Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where 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." Truly, truly, I tell youThis phrase, often translated from the Greek "ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω σοι" (amēn amēn legō soi), is a solemn affirmation used by Jesus to emphasize the truth and importance of what He is about to say. The repetition of "truly" underscores the certainty and authority of His words. In the context of the Gospel of John, this phrase is used to introduce significant teachings or revelations, highlighting the divine authority of Jesus as the Son of God. It serves as a call for the listener to pay close attention and to trust in the reliability of the message. when you were younger
This phrase reflects a time of independence and self-determination. In the Greek, "ὅτε ἦς νεώτερος" (hote ēs neōteros), it suggests a period of life characterized by vigor and the ability to make one's own choices. Historically, youth is often associated with freedom and the capacity to pursue one's desires. In the context of Peter's life, it recalls his earlier years of following Jesus with zeal and enthusiasm, often acting on his own initiative. you dressed yourself
The Greek phrase "ἐζώννυες σεαυτόν" (ezōnnues seauton) indicates self-sufficiency and autonomy. Dressing oneself is a metaphor for personal control and the ability to manage one's own affairs. In the cultural context of the time, clothing oneself was a daily act that symbolized readiness and preparation for the tasks ahead. Spiritually, it can be seen as a metaphor for preparing oneself for the journey of faith and the responsibilities that come with it. and walked where you wanted
This phrase, "καὶ περιεπάτεις ὅπου ἤθελες" (kai periepatēs hopou ētheles), signifies freedom of movement and choice. Walking where one desires is emblematic of the liberty to pursue one's own path. In the biblical narrative, it reflects Peter's earlier freedom to follow Jesus physically and spiritually, making decisions based on his own understanding and desires. It also serves as a reminder of the human tendency to seek one's own way, often needing divine guidance to align with God's will. but when you are old
The Greek "ὅταν δὲ γηράσῃς" (hotan de gērasēs) introduces a contrast between youth and old age. Old age in biblical times was often associated with wisdom and experience but also with a loss of physical strength and independence. This phrase foreshadows a time in Peter's life when he will no longer have the same autonomy he once enjoyed. It serves as a reminder of the natural progression of life and the changes that come with it, both physically and spiritually. you will stretch out your hands
The phrase "ἐκτενεῖς τὰς χεῖράς σου" (ekteneis tas cheiras sou) is a vivid image that can imply vulnerability and surrender. In the historical context, stretching out one's hands could signify submission or the act of being bound. For Peter, this foreshadows his eventual martyrdom, where he would be led to a place he did not choose, ultimately surrendering his life for the sake of the Gospel. It is a powerful reminder of the cost of discipleship and the call to follow Christ even unto death. and someone else will dress you
The Greek "καὶ ἄλλος σε ζώσει" (kai allos se zōsei) indicates a loss of personal control and the need to rely on others. This phrase suggests a future where Peter will be dependent on others, contrasting with his earlier independence. It reflects the reality of aging and the humility required to accept help from others. Spiritually, it can also symbolize the surrender to God's will and the trust required to allow Him to guide one's life, even when it leads to places of discomfort or sacrifice. and lead you where you do not want to go
This phrase, "καὶ οἴσει ὅπου οὐ θέλεις" (kai oisei hopou ou theleis), speaks to the inevitability of circumstances beyond one's control. It foreshadows Peter's martyrdom, as tradition holds that he was crucified in Rome. This part of the verse highlights the ultimate submission to God's plan, even when it leads to suffering or death. It serves as a profound reminder of the call to follow Christ wholeheartedly, trusting in His purpose and provision, even when the path is difficult or undesirable. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe resurrected Lord who is speaking to Peter, providing him with a prophecy about his future. 2. Peter (Simon Peter)One of Jesus' closest disciples, who is being addressed directly by Jesus in this passage. 3. The Sea of GalileeThe location where Jesus appears to His disciples after His resurrection, as described earlier in John 21. 4. The Early ChurchThe broader context in which this prophecy would be fulfilled, as Peter becomes a leading figure in the early Christian community. 5. MartyrdomThe event foreshadowed by Jesus in this verse, indicating the manner of Peter's death. Teaching Points Understanding ProphecyJesus' words to Peter remind us that God knows our future and has a plan for our lives, even if it involves suffering. Faithfulness in Following ChristPeter's journey from denial to martyrdom illustrates the transformative power of Christ's love and forgiveness. The Cost of DiscipleshipJesus' prophecy to Peter highlights the reality that following Christ may lead to personal sacrifice and suffering. Embracing God's WillLike Peter, we are called to trust in God's plan for our lives, even when it leads us into difficult circumstances. Legacy of FaithPeter's life and death serve as a powerful testimony to the enduring impact of a life fully committed to Christ. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Jesus' prophecy in John 21:18 reflect His knowledge and authority over our lives? 2. In what ways can Peter's transformation from denial to faithfulness inspire us in our own spiritual journeys? 3. How does the concept of taking up one's cross, as seen in Matthew 16:24-25, relate to the prophecy given to Peter in John 21:18? 4. What can we learn from Peter's acceptance of his future as described in 2 Peter 1:14, and how can we apply this to our own acceptance of God's will? 5. How does understanding the cost of discipleship, as demonstrated in Peter's life, challenge us to live out our faith more boldly in today's world? Connections to Other Scriptures John 13:36-38Jesus previously predicts Peter's denial, and here in John 21:18, He predicts Peter's future faithfulness and martyrdom. Acts 12:1-5Peter's imprisonment by Herod, which reflects the beginning of the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy about Peter's future. 2 Peter 1:14Peter himself refers to the prophecy of his death, showing his acceptance and understanding of Jesus' words. Matthew 16:24-25Jesus' teaching on taking up one's cross and following Him, which is relevant to Peter's future path of sacrifice. People Didymus, Jesus, John, Jonah, Jonas, Nathanael, Peter, Simon, Thomas, Zabdi, ZebedeePlaces Cana, Galilee, Sea of TiberiasTopics Arms, Bring, Carry, Certainly, Chose, Desire, Desiredst, Dress, Dressed, Forth, Gird, Girded, Girdedst, Girdest, Girding, Girdle, Grow, Grown, Hands, Lead, Mayest, Ready, Round, Solemn, Someone, Stretch, Thyself, Truly, Truth, Verily, Walk, Walked, Walkedst, Walking, Wanted, Wast, Whereas, Wherever, Whichever, Whither, Wish, Wished, Wouldest, Wouldst, YoungerDictionary of Bible Themes John 21:18 1461 truth, nature of John 21:15-19 2060 Christ, patience of
8150 revival, personal
8712 denial of Christ John 21:15-20 6175 guilt, removal of John 21:17-19 8401 challenges John 21:18-19 1424 predictions
2021 Christ, faithfulness
2525 Christ, cross of
8450 martyrdom
8796 persecution, forms of Library November 20. "The Disciple whom Jesus Loved Leaned on his Breast" (John xxi. 20).
"The disciple whom Jesus loved leaned on His breast" (John xxi. 20). An American gentleman once visited the saintly Albert Bengel. He was very desirous to hear him pray. So one night he lingered at his door, hoping to overhear his closing devotions. The rooms were adjoining and the doors ajar. The good man finished his studies, closed his books, knelt down for a moment and simply said: "Dear Lord Jesus, things are still the same between us," and then sweetly fell asleep. So close was his communion …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth 'Lovest Thou Me?'
'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.'--JOHN xxi. 15. Peter had already seen the risen Lord. There had been that interview on Easter morning, on which the seal of sacred secrecy was impressed; when, alone, the denier poured out his heart to his Lord, and was taken to the heart that he had wounded. Then there had been two interviews on the two successive Sundays …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI An Eloquent Catalogue
'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.'--JOHN xxi. 2. This chapter, containing the infinitely significant and pathetic account of our Lord's appearance to these disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, is evidently an appendix to the Gospel of John. The design of that Gospel is complete with the previous chapter, and there is a formal close, as of the whole book, at the end thereof. But whilst …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI The Beach and the Sea
'When the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.'--JOHN xxi. 4. The incident recorded in this appendix to John's Gospel is separated from the other appearances of our risen Lord in respect of place, time, and purpose. They all occurred in and about Jerusalem; this took place in Galilee. The bulk of them happened on the day of the Resurrection, one of them a week after. This, of course, to allow time for the journey, must have been at a considerably …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI 'It is the Lord!'
'Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.--JOHN xxi. 7. It seems a very strange thing that these disciples had not, at an earlier period of this incident, discovered the presence of Christ, inasmuch as the whole was so manifestly a repetition of that former event by which the commencement of their ministry had been signalised, when He called them to become 'fishers of men.' We are apt to suppose that when once again they embarked on the lake, and went back to their …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI Youth and Age, and the Command for Both
Annual Sermon to the Young '... 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.... And when He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow Me.'--JOHN xxi. 18, 19. The immediate reference of these words is, of course, to the martyrdom of the Apostle Peter. Our Lord contrasts the vigorous and somewhat self-willed youth and the mellowed …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI 'They Also Serve who Only Stand and Wait'
'Peter, seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do! Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me.'--John xxi. 21, 22. We have seen in a former sermon that the charge of the risen Christ to Peter, which immediately precedes these verses, allotted to him service and suffering. The closing words of that charge 'Follow Me!' had a deep significance, as uniting both parts of his task in the one supreme command of imitation of his Master. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI November the Thirteenth a Transformed Fisherman
"Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing." --JOHN xxi. 1-14. Simon Peter had often gone a fishing, but never had he gone as he went in the twilight of that most wonderful evening. He handled the ropes in a new style, with a new dignity born of the bigger capacity of his own soul. He turned to the familiar task, but with a quite unfamiliar spirit. He went a fishing, but the power of the resurrection went with him. This action of Simon Peter's is the only true test of the reality of any spiritual …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year Love and Service.
TEXT: JOHN xxi. 16. "He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep." THERE is no more important charge than that which the Lord gave to His apostle in these words. He calls Himself the Shepherd of His flock; therefore what He here committed to the charge of the apostle was to do the Lord's own work in His name, and under His oversight and ruling direction as Chief Shepherd. But …
Friedrich Schleiermacher—Selected Sermons of Schleiermacher On the Same Words of the Gospel of John. xxi. 15, "Simon, Son of John, Lovest Thou Me More than These?" Etc.
1. Ye remember that the Apostle Peter, the first of all the Apostles, was disturbed at the Lord's Passion. Of his own self disturbed, but by Christ renewed. For he was first a bold presumer, and became afterwards a timid denier. He had promised that he would die for the Lord, when the Lord was first to die for him. When he said then, "I will be with Thee even unto death," and "I will lay down my life for Thee;" the Lord answered him, "Wilt thou lay down thy life for Me? Verily I say unto thee, Before …
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament On the Words of the Gospel, John. xxi. 16, "Simon, Son of John, Lovest Thou Me?" Etc.
1. Ye have observed, beloved, that in to-day's lesson it was said by the Lord to Peter in a question, "Lovest thou Me?" To whom he answered, "Thou knowest, Lord, that I love thee." This was done a second, and a third time; and at each several reply, the Lord said, "Feed My lambs." [4317] To Peter did Christ commend His lambs to be fed, who fed even Peter himself. For what could Peter do for the Lord, especially now that He had an Immortal Body, and was about to ascend into heaven? As though He had …
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament Lovest Thou Me?
Without preface, for we shall have but little time this morning--may God help us to make good use of it!--we shall mention three things: first a solemn question--"Lovest thou me?" secondly, a discreet answer, "Yes, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee;" and thirdly, a required demonstration of the fact, "He saith unto him, Feed my lambs;" or, again, "Feed my sheep." I. First, then, here was A SOLEMN QUESTION, which our Saviour put to Peter, not for his own information, for, as Peter said, "Thou knowest …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857 Christ among the Common Things of Life
William James Dawson, Congregational preacher and evangelist, was born in Towcester, Northamptonshire, in 1854. He was educated at Kingswood School, Bath, and Didsbury College, Manchester. He has long been known as an author of originality and pure literary style. In 1906 he received the pastorate of Highbury Quadrant Congregational Church, London, and accepted an invitation to do general evangelistic work under the auspices of the National Council of the Congregational churches of the United States. …
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume 10 Erroneous Opinions Imputed to the Apostles.
A species of candour which is shown towards every other book is sometimes refused to the Scriptures: and that is, the placing of a distinction between judgment and testimony. We do not usually question the credit of a writer, by reason of an opinion he may have delivered upon subjects unconnected with his evidence: and even upon subjects connected with his account, or mixed with it in the same discourse or writing, we naturally separate facts from opinions, testimony from observation, narrative from …
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity Of Avoiding of Curious Inquiry into the Life of Another
"My Son, be not curious, nor trouble thyself with vain cares. What is that to thee? Follow thou Me.(1) For what is it to thee whether a man be this or that, or say or do thus or thus? Thou hast no need to answer for others, but thou must give an answer for thyself. Why therefore dost thou entangle thyself? Behold, I know all men, and I behold all things which are done under the sun; and I know how it standeth with each one, what he thinketh, what he willeth, and to what end his thoughts reach. …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ Instructions to Converts.
Text.--Feed my lambs.--John xxi. 15. YOU, who read your Bibles, recollect the connection in which these words are found, and by whom they were spoken. They were addressed by the Lord Jesus Christ to Peter, after he had denied his Lord, and had professed repentance. Probably one of the designs which Christ had in view, in suffering Peter to sin so awfully as to deny his master, was to produce a deeper work of grace in him, and thus fit him for the peculiar duty to which he intended to call him, in …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion Synopsis. --Arbitrary Criticism of the Biblical Narratives of the Raising of the "Dead. " --Facts which it Ignores. --The Subject Related to the Phenomena of Trance
III SYNOPSIS.--Arbitrary criticism of the Biblical narratives of the raising of the "dead."--Facts which it ignores.--The subject related to the phenomena of trance, and records of premature burial.--The resuscitation in Elisha's tomb probably historical.--Jesus' raising of the ruler's daughter plainly a case of this kind.--His raising of the widow's son probably such.--The hypothesis that his raising of Lazarus may also have been such critically examined.--The record allows this supposition.--Further …
James Morris Whiton—Miracles and Supernatural Religion Seventh Appearance of Jesus.
(Sea of Galilee.) ^D John XXI. 1-25. ^d 1 After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and he manifested himself on this wise. 2 There was together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee [see p. 111], and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. [As usual, Peter was the leader.] They say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat; …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Harmony of the Gospels
36. The church early appreciated the value and the difficulty of having four different pictures of the life and teachings of the Lord. Irenaeus at the close of the second century felt it to be as essential that there should be four gospels as that there should be "four zones of the world, four principal winds, and four faces of the cherubim" (Against Heresies III. ii. 8). 37. Before Irenaeus, however, another had sought to obviate the difficulty of having four records which seem at some points to …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth Feeding the Lambs.
Some years ago when attending to the work to which the Lord had called me in one of the sunny Southern States it was my happy privilege to enjoy for a few days the kind hospitality of a generous Christian farmer. One balmy afternoon while walking over the pleasant fields of his large farm, with my heart in sweet communion with God, I came upon the most beautiful flock of sheep it had ever been my privilege to behold. They were quietly grazing in a rich green pasture, near by which silently flowed …
Charles Ebert Orr—Food for the Lambs; or, Helps for Young Christians The Fall of the Empire and of the Papacy
[Sidenote: Urban IV (1261-4).] The date of Alexander's death marks the beginning of a new episode in the history of the mediaval Papacy. His successor, Urban IV, was a Frenchman. With more vigour than his predecessor he pursued the policy of the destruction of the Hohenstaufen. Since the English prince had proved a useless tool and no more money could be wrung from the English people, he obtained the renunciation of the claims of Edmund to the Sicilian crown and turned to his native country for a …
D. J. Medley—The Church and the Empire Epistle xx. To Mauricius Augustus.
To Mauricius Augustus. Gregory to Mauricius, &c. Our most pious and God-appointed lord, among his other august cares and burdens, watches also in the uprightness of spiritual zeal over the preservation of peace among the priesthood, inasmuch as he piously and truly considers that no one can govern earthly things aright unless he knows how to deal with divine things, and that the peace of the republic hangs on the peace of the universal Church. For, most serene Lord, what human power, and what strength …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great Links John 21:18 NIVJohn 21:18 NLTJohn 21:18 ESVJohn 21:18 NASBJohn 21:18 KJV
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