Christ’s Persistent Call to Discipleship – John 21:1-25
21 After this Jesus again revealed himself to the disciples, this time by the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. (2) Simon Peter, Thomas (who is called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two more of his disciples were all together. (3) Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They replied, We will come with you. So they went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing.
(4) At daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. (5) Jesus called out to them, Children, do you have any fish? They answered him, No. (6) Then he said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. They did so, and now they were not able to haul in the net because of the large number of fish. (7) That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord. So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he was naked), and jumped into the sea. (8) But the other disciples came in the little boat, towing the net full of fish; for they were not far from the shore, only about one hundred yards away.
(9) When they got to the beach they saw there a fire of burning coals with fish laid on it, and some bread. (10) Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish which you have just caught. (11) So Simon Peter climbed aboard the boat and hauled the net to shore; it was full of large fish, a hundred and fifty three. But even though there were so many fish, the net was not ripped. (12) Jesus said to them, Come and have breakfast. None of the disciples dared to ask him, Who are you? They knew that it was the Lord. (13) Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. (14) This is now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
(15) After they finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others love me? He replied, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, Feed my lambs. (16) Jesus asked him again a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? He replied, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, Take care of my sheep. (17) Jesus asked him the third time, Do you love me? And Peter said to him, Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. (18) I tell you the truth, When you were young, you dressed yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. (19) Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus said to him, Follow me.
(20) Peter, turning around, saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This is the one who had leaned back on Jesus’ chest at the supper and had asked, Lord, who is going to betray you?) (21) Upon seeing him, Peter asked Jesus, Lord, what about this man? (22) Jesus answered him, If I want him to remain alive until I come back, what is that to you? Follow me. (23) Therefore the word was spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, If I want him to remain alive until I come back, what is that to you?
(24) This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who recorded them; and we know that his testimony is true. (25) There are also many other things that Jesus did. If each one of them were to be recorded, I suppose that not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
