What was Jesus doing that day when he made a charcoal fire beside Galilee ? It appears that he wanted to talk to Peter, but what did he mean when he asked “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” Some folks take it to mean “more than these things, or these people,” and then go off on pointless speculation on what they might be. The Scripture text gives us no clue as to what the answer to such questions might be.

But if we read the question as asking “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these do?” then we have something to go on. This is the way it reads in the David Martin and Louis Segond French translations, and in William Wye Smith’s Scots translation. And I believe it is the most sensible way to understand the question even without adding the do.

You see, there are only two charcoal fires mentioned in the whole Bible, and they are just a few chapters apart in the gospel of John. The first was in chapter 18, in the courtyard of the high priest, and this was the scene where Peter three times denied that he knew Jesus. So Jesus, being a master at setting the scene, prepared a charcoal fire on the shore where he knew Peter would bring his fishing boat.

By the way, it would have been a charcoal fire, the Bible just says coal but there have never been lignite or anthracite mines in that corner of the world. The making of charcoal has always been a cottage industry in most parts of the world.

Let’s back up a bit farther. When Jesus tried to tell the disciples what was about to happen to him, Peter boldly declared that even if all other forsook Jesus, he (Peter) never would and that he would lay down his life for Jesus. “ Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.” (John 13:38).

Peter was ready to fight for Jesus. When a band of men came to seize Jesus, Peter drew his sword and sliced off the right ear of the high priest’s servant. Jesus healed the ear and told Peter to put up his sword. That left Peter in great confusion. How could it be that Jesus wanted no one to defend him? He followed at a distance to see what would happen. Three time he denied knowing Jesus, then he heard the rooster and he realized that Jesus had known exactly what was going to happen.

Now he was sitting around another charcoal fire with Jesus, who had won a victory in a way no one had understood to be possible. And he was being asked if he still thought he loved Jesus more than any of the others did.

Peter’s answers show that there was no boasting left in him. Now he was qualified to serve Jesus.