Sometimes when my Daddy and I would greet each other it may have been confusing to those nearby. It would often start with name calling and jeers at each other. From the outside looking on one would think that we almost didn’t like each other. This couldn’t have been farther from the truth. We loved each other deeply and nothing could come between us.
I think this mistake is also made in the relationship between Peter and John. Many have made the assumption that they had a rigid relationship. That they didn’t quite get along. I would challenge this idea.
First let’s address where the idea comes from. One thing is when Peter asked about John in John 21:21 (KJV) Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? People tend to insert their own emotions into something they read. How well do we all know in the age of texting that it’s hard to read emotion in text? Let’s read it in another version. John 21:21 (Easy English) When Peter saw this disciple, he asked Jesus, ‘Lord, what will happen to him?’ Now to me this sounds like a question of concern. This seems like he wants to make sure John will be okay. Obviously I don’t know this for sure, but it was Peter that wrote the words. Above all, continue to love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8 ISV). Then he wrote: Now that you have obeyed the truth and have purified your souls to love your brothers sincerely, you must love one another intensely and with a pure heart (1 Peter 1:22 ISV).
These are not the words of a man that has animosity against his brother. Not to mention Peter had just been forgiven for denying Christ. Do you really think he would be trying to hold a grudge at this point?
Another thing that makes people think there were issues between them is that John continually referred to himself as the disciple that Jesus loved. This was not a slight against Peter or the other disciples. This was the fact that John seemed to understand more than the other disciples that Jesus really loved him. John is the only disciple standing at the foot of the cross. He understood the love that Jesus poured out more than the others. He didn’t hear how Jesus suffered, he saw it. Remember John is the one that gained Peter entrance to the courtyard. This is not something he would have done if there was contention between them.
Then there is the fact that John paints Peter flaws and all. He seems to point out every time that Peter failed. This isn’t to display how bad Peter was, but rather how good the love and forgiveness of Jesus is.
One thing to point out about Peter cutting off the ear of the servant. John is the only one to record this. It is believed that John’s gospel was the only one written after Peter’s death. This means that Peter could not have been punished for John’s testimony. John was actually sharing his dear friend’s testimony because he wasn’t alive to give it himself.
John is the one that wrote the words. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also (1 John 4:20-21 KJV).
They seemed to be together more than they were with their own brothers. It was Peter and John at the gate beautiful that prayed for the lame man (Acts 3). It was Peter and John that went to Samaria to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost (Acts 8). They were always together and God used them. They would not have been able to be used by God like they were had they had issues with each other.
Why am I taking the time to explain all of this? Why does it really matter today? So we understand that he that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him (1 John 2:10 KJV). I don’t want you to misunderstand the relationship between Peter and John and it become an occasion of stumbling in you. We must love our brethren with a pure heart fervently (1 Peter 1:22 KJV).
Hebrews 13:1 KJV Let brotherly love continue.
As a side note:
Who else could preach about repentance and restoration better than Peter? And who else could preach about love better than John?