NLT Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 75
page 1849
21:14
John 20:19, 26
21:15
Matt 26:33
21:16
Acts 20:28
Heb 13:20-21
1 Pet 5:2-3
21:17
John 13:38; 16:30
21:19
John 13:36
2 Pet 1:14
21:20
John 13:23, 25
21:22
Matt 16:27
21:24
John 15:27; 19:35
1 Jn 1:1-3
3 Jn 1:12
21:25
John 20:30
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J ohn 2 1
him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13Then Jesus served them the bread
and the fish. 14This was the third time J esus had appeared to his disciples since he had
been raised from the dead.
Jesus Challenges Peter (247)
15After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more
than these?*”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
16Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” J esus said.
17A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know
everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
18“I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you
dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will
stretch out your hands, and others* will dress you and take you where you don’t want to
go.” 19Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then
Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
20Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who
had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 21Peter
asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”
22Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As
for you, follow me.” 23So the rumor spread among the community of believers* that this
disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to
remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
24This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here.
And we know that his account of these things is accurate.
25Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole
world could not contain the books that would be written.
21:15 Or more than these others do?
21:18 Some manuscripts read and another one.
21:23 Greek the brothers.
21:15-17 In this beach scene, Jesus led Peter through an experience
21:18-19 Jesus predicted Peter’s death by crucifixion. Tradition in-
that would remove the cloud of his denial. Peter had denied Jesus three
times. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. When Peter answered yes, Jesus told him to feed his sheep. It is one thing to say you
love Jesus, but the real test is your willingness to serve him. Peter had
repented, and here Jesus was asking him to commit his life to him.
Peter’s life changed when he finally realized who Jesus was. His occupation changed from fisherman to evangelist; his identity changed from
impetuous to “rock” (see the note on 1:42); and his relationship to Jesus
changed—he was forgiven, and he finally understood the significance
of Jesus’ words about his death and resurrection.
21:15-17 Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. The first time,
Jesus said, “Do you love [Greek agape: volitional, self-sacrificial love]
me more than these?” The second time, Jesus focused on Peter alone
and still used the word translated into Greek as agape. The third time,
Jesus used the word translated into Greek as phileo (signifying affection,
affinity, or brotherly love) and asked, in effect, “Are you even my friend?”
Each time Peter responded with the word translated into Greek as phileo.
Jesus doesn’t settle for quick, superficial answers. He has a way of getting
to the heart of the matter. Peter had to face his true feelings and motives
when Jesus confronted him. How would you respond if Jesus asked
you, “Do you love me? Do you really love me? Are you even my friend?”
dicates that Peter was crucified for his faith—upside down because
he did not feel worthy of dying as his Lord did. Despite what Peter’s
future held, Jesus told Peter to follow him. We may be uncertain and
fearful about the future. But if we know God is in control, we can
confidently follow Jesus.
21:21-22 Peter asked Jesus how John would die. Jesus replied that
Peter should not concern himself with that. We tend to compare our lives
to the lives of others, whether to rationalize our own level of devotion
to Christ or to question God’s justice. Jesus responds to us as he did to
Peter: “What is that to you? As for you, follow me.”
21:23 Early church history reports that after John spent several years
as an exile on the island of Patmos, he returned to Ephesus, where he
died as an old man near the end of the first century.
21:25 John’s stated purpose for writing his Gospel was to show that
Jesus was the Son of God (20:31). He clearly and systematically presented
the evidence for Jesus’ claims. When evidence is presented in the courtroom, those who hear it must make a choice. Likewise, those who read
the Gospel of John must also make a choice—is Jesus the Son of God
or isn’t he? You are the jury. The evidence has been clearly presented.
You must decide. Read John’s Gospel and believe!
