1After this Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and it was in this manner that He showed Himself:
2These were all gathered together: Simon Peter; Thomas, called Didymus; Nathanael, of Cana in Galilee; the sons of Zebedee; and two more of His disciples.
3Simon Peter said, “I am going fishing”. And they said, “We will go with you”. They went out, and got into a boat; and that night they caught nothing.
4But when morning had come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
5Then Jesus called out to them, “Have you fellows caught any fish?” They answered Him, “No.”
6And He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you shall find some”. And when they did, they were not able to haul it in for the number of fish.
7Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord”. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his fishermen's coat around him (for he was naked), and jumped into the sea.
8The other disciples followed in the boat (for they were not far from land - about a hundred yards), towing the net full of fish.
9And when they landed, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.
10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught”.
11So Simon Peter went back into the boat, and dragged the net ashore, filled with a hundred fifty-three large fish; and although there were so many, still the net was not torn.
12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast”. And none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?” because they knew that it was the Lord.
13Jesus came, and took the bread, and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to His disciples after He had risen from the dead.
15So when they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yea, Lord; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16He said to him again the second time, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yea, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You”. Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
18Very truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself, and walked where you would; but when you are old, you shall stretch out your hands, and someone else shall dress you, and lead you where you would not want to go.” 19Jesus said this, signifying by what death Peter would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” It is not clear from the context what the Lord is referring to by “these” in verse 15 – “
15So when they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me more than these?” - It could refer to fishing and the tools of that trade – boats, nets etc. Or it could refer to the other disciples; and here, again, there are two possible meanings: does Peter love the Lord more than he loves his fellow disciples; or does Peter love the Lord more than his fellow disciples love the Lord? The commentaries on this verse that address the question differ among these possible meanings. The readers must decide for themselves which meaning the Lord intended by His question. What is clear about the intent of the Lord is that by repeating His question three times, He was giving Peter three opportunities to completely obliterate his failing when he denied the Lord three times before the rooster crowed, as predicted by Jesus.
20Then Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following (the one who also leaned on His breast at supper and asked, “Lord, who is it that will betray You?”),
21Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?”
22Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? But as for you, follow Me.”
23And because of this comment from the Lord, the rumor spread among the brothers, that that disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say, “He shall not die”; but, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?”
24This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote them down; and we know that his testimony is true.
25And there are many other things which Jesus also did, which, if they were all written, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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