I guess what struck me is that we always talk about how Peter was reluctant to tell Christ that he loved Him at the end of the gospel.  But we always seem to bill it as Peter not understanding what Jesus meant or something like that.  What it looks like to me is that by chapter 13, Peter had put all the pieces together (i.e.- love me, lay down your life, etc.) at least in head knowledge, but perhaps his heart hadn't yet caught up to him, hence his claims and later denials.  However, after Jesus returns, I firmly believe that Peter's heart understood and believed, and this time, it was his head that was reluctant, knowing his past failures.  But, (and as I'm typing, it's still coming to me), perhaps the best part is that even as Peter's head was not quite sure, we're told that the Lord looks at the heart...and that had to have been what Jesus did, because He then tells Peter exactly how he would later die for the cause of Christ.  His mouth was saying I'm not sure but his heart must have been screaming YES!

I've heard many people talk about how Peter missed an opportunity here to affirm his love for Christ, but I guess what I'm saying is that he did...and better than it just coming out of his mouth.  This was Peter's "restoration".

I think often, especially after failures in our own lives, we're left with this sense of despair and fear of making the same mistakes.  This appears to simply be a matter of the flesh.  As the body, brain, and mouth are saying I'm really not sure anymore, the new man inside of us is still echoing a resounding YES!...and how could it do any different?