐intentionedbutover‐calculating,zealousdisciplerepeatedly

rebukedbyJesusbeforefallingflatonhisfaceinoutrightdenial.Inlightofthisgeneralpicture,

thethoughtthatPeterwouldfigureasasignificantleaderinthechurchafterPentecostishard

toimagine.

ThisepisodeinJohn21providesacrucialpieceofthepuzzleinrevealinghowthePeterof

thegospelsbecamethePeterofActs1‐3.Thestoryissetagainstthebackdropofearlierevents

intherelationshipbetweenJesusandhisdisciplesandJohnintentionallyplacesitasthe

concludingnarrativeinhisaccountofthegospel.Inthisarrangement,itbecomes,inaway,the

finalwordonPeterintheGospels.

Inthispericope,weseeJesusasanagentofchange.Itishiswordsandactionsthatinitiate

andenablePetertoexperienceareversalofwhathisdenialhadbroughttohim.Change,in

thisparticularemphasis,involvesthechangeinthestatusoftherelationshipbetweenPeter

andJesus.Itisarelationshipthathadbeenchangingallalong,evenbeforeJesus’arrest.It

begantochangewhenJesusannouncedforthefirsttimehisintentiontogotoJerusalemto

die.(Mark8).ThiseventmarksaturningpointintherelationshipbetweenPeterandJesus.

Peter’sreactioninthatmomentis,tosomedegree,thestartingpointforwhichthenarrativein

John21isaconclusionorresolution.TherelationshipchangesfurtherwhenPeterresponds

withvigorousrejectiontoJesus’predictionofhisdenial.Hisreactionisstrong:“EvenifIhaveto

diewithyou”(Mark14:31).Again,inthegardenwhenPetercutsofftheservant’sear(Luke

Jesusaschangeagent16

22:50),Jesus’reactionandsubsequenthealingoftheservantheightensthedistancebetween

himandPeter.Peter’sdenialofJesusstrikesthefinalblow.Thechasmbecomestremendous

and,atleastasitseemstoPeter,uncrossable.

Jesus’behaviorasaleaderisquitestartlingifviewedthroughcontemporarysecularlenses.

Peter’sbehaviorasafollowerwasdespicableandclearlyindicativeofamanwhowasnota

teamplayer,didn’tgetthevision,andwasdestructivetoothersontheteam.Charismatic

leadershipwouldhavemovedontofindothersmorewillingtobuyintothemission,perhaps

recruitanewpost‐resurrectionclassofdisciples.Transformationalleadershipmightsuggest

thattheleaderspendmoretimewithPeterexplainingtheimportanceofthemissionandwhy

buy‐inisnecessary.Thatis,iftheleadersawanythingworthwhilereasoninpursuingPeter

aftersuchacontraryact.Servantleadershipwouldmoveabitcloser,perhapscausingaleader

toaskwhatneedswentunmetthatcouldbeaddressedbytheleaderinordertorepairthe

situation.

Yet,Jesusdoessomethingthatisuniqueintermsofourtypicalthinkingaboutleader‐

followerrelationships.HemovestoactredemptivelybecauseherecognizesPeterisunable.He

doessobecauseheseesthelargerpurposeforPeter’sliferatherthantheconsequencesofhis

actions.JesusfacilitateschangeinPeter’sstatusandinvolvementinthedivinepurposethrough

anintentionalandinitiatingrelationalencounterthatneitheravoidsthecentralproblemnor

bringscondemnationforitsoccurrence.JesusfacilitatesthischangebycomingtoPeterwhere

hewas,actinginrecognizablefashion,invitinghimtoameaningful,relationalevent,and

framingquestionsaboutpastbehaviorinlightofpositivefutureidentityandpossibility.

Theologicallyspeaking,Jesus’leadershipinthissettingisdivinelyuniquebecauseofJesus’

redemptivemission.ThisissomethingonlyGodcando,toforgiveandtransformtheheartand

thefuturewreckedbyself‐centeredinadequacy.

Practicallyspeaking,asitcaninformabiblicalviewofleadership,Jesus’responsetoPeter

providesuswithaframeworkforourownleadershipinthelivesofotherpeople.Atleasttwo

principlesemergefromthisstudythathavegreatpotentialapplication.First,peoplearemore

valuablethanthesumoftheirpastbehaviors.Leadersshouldseefuturepossibilitiesfor

Jesusaschangeagent17

followers.Second,personalrelationshipisthefoundationfornavigatinganychange.People

interactwithcomplexrealities.Sometimestheydoitwell,othertimestheydoitpoorly.

Relationshipsinitiatedandsustainedbytheleadercangoalongwaytostabilizingfollowers

andleadersalikeinthefaceofbothsuccessandmistakes.