1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he [himself].
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the [sons] of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt [his] fisher’s coat [unto him], (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12 Jesus saith unto them, Come [and] dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry [thee] whither thou wouldest not.
19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what [shall] this man [do]?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee?
24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Summary of John 21
John 21 serves as the concluding chapter of the Gospel of John, encapsulating the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. This chapter is significant as it provides insights into the restoration of Peter and the commissioning of the disciples, highlighting themes of forgiveness, leadership, and the mission of the Church.
Content Overview
The chapter can be divided into several key sections:
- The Appearance of Jesus by the Sea of Tiberias (Verses 1-14)
- Jesus reveals Himself to His disciples while they are fishing.
- Despite a night of unsuccessful fishing, the disciples follow Jesus’ instruction to cast their nets on the right side of the boat, resulting in a miraculous catch.
- Peter recognizes Jesus and jumps into the water to reach Him.
- Jesus prepares breakfast for the disciples, emphasizing His care and provision.
- Jesus’ Restoration of Peter (Verses 15-19)
- Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him, mirroring Peter’s three denials.
- Each affirmation from Peter leads to a command from Jesus to “feed My sheep,” symbolizing Peter’s role in leading the early Church.
- Jesus predicts Peter’s future martyrdom, indicating the cost of discipleship.
- The Call to Follow (Verses 20-23)
- Peter sees John and inquires about his fate.
- Jesus responds that Peter should focus on following Him rather than concerning himself with others’ destinies.
- This section emphasizes the personal nature of discipleship and the call to individual faithfulness.
- Conclusion and Purpose of the Book (Verses 24-25)
- The author affirms the authenticity of the testimony regarding Jesus.
- It concludes with a declaration of the vastness of Jesus’ works, suggesting that not all could be contained in written form.
Thematic Analysis
John 21 encapsulates several key themes that resonate throughout the Gospel:
- Restoration and Forgiveness:
The restoration of Peter highlights the theme of forgiveness. Despite Peter’s earlier denial, Jesus offers him a chance for redemption, emphasizing that failure does not disqualify one from service.
- Leadership and Responsibility:
Jesus’ commands to Peter to “feed My sheep” signify the responsibilities of leadership within the Church. It underscores the importance of nurturing and guiding fellow believers.
- Personal Discipleship:
The dialogue between Jesus and Peter emphasizes the individual nature of following Christ. Each disciple has a unique path and calling, which should not be compared to others.
- The Nature of Jesus’ Ministry:
The miraculous catch of fish serves as a metaphor for the mission of the Church, suggesting that Jesus empowers His followers to be “fishers of men.”
Conclusion
John 21 serves as a powerful conclusion to the Gospel, reinforcing the core messages of hope, restoration, and the ongoing mission of the Church. It invites readers to reflect on their own discipleship and the implications of following Christ in their lives.
