21:15-17 (A) What was Jesus' purpose here in asking Peter three times if He loved Him?
21:15-17 (A) What was Jesus' purpose here in asking Peter three times if He loved Him?
Peter had denied Jesus three times prior to the crucifixion, and here Jesus challenged Peter three times to declare His love for Him, but whether Jesus' purpose in challenging Peter three times to declare His love for Him here was because Peter had denied Him three times leading up to the crucifixion, is not recorded, and is not relevant.
It is more important to know that the love Peter declared for Jesus here must also be declared by us. Jesus considers love for Him as the basic qualification for Christian service (CP Mt 10:37; Lu 7:37-40, 44-47; Jn 16:27; 1Cor 16:22; Ga 5:6; Eph 6:24; Jas 1:12; 1Pe 1:3,8; Rev 2:1-4).
Those who love Jesus keep His commandments (CP Jn 14:15, 21-24; 1Jn 2:3-6; 2Jn 5-6).
(B) In commanding Peter here to feed His lambs and His sheep is Jesus giving Peter primacy over the disciples, as some teach?
No! Jesus was not giving Peter primacy over the other disciples here. The disciples were all equal in authority, as scriptures clearly teach (CP Mt 20:20-28 (also Mk 10:35-45); Lu 22:24-27). In Jn 21:15-17
Jesus was simply giving Peter a threefold command to carry out the apostolic duties for which he had been called (CP Eph 2:19-20).
See also comments on Mt 16:19, 20:28, 23:8-12 and Jn 21:15-17(A), and author's studies, The Church in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1), and Jesus not Peter the Rock upon which the Church is built in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).