John presents the commissioning of Peter in a way different from that of Matthew (Mt. 16:13-20). While in Matthew Peter is made the head of the apostolic college because of his knowledge of Jesus' identity, here he is commissioned because of his love for the Lord. The theme of love so dear to John breaks forth once more in this last section of his gospel.
Peter's commissioning comes right after the catch of fish, a metaphor-in-action of the great commissioning to make disciples of all nations (cfr. Mt. 28:18-20). Once the catch has been hauled in and the meal shared, Jesus and Peter are placed in the foreground of the narrative.
The commissioning can be divided into two parts: the three-fold profession of love (vv. 15-17) and the declaration about Peter's martyrdom (vv. 18-19).
Peter is asked to profess his love because he disowned the Lord three times. Popular preachers point out the two verbs used in this conversation: agapan and philein. Agapan (agapan) is the NT's word for "love". It is the "love" that makes one die for a friend. Filein (philein) also a word for "love" is the Greek word for "to be friends with". Preachers point out the difference in the nuance of these two words and therefore show that Peter's profession of love is filled with the dramatic tension of an invitation towards a love that is full.
The first two times that the Lord says "Simon, do you love me?" he uses the verb "agapan". Each of these times, Peter answers "Yes, I do love you" with the verb "philein". While the Lord speaks of a love that is expressed in dying for the beloved, Peter responds with a love that is friendly! In the end, the Lord asks Peter "Do you love me", this time using the word "philein". The narrator then makes the comment: "And Peter was distressed because on the third time, he asked 'Do you love (philein) me?'". So the distress of Peter was not because he was asked three times, but because on the third time, the Lord changed his language.
Raymond Brown points out that in the gospel of John both the verbs agapan and philein are often used interchangeably and therefore, the difference in nuance in this section of John need not be dramatized. We can agree with Brown's remark, but if drama was far from the author's intent, why did he use to nuanced verbs in the way that he did? Besides, we get a hint for the use of agapan in the first two questions: Peter will die a martyr.
The first question of Jesus, "Simon, do you love me more than these?" can have two nuances. One is that the question is whether Peter loves Jesus more than he loves the other disciples. The second nuance is whether Peter's love for the Lord is more than that of the other disciples. The second possibility is preferable because of vv.18-19: would Peter's love for the Lord lead him to the sacrifice of his own life?
The declaration of the Lord about Peter's fate in verse 18 is interpreted by the narrator in v. 19: "He said this to signify the kind of death by which he would glorify God." The theme of God's glorification is tied up with the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. In John 12:23-28, the evangelist ties up the theme of the Father's and the Son's glorification on the one hand, and the place of Christ's servant on the other:
24Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone -- one grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
25Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.
26Whoever serves me must follow me and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.
Verse 24 expresses the principle of multiplication. One must die to oneself in order to multiply oneself. it is the principle of generation that is not according to man's will but according to God's.
Verse 25 is the principle of the full life already expressed in the other gospels in conjunction with the predictions about Jesus' fate at the hands of the elders and scribes. Authentic discipleship will be measured by how much one will identify himself with the Master.
Verse 26 re-expresses the principle of discipleship that has been expressed this: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself, carry his cross and follow me." In John, Jesus is saying "Where I am, there my servant will be". "Where I am" -- whether on the cross or on the Father's right -- there, the disciple will follow.
To Peter then is given the privilege of following the Lord; his death will be the expression of his discipleship. Thus, the section concludes with a command: "Follow me."
