Jesus asks Peter three times to feed His sheep – John 21

Joy:  You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #89.  Today we’ll read John chapter 21 together:  Jesus appears for the third time to His disciples; Jesus asks Peter three times to feed His sheep; and John corrects a rumor.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

You did it!  This is the last chapter of John, which means, once you have done today’s reading, you will have completed reading all four Gospels!  I’m so proud of you.  And more than that, God is pleased with you because you are learning to rightly divide His word of truth.  I would love to hear from you…your impressions, something that you’ve learned, a struggle, a win.  This a great journey and I’m so happy you’re sticking with it.  Imagine me giving you a huge High Five!

John Chapter 21:  1 After this, Jesus revealed Himself again to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed Himself in this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore. However, the disciples did not know it was Jesus. 5 “Men,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered. 6 “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” He told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. 7 Therefore the disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer garment around him (for he was stripped) and plunged into the sea. 8 But since they were not far from land (about 100 yards away), the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them. 11 So Simon Peter got up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish-153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 “Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead. 15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love , the first 2 times by Jesus (vv. 15-16 ); and phileo , the last time by Jesus (v. 17 ) and all 3 times by Peter (vv. 15-17 ). Peter’s threefold confession of love for Jesus corresponds to his earlier threefold denial of Jesus; Jn 18:15-18 , 25-27 . Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” “Feed My lambs,” He told him. 16 A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” “Shepherd My sheep,” He told him. 17 He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter 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.” “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.” 19 He said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. After saying this, He told him, “Follow Me!” 20 So 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?” 21 When 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.” 23 So 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?” 24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.

There’s a lot  to be said about this chapter, but we’re gonna zero in on the exchange between Jesus and Peter.  This is one of those times that translation into English doesn’t tell the whole story.  We have to understand that Peter was still carrying the shame from denying Jesus.  And after reading all the other gospels, we also know Peter much better now.  If one of the twelve was gonna stick his foot in his mouth, it was gonna be Peter.  But Jesus had big plans for Peter.  When Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, the word for love that He used meant total devotion.  But Peter, in his shame, even though he loved Jesus and responded with love, it was  not that ‘sold out’ love.  Jesus kept at him though.  Remember, this was the Rock on which Jesus was going to build His church.  Peter was going to have the difficult job of leading the charge and he had to be sold out for Jesus in order to exude the needed confidence to the other apostles.  As we enter into the Acts of the Apostles, the next book of the Bible, I will let you be the judge as to whether or not Peter succeeded.  Let’s pray.  Oh, Lord, that You for guiding us thru these four gospel accounts.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, that you are guiding us into Your truth, just like you promised.  We offer this effort to You as a sacrifice of praise.  We ask that you would continue to guide us and give us insights as we enter into the account of the history of Your church, Jesus.  Amen.

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.