John 21:15-25
Intro Questions
Jesus Reinstates
Peter
John 21:15–19
15aWhen they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me† more than
these?”
15b“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”
15c“Feed My lambs,” He told
him.
16aA second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
16b“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”
16c“Shepherd My sheep,” He told him.
17aHe asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
17bPeter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.”
17c“Feed My sheep,” Jesus
said. 18“I assure you: When you were young, you would tie your belt
and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and
carry you where you don’t want to go.” 19He said this to signify by
what kind of death he would glorify God. After saying this, He told him,
“Follow Me!”
Jesus and Peter Discuss the Future of the Apostle John
John 21:20–24
20So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following
them. That disciple was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper
and asked, “Lord, who is the one that’s going to betray You?” 21When
Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord—what about him?”
22“If I want him to remain until I come,” Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow
Me.”
23So this report spread to the brothers that this disciple would not
die. Yet Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but, “If I want him to
remain until I come, what is that to you?”
24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.[1]
[1]
Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp.
252–253). Holman Bible Publishers.
After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others?"
"Yes," Peter replied, "you know I am your friend."
"Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.
Jesus repeated the question: "Simon, son of John, do you really love me?"
"Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I am your friend."
"Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said.
Once more he asked him, "Simon, son of John, are you even my friend?"
Peter was grieved at the way Jesus asked the question this third time. "Lord, you know my heart; you know I am," he said.
Jesus said, "Then feed my little sheep. When you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and others will direct you and take you where you don't want to go." Jesus said this to let him know what kind of death he would die to glorify God. Then Jesus told him, "Follow me."
Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following, the one who had leaned around at supper that time to ask Jesus, "Master, which of us will betray you?" Peter asked Jesus, "What about him, Lord? What sort of death will he die?"
Jesus replied, "If I want him to live until I return, what is that to you? You follow me."
So the rumor spread among the brotherhood that that disciple wouldn't die! But that isn't what Jesus said at all! He only said, "If I want him to live until I come, what is that to you?"
I am that disciple! I saw these events and have recorded them here. And we all know that my account of these things is accurate.
And I suppose that if all the other events in Jesus' life were written, the whole world could hardly contain the books!
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
- Have you ever been kicked off the team, out of the club, out of the house or out of school? Why?
- Who was expected to do the most chores around your house when you were a kid? Who got off the easiest?
- Why do you think Jesus repeated the same question and charge to Peter three times? How is Peter supposed to demonstrate his love and loyalty to Jesus now? In light of John 10:15, what would Jesus' shepherd image mean to Peter?
- What does Jesus mean by his prediction in John 21:18? Why did Peter ask about John?
- What is the crucial issue revealed in Jesus' response to Peter (John 21:22)? How is this linked with John 21:15-17?
- What is the closest you have come to blowing it so badly that you thought God was never going to speak to you again? What did you discover about God in that experience?
- When have you compared yourself with someone else and wondered why his or her life was the way it was? How did that affect your desire to do what you were supposed to do?
- Whom do you know who needs to feel forgiven by God? What will you do to tell them they are forgiven?
- If you were writing a book about Jesus' work in your life, what would be some of the chapter titles?
- What has been brought to light for you through studying John's Gospel?
Do You Truly Love Him?
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 others?" The second time, Jesus focused on Peter alone and still used the Greek word agape. The third time, Jesus used the Greek word phileo (signifying affection, affinity, or brotherly love) and asked, in effect, "Are you even my friend?" Each time Peter responded with the Greek word 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 Jesus? Are you even his friend?
This was a prediction of Peter's death by crucifixion. Tradition indicates that Peter was crucified for his faith—upside down because he did not feel worthy of dying as his Lord had died. Despite the future, Jesus told Peter to follow him.
Don't Compare
Peter asked Jesus how John would die. Jesus replied that Peter should not concern himself with that. We tend to compare our lives to 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? You follow me." When you follow Christ and live as he wants you to, there is no need to compare yourself with others. People make comparisons for many reasons. Some point out others' flaws in order to feel better about themselves. Others simply want reassurance that they are doing well. When you are tempted to compare, look at Jesus Christ. His example will inspire you to do your very best, and his loving acceptance will comfort you when you fall short of your expectations.
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.
"Do You
Love Me?"
“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.’”
(John 21:15-19)
How do Christians stumble and fall? How can there
be such a disconnect, sometimes, with believers who are forgiven, redeemed,
have a new heart, and have the Holy Spirit?
Peter was discipled by Jesus for three years, yet
Jesus often saw the disconnect in Peter’s life.
Volumes could be written on this question, but let’s consider three
points from Jesus’ question to Peter that might help Christians move from being
a participant in Christianity to becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus.
First,
we can learn from Peter’s disconnect with Jesus. Throughout Jesus’ ministry Peter displayed a
false direction with Jesus’ purposes and ways by reacting in his flesh rather
than responding from a spiritual perspective. Some examples are in Matthew
16:23, John 13:38, and John 13:8. Peter was a man passionate about Jesus, but
too often saw things from an earthly perspective. Knowing truth and living in
the truth are two different things. As Christians we must vigilantly guard
against living in the flesh by remaining in Jesus, just as he teaches in John
15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will
bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”
Second, we must be established in faith and
grounded in God’s word. Jesus, when speaking to Peter in today’s verse, used
the word “lamb.” Just as a child flounders in life without being established in
how to live, so a new Christian flounders without being established in his/her
faith. Christianity is more than imparting knowledge of God’s word, it is about
allowing God’s word to take root in our lives and transform us through the work
of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 4:20 emphasizes living this way: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of
power.”
Third, we should be
discipled by others and work to disciple others. God wants you to grow to
maturity by being fruitful. Hebrews 5:13-14 explains: “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not
acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by
constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Maturity in Christ is best defined by a
person’s fruitfulness – your ability to live out God’s truths in visible ways
in this world. That is why Jesus defined a disciple the way He did in John
15:8: “This is to My Father's glory, that
you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Jesus wanted his followers to be known as those who
pursued God in a passionate, intimate way. The living Christ brings life to our
spirit and fruitfulness to our walk with him. God calls every Christian to be
fruitful in witnessing, discipling others, and ministry.
Maybe today Jesus is asking you the same three
questions he asked Peter: “Do you love me?”, “Are you willing to feed my
lambs?”, and “Are you willing to shepherd or tend my sheep?”
“Transforming
Love”
“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.’ 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.’ 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.’” (John
21:15-18)
Jesus asked Peter three times if he
loved Him, knowing that Peter did not grasp the depth and calling of his love
for Jesus.
Peter’s love for Jesus could only be fully known when his
life demonstrated a love and compassion for people. There was no doubt that
Peter could love Jesus and what He was about, but could Peter’s love for Jesus
translate into a love and compassion for others?
Jesus explained in Matthew 9:12-13, “Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: “I desire
mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not
come to call the righteous, but sinners.’”
Jesus confounded His disciples by
constantly living a life that said, “My mission is the lost, those in need.”
Do you love the Christian
organizations you belong to more than Jesus? Do you love the tools (quiet time,
worship, Bible class, missions, Christian activity) more than Jesus? Do you
love your Christian way of life more than Jesus? Jesus saw that Peter could
easily love the Jesus that represented establishment, organization, processes,
goals, mission, revolution, and self-righteousness, but not love the Jesus that
loves the unlovable, cares for the down and out, and meets the needs of those
around Him.
Is your love for Jesus represented by
a transforming love or simply the appearances of love? Is your love for Jesus
represented by caring, feeding, and witnessing to those around you or the
Christian entities in which you are involved?
Matthew 9:36-37 says, “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they
were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His
disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.’”
Jesus does not want your practice of
Christianity to only be with organizations and the trappings of religion, but
as one who sees the hearts and souls of those around you and whose heart
overflows with compassion for them.
John 13:34-35 "A
new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love
one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love
one another."
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