DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?
John 21:1- 25
Key verse 21:15
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
This is the final episode of the risen Jesus with his disciples in the John’s gospel. Jesus restored Simon Peter based on his love confession. Jesus reappointed Simon Peter as a shepherd of his flock.
1. Read verses 1-6. Where and to whom does the risen Jesus appear again? (1-2, 14; Mt 26:32) What does Peter and the disciples want to do and what is the result? (3) How might they feel after catching nothing? How does Jesus help their fishing journey? (4-6)
1-1) Read 21:1-6.
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias.[ HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2021&version=NIV1984" \l "fen-NIV1984-26889a" \o "See footnote a" a] It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”“No,” they answered.6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
1-2) Where and to whom does the risen Jesus appear again? (1-2, 14; Mt 26:32)
a) by the Sea of Tiberias (Sea of Galilee), where Jesus first called his disciples.
b) Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. (2). Only seven disciples were mentioned here. The risen Jesus met his disciples at Jerusalem (John 20). However, this event occurred by the Sea of Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) as he promised before his death.
c) Jesus promised in Matthew 26:32 “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
1-3) What does Peter and the disciples want to do and what is the result? (3)
a) “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. (3)
It showed that they had no clear direction, so they wanted to return their old job.
1-4) How might they feel after catching nothing?
We can imagine their deep sense of failure. Their life of mission was halted by the death of Jesus and it seemed not easy to go back their old lives.
1-5) How does Jesus help their fishing journey? (4-6)
5He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”“No,” they answered.6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Jesus helped them to catch the large number of fish.
2. Read verses 7-14. Who recognizes Jesus first? (7a; Lk 5:1-11) What do Peter and the other disciples do? (7b-8) How does Jesus serve the disciples? (9-13) How successful is their fishing? (11) How may they feel when Jesus serves them? (12-13)
2-1) Read verses 7-14.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2021&version=NIV1984" \l "fen-NIV1984-26896b" \o "See footnote b"b] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
2-2) Who recognizes Jesus first? (7a; Lk 5:1-11)
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”
John recognized Jesus.
2-3) What do Peter and the other disciples do? (7b-8)
As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
While Peter was working, Peter was probably wearing a loincloth. So he wrapped his outer garment around him to meet Jesus. The other disciples howled the net and boat to the shore.
2-4) How does Jesus serve the disciples? (9-13)
Jesus knew they were very hungry after their overnight work, so he prepared for the breakfast with fish on the burning coals and some bread. He invited them, “Come and have a breakfast.” He asked them to bring the fish they had caught and grilled them too. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. They could have a full meal in a long time, probably since the last supper.
2-5) How successful is their fishing? (11)
It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
2-6) How may they feel when Jesus serves them? (12-13)
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
They could not say anything; I think that they felt sorry for their utter failure and disarray. However, on the other hand, they would feel comforted and relieved to see Jesus.
3. Read verse 15-17. After eating, what does Jesus say and why? (15) What did Jesus ask Peter? (15-17) What does he mean “truly love Jesus more than these”? Why does Jesus ask Peter three times? What was Peter’s response and Jesus’ command each time? (15-17)
3-1) Read verse 15-17.
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
3-2) After eating, what does Jesus say and why? (15)
“15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter,”
Simon Peter boasted that he would die with Jesus (John 13:37), but he failed miserably as he had denied Jesus three times. Jesus wanted to restore his love relationship with him.
3-3) What did Jesus ask Peter? (15-17)
“Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
Simon Peter always bragged that he loved Jesus more than anyone else and he would die with Jesus, but he failed at the critical moment. He had lost his credibility badly and he lost his authority as a leader.
3-4) What does he mean “truly love Jesus more than these”?
“These” means many things. These includes Peter’s human dream, i.e., his ambition to be a great man like a prime minister in the kingdom Jesus established or the glory and splendor he dreamed to get in the messianic kingdom. Most of all ‘these’ may mean ‘these people (e.g., other disciples). He used to be very confident that he loved Jesus more than anyone did in the world, but he could not prove it because of his failure.
God demands our undivided full love as in Deuteronomy 6:5, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” And this is the first and the greatest commandment of all.
3-5) Why does Jesus ask Peter three times?
It probably relates to his failure. Peter denied Jesus three times (Mk 14:66-72). Jesus wanted to erase his failure and restore Peter completely by confessing his love three times.
Isaiah 1:18 says “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
3-6) What was Peter’s response and Jesus’ command each time? (15-17)
Peter responded “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” each time and each time, Jesus commanded him, “feed my lamb or take care of my sheep.” Jesus reappointed Peter as a leader of the church and restored his authority. Despite his failure, in fact, Jesus knew Peter loved him and the risen Jesus himself reappointed Peter as a shepherd of the flock based on his love confession. Who can dare to say anything against Peter? (Romans 8:31-39)
4. Read verses 18-25. What will happen to Peter when he is old? (18,19a) What does Jesus say to Peter? (19b) Why did Peter ask about John? (20-21) What is Jesus’ answer? (22-23) How does the author conclude? (24-25)
4-1) Read verses 18-25.
18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went 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.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” 20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor 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 return, what is that to you?” 24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
4-2) What will happen to Peter when he is old? (18,19a)
18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went 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.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.
From now on, Peter would live as a shepherd of his flock, which requires a self denial and sacrifice, even to the point of death. Jesus predicts how he would glorify Jesus in his later life.
4-3) What does Jesus say to Peter? (19b)
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” Peter must follow Jesus to the end seriously, even to the point of death.
4-4) Why did Peter ask about John? (20-21)
Peter wondered what would happen to his friend, John and asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”
4-5) What is Jesus’ answer? (22-23)
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor 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 return, what is that to you?”
Jesus’ calling is different from person to person. We don’t have to compare our calling to those of others. We have to follow our own calling.
4-6) How does the author conclude? (24-25)
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
John testified these events as an eyewitness and we know that his testimony is true. Amen.
In conclusion, the risen Jesus appears to the disciples who went fishing and caught nothing. He helped them catch a large number of fish. Jesus helped them restore their spirit and recognize the risen Jesus. Especially, the risen Jesus wanted to reappoint Peter as a leader of his flock based on his love confession. In this passage, we learn there is no failure in life. Every life can turn into victory in Jesus. Amen
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