It is traditional to think that Jesus asked Peter three times "Do you love me" because Peter had denied him three times. This traditional understanding seems to be corroborated by the fact that "Peter was hurt." If Peter felt that Jesus' questioning was a demand for a threefold expiation for his threefold denial or a doubt about his sincerity, he would naturally have felt hurt. It seems - to me at least - that this traditional way of looking at the three repetitions of the question is off the mark. Love should not be so exacting as to demand expiation in detail for each denial, for such a demand would have had the effect of reminding the heartbroken Peter of the details of his failing. In effect, by demanding a threefold affirmation for a threefold denial, Jesus would have been affirming Peter's failing. Jesus was so merciful to the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8). Surely He would have been just as merciful and accepting towards Peter.

Space does not allow a development, but let us suggest that the threefold repetition reminds us that every healing process goes through different phases (the threefold question) and healing can often be quite a painful process ("Peter was hurt").