"15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep."
John 21:15-17
This dramatic interview and encounter between our Lord and Peter issues not only from the earlier incident of the disciples' going off to fish (1-14) but also - we can hardly doubt - from his disastrous and shameful denial at the time of Jesus' trial. What we have here is in fact an inquest on Peter's failure, and his threefold denial is met with a threefold challenge. There are several significant circumstances associated with this incident that repay careful consideration. For one thing, when the disciples came in to land (9) they saw a fire of coals, with fish laid thereon, and bread, a fire prepared by Jesus. It is a significant fact that the only other occasion in which a fire of coals is mentioned in the gospel record is in 18:18 - the fire of coals in Pilate's judgment hall. It can hardly be accidental that Jesus made a fire of coals on the seashore for the disciples to warm themselves at. Jesus was deliberately reminding Peter of that earlier, fateful night. Jesus had already sent a special message to Peter after His resurrection, 'Go tell the disciples and Peter...'. This had been a token to the despairing disciple to reassure him of His forgiveness; and that lifted his despair. But the problem of Peter's wayward heart had not been dealt with, and now the time of reckoning had come. One can almost see the colour draining from his face as he came ashore and saw the fire. Then again, this encounter took place on the shores of Galilee, at the very place, and in the very circumstances, attending Peter's first call to follow Jesus (cf Matthew 4:19). It was as if the Lord were saying to him, 'Do you remember that day when I called you to follow Me, and you forsook your nets and followed? How much was it worth, Peter, how much did it mean, how much in earnest were you? This is what I want to know'.