"I Have Failed, Can God Use Me?"

Matthew 26:33-35 (before Jesus was crucified)

26:33 Peter answered and said unto Him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
26:34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee that this night, before the cock crows, thou shalt deny me thrice.
26:35 Peter said unto Him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

John 21:14-17 (after Jesus resurrection)
21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (Agapeo) thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love (Phileo) thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (Agapeo) thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love (Phileo) thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (Phileo) thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, lovest (Phileo) thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love (Phileo) thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

This passage in John deals with Peter seeing Jesus after He was risen from the dead. Peter was understandably ashamed, as he had boasted prior to Jesus being crucified that he would never deny Jesus, but would die for him, yet when the true life test came, Peter denied knowing Jesus.

Now let’s get some insight into this passage by looking at the Greek words Agapao and Phileo.

For the sake of keeping it simple I’ll go with the following basic definition (someday maybe we’ll do an in-depth study on Agape).

Agapao - An unselfish, unconditional, sacrificial love, and is often referred to as the God kind of love.
Phileo - A friendship, fondness or to have the same interest with another person.

Now let’s look at this passage again with the the Greek meaning to the words LOVE.

21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me with an unselfish, unconditional, sacrificial love more than these?" He saith unto him, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love you as a friend." He saith unto him, "Feed my lambs."
21:16 He saith to him again the second time, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me with an unselfish, unconditional, sacrificial love?" And he said unto him, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love you as a friend." He saith unto him, "Feed my sheep."
21:17 He saith unto him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me as a friend?" And this time Jesus used Peter's word, "phileo." Peter was grieved because Jesus said unto him the third time, do you love me as a friend? It hurt Peter deeply that Jesus had come to his level in essence saying, Peter, you do love me as a friend. And he said unto him, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love you as a friend." Jesus saith unto him, "Feed my sheep."

Note: Some believe, as Bob Deffinbaugh states:

Peter was grieved because Jesus found it necessary to ask virtually the same question three times. I do not like to be asked the same question repeatedly. I conclude that either the person asking the question wasn’t paying attention (this could not be the case with Jesus), or that my answer was not acceptable or credible. The three-fold repetition must have registered with Peter as being related to his three-fold denial. Peter was grieved because he realized that the bold and even arrogant claims he had made proved to be empty. Peter is not distressed with Jesus; he is grieved over his own sin. Jesus is not attempting to shame Peter; he is seeking to reaffirm his call to service. 

Either or both ways you look at this passage you find one thing for sure, Peter was feeling inadequate for the task of feeding Jesus' sheep. Jesus still told Peter feed my sheep.

Do you feel inadequate for whatever it is that God has called you to do? 
Are you saying Lord, I have failed you, I have acted ashamed of you when I should have stood up for the name of Christ?

Lord, I just don’t feel I love you like I should, and Jesus may very well be saying, do what I have called you to do anyway! Jesus knew what a man of God was in Peter, and Jesus knows what a Servant of God you can be.  Jesus hasn’t changed His purpose for you, so don’t doubt what God may have for you to do. Just like Peter we need to obey the Lord even during the growing process while we are feeling inadequate, not qualified for the task at hand. God says, "Feed my Sheep."

So take this as an encouragement to obey whatever the Lord is calling you to do.