John Chapter 21

(Tap footnote to read it.  Old Testament quotations are underlined.  "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.¹"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love".  However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior.  It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings.  (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".)  Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé".  Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing.  It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )

The 3rd appearance of Jesus

1. After these things, Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples again at the Sea of Tiberias, and He revealed Himself this way:
2. Simon Peter, and Thomas (the man called Didymus), and Nathanael the man from Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others from His disciples were together.
3. Simon Peter tells them: “I’m going to fish.”  They say to him: “We’re also coming with you.”  They went out and embarked into the boat, and they caught nothing on that night.
4. And it having become morning already, Jesus stood at the shore, yet the disciples hadn’t known that it’s Jesus.
5. So Jesus says to them: “Children, don’t you have any fish?”  They answered Him: “No.”
6. And He told them: “Throw the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find fish.”  So they threw it, and they were no longer able to drag it in from the plethora of fish.
7. So that disciple whom Jesus ^loved says to Peter: “It’s the Lord!”  So having heard that it’s the Lord, Simon Peter put on his outer tunic (for he was stripped for work) and threw himself into the sea.
8. And the other disciples in the boat came dragging the net with the fish, for they weren’t far from the land, but about 200 cubits¹“cubits”, the plural of “cubit”, which is about 18 inches, or about 46 centimeters.  Thus, 200 cubits is about 300 feet. away.
9. So when they disembarked onto the land, they see a coal-fire lying there, and fish placed on it, and bread.
10. Jesus tells them: “Bring some of the fish which you caught just now.”
11. So Simon Peter went up and pulled the net full of large fish to the land; 153 fish, and despite being so many, the net wasn’t torn.
12. Jesus tells them: “Come, eat breakfast.” But none of the disciples dared to ask Him “Who are you?”, *knowing that it’s the Lord.
13. Jesus comes and takes the bread and gives it to them, and He does likewise with the fish.
14. This was already the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples after having been raised from the dead.

Jesus, Peter, and John

15. So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus says to Simon Peter: “Simon son of John, do you ^love Me more than these men?”  He tells Him: “Yes Lord, you *know that I love²“love” The Greek word here is “φιλέω” (phileó), and it denotes warm feelings of affection, friendship and kinship, or a great fondness for someone or something.  The contrast with “ἀγαπάω” (agapaó) used earlier in this verse can be adequately understood as a heart/head difference.  Thus, agapaó is the “love” based on the will, choice and the mind; whereas phileó is the “love” based on emotions, feelings, and the heart. you.”  He says to him: “Feed My lambs.”
16. He says to him again for a second time: “Simon son of John, do you ^love Me?”  He tells Him: “Yes Lord, you *know that I love you.”  He says to him: “Shepherd My sheep.”
17. He says to him the third time: “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”  Peter was grieved because the third time He said to him: “Do you love Me?”  And he said to Him: “Lord, you *know all things. You know that I love you.”  Jesus tells him: “Feed My sheep.
18. “Amen, amen I tell you: when you were younger, you were girding yourself³“girding yourself” is a cultural reference, referring to the process of tying a belt or rope around the waist to gather their long robes and prevent them from getting in the way of work.  It can also carry the connotation of clothing yourself.  It figuratively came to mean getting ready for action or work. and were walking where you were wanting.  But when you grow old, you will reach out your hands and another will gird you and will bring you where you don’t desire.
19. And He said this, signifying by what kind of death he will glorify God.  And having said this, He tells him: “Follow Me.”
20. Having turned, Peter sees the disciple whom Jesus ^loved following (who also reclined at the supper on His chest and said: “Lord, who is the man betraying you?”)
21. So having seen that man, Peter says to Jesus: “Lord, and what about this man?”
22. Jesus tells him: “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?  You follow Me.”
23. So this saying went out among the brothers, that this disciple doesn’t die.  But Jesus didn’t tell him that he doesn’t die, but only: “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”
24. This is the disciple testifying about these things, and the man who wrote these things, and we *know that his testimony is true.
25. Now, there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if every one would be written, I think not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written.

 

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