John 13:36-38
Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
36 Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?"
Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
37 Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
John 21:15-19
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
Peter would deny Jesus three times before His death...And when Jesus reinstates Peter, Jesus asks Peter "Do you love Me?" three times...Man's love can change, and can be more intense at different times...Now asking Peter once would have his attention, but asking him three times, Jesus was teaching and making a point...Is Jesus asking Peter for the third time, do you love Me, more than you do yourself?...No doubt asking Peter three times, he would remember this question of his love toward His Master...Peter would be one of the early apostle leaders and Jesus might have been making him realize the importance of love and this situation, when He was gone...