There is unfinished business with Peter. The scattered disciples have been brought into unity, but Peter’s threefold denial of Jesus (13:36–38; 18:15–18, 25–27) is a special case that must now be dealt with. The three denials must be canceled by three affirmations. In addressing Peter each time as Simon son of John (vv. 15, 16, 17), Jesus speaks to him as if he were no longer (or not yet!) a disciple, for he goes back to the name Peter had when he and Jesus first met (cf. 1:42).

The framework for the set of questions is the principle, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (14:15). Jesus had said: “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.… I too will love him and show myself to him” (14:21; cf. 14:23). The form of the first question to Peter, Do you trul…