Did Peter need healing and did he get it from Jesus before Pentecost? I’m convinced that Peter believed a lie about himself. And I think the lie went something like this: “I don't have what it takes to be faithful to the end.” Part of the evidence for this is that Peter boasted that he would not be like the other disciples. In Matthew 26:33 it says: Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” We see something profound here. Peter believed a lie. And we must not forget that Peter was with the Lord day and night for three years and yet he still had this boast and apparently still believed this lie. I think our belief is that being a disciple and being with Jesus brought healing and alignment and complete sanctification. Apparently the Lord keeps working on us no matter how far we go with Him. Bill Johnson said, “The farther you go with God the less you can take with you.” Peter is strong for a moment in the garden that night but then runs away like the other disciples. He and John then go to the courtyard of the high priest, while the trial was starting inside. It was a cold night and in John 18:18 it says “they warmed themselves around a fire of coals.” During this time Peter denied Jesus three times—and then he went out and “wept bitterly.” (Mt 26:75)
John 21:14 Tells us that the third time Jesus had shown himself to the disciples included a special focus of healing for Peter. Jesus and (by this time)Peter undoubtedly knew what the lie was: “I don’t have what it takes to follow Jesus to the end.”
John 21:9 says that Jesus had a "fire of coals" waiting for Peter when he arrived onshore. The only other reference to a "fire of coals" being Peter's denial of Jesus. So Jesus proceeded to take him back to the fire of coals that represented Peter’s denial.
So there were two elements present at the time on that shore. One was an understanding of the lie. The second was going back to the place that represented the lie that was written on his heart. There was a third thing that had to happen. Since a heart wound happens from an experience, healing must happen from an experience also. Jesus had to lead Peter beyond his self protection and into connection with his heart.
In John 21:15-18 Jesus asks: “do you love me more than these?” and he uses the highest form of love—agape—in his question. Peter says, “I phileo you.” (a friendship love). Jesus asks the second time “do you love (agape) me?” Peter again says, “I phileo you.” Peter is still protecting himself and not willing to risk again claiming that he can follow Him and love Him until the end. On the third time, Jesus asks, in essence, “Peter, do you even phileo me?” (or are you even my friend?) I know many times I have to ask people hard questions to get to the heart of issues. Jesus knew this even better. And when he asked this question, the bible says that Peter was “grieved.” And that meant that he was in a humble, needy state and ready to receive a “rhema” from our Lord that would overwrite the lie that was written there.
Rhema is a greek word that means a spoken, personal word. Someone defined it as “a specific word for a specific person at a specific time.” Jesus gave Peter a rhema word that day. In essence he told Peter that he would follow him even to his death and martyrdom for him. This brought the healing Peter needed in this part of his heart and within a few days he was preaching at Pentecost and 3000 were saved and the church began in earnest.
Today Jesus heals in the same way as He did then. He hasn’t changed. Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Whenever we go back to our “fire of coals,” admit our need or lie that we have believed and get our hearts engaged, we are ready by faith to receive a “rhema” from the Lord.
