A second time He said to him, “Simon son of Jonas, do you love me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.” John 21:16

Our loving Lord Jesus Christ is calling Peter by the name his parents gave him rather than the name ‘Peter’ which our Lord has given him. Why? The reason is simple. Peter’s denial of Jesus three times has caused him to slip back into thoughts of those old old experiences of when he was younger and messed up, didn’t get it right, and failed to do what he should have done. He has failed Jesus with three time denial and he knows he’s lost his motivation and momentum. Yet Christ clearly wants to lift him back into being Peter, His disciple. Christ heals our mess-ups.

When you came to Christ He renamed you His disciple. Hear once again Jesus’ first naming of Peter, this is when his brother Andrew brings him to Jesus: ‘He (Andrew) brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of Jonas. You are to be called Cepheus” (which is translated Peter).’ (John 1:42) From that moment on ‘Peter’ stuck. Peter means Rock Man; His solid disciple. In our text today we see that through Christ’s intimate Post-Resurrection dialogue with Simon he will right Peter and it will stick this time because of Christ’s outpouring of the Holy Spirit into His disciples (believer’s) hearts.

Peter needed the Holy Spirit and so do we. Spirit counteracts our human failings as we are anointed with New motivation in all that we do by Christ. Christ’s sheep hear His voice by the power of the Holy Spirit. You also help shepherd the sheep under the Holy Spirit’s guidance of our Good Shepherd Jesus. Let Him lead, direct, inspire you while you humbly yield to Him as He fills and re-fills you with Holy Spirit motivation. Catch and sincerely abide in the Spirit of the Living Lord Christ.