The Call Narratives: Purpose, Mission, and Provision (John 1:35-51; John 21, Exodus 3, Isaiah 6)

Jesus appeared to Peter three times after the resurrection, anointed him, and sent him to be his witness (John 20-21). Still, Peter couldn't grasp the message. That's why Jesus asked him three times whether he loved Jesus and his Kingdom more than fishing. If he truly did, Peter wouldn't be bothering about fishing. Instead, he would be feeding and caring for Jesus' flock by giving them bread, which signifies God's word. Some scholars have wrongly connected Jesus' questions to Peter with Peter's denial. There is a connection between the denials and approvals, but it is not about three curses being overcome by three blessed confessions. Rather, it is a literary connection where three denotes some form of perfection. Peter denied Jesus perfectly, and Jesus perfectly made him confess his lack of love for Jesus.

In the context of John 21, Jesus' conversation with Peter must be seen as an extended "call narrative." Jesus is surprised that, even after three appearances of him after his resurrection, Peter is still thinking about fish. Ultimately, Jesus is redirecting Peter from his former occupation to his new mission. Peter ought to focus only on his commission from John 20, where Jesus sent him into the world as his Father had sent Jesus. Like Moses after seeing the Lord in the burning bush, Peter must hurry and do what his Lord asks. There are echoes of Moses' call at least twice: first, when Jesus is beside a fire with burning coals; second, when the fishnet does not tear even though it holds 153 large fish. Moses saw the burning bush, which did not burn up, in Yahweh's Presence. Here, Jesus replaces Yahweh. We can also find echoes of Isaiah 6 in "fire," "burning coals," and the act of commissioning.

When God called Peter, Moses, or Isaiah, he first made them aware of their finitude, failure, and sin. Second, God himself provided both the message and the means. These means included fish, a modified staff, and a God-touched tongue. The means were earthly, but touched, transformed, and in a sense, authorized by God. Third, the purpose was God's, not Peter's, Moses', or Isaiah's. Peter's own purpose was to try and save his friend Jesus. But God's purpose for him was to build God's Jewish and Gentile family until he would be handed over to a new enemy, Nero, in his old age. Moses wanted to bring equality and fairness to the Hebrew slaves, as Joseph did as the king's second-in-command. 

However, God used Moses to save the humbled, unarmed Hebrew slaves from the waters that would drown Pharaoh's proud, armed army. He would bring them to the mountain where his wandering sheep had led him to God's Presence, to worship him. Isaiah's personal goal was to cleanse Israel of immoralities and injustices, making it better than other nations. But God's purpose for Isaiah was for him to prophesy about Israel's exile and their scattering among the nations. He would then reveal the suffering servant Messiah, like David, who would lead them back to Yahweh and make Israel a light to the nations. Similarly, Peter would complete his mission by witnessing Jesus’ resurrection first among Jews, inaugurating the Gentile Mission at Cornelius’ house, and leading thousands to the Lord as a fisher of men before departing to be with his Lord. Peter's heart, however, must dwell on his Lord and his commission, not on fishing.

In sum, Jesus appeared to Peter three times after his resurrection, anointed him, and sent him to be his witness. If Peter really loved Jesus, he would feed Jesus’ flock with God's word. Jesus' three questions to Peter do not directly link with Peter's denials. Instead, they connect first with Jesus’ three appearances to Peter and his friends after his resurrection. Jesus' talk with Peter is an extended "call narrative." Jesus is surprised that, even after his three appearances after resurrection, Peter is still thinking about fish, and not missions. Ultimately, Jesus redirects Peter from his former occupation to his new mission. God’s calls to Peter, Moses, and Isaiah follow a pattern. First, God makes them aware of their limitations and failures. Second, God provides both a message and a transformed means—such as a fish, a staff, or a God-touched tongue. Third, God sets a divine, not personal, purpose. For Peter, the purpose is not to save his friend Jesus. It is building God's family faithfully to the end.