The Gospels · New Testament
John 21
John 21: breakfast at the sea of Tiberias and a threefold question to Peter
General context
Seven disciples are together at the sea of Tiberias: Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two others. Peter says he is going fishing and the rest go with him, and they catch nothing that night. In the morning a man on the shore, whom they do not recognize, asks whether they have any meat and tells them to cast on the right side; the net fills. The disciple whom Jesus loved says it is the Lord, and Peter puts on his coat and casts himself into the sea. The others drag the net ashore, where a fire of coals is already burning with fish and bread on it. Peter draws the net to land with a hundred and fifty and three great fishes, and the net is not broken. Jesus invites them to dine. The narrator counts this the third showing. After the meal Jesus asks Peter three times whether he loves him and three times tells him to feed his sheep, then speaks of how he will die. Peter asks about the other disciple and is told to follow.
Cited passages: John 21:1, John 21:2, John 21:3, John 21:4, John 21:5, John 21:6, John 21:7, John 21:8, John 21:9, John 21:11, John 21:12, John 21:14, John 21:15, John 21:17, John 21:18, John 21:19, John 21:21, John 21:22, John 21:24, John 21:25
John 21 (KJV)
1After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
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Historical context
The chapter counts this as the third showing to the disciples after the rising, continuing the book's habit of numbering. The disciple whom Jesus loved is again described and not named, and the closing verse says he is the one who testifies of these things and wrote them, and adds a plural claim that his testimony is true; the text supplies no name and no further identification. Two of the seven present are left unlisted. The narrator corrects a report that had spread among the brethren, saying Jesus did not say that disciple would not die but put a condition instead. The saying about stretching out hands is explained by the narrator as signifying the death by which Peter would glorify God.
Cited passages: John 21:14, John 21:7, John 21:20, John 21:24, John 21:2, John 21:23, John 21:19
Literary context
The chapter repeats earlier scenes with changes. A night of catching nothing is answered by a net too full to draw, and a fire of coals appears again, this time on a shore instead of the place where Peter stood warming himself and denied him three times. The threefold question matches the threefold denial without the text drawing the line, and the answers move from Peter's confident words to grief at being asked again. Feeding is the reply each time, so the exchange ends in work rather than assurance. Peter's question about another man is turned back on him with the words follow thou me, and the book closes by saying the world could not hold the books.
Cited passages: John 21:3, John 21:6, John 21:9, John 18:18, John 18:27, John 21:15, John 21:16, John 21:17, John 21:21, John 21:22, John 21:25
Key moments
- A night with nothing (John 21:3). Peter goes fishing with six others and they catch nothing.
- Cast on the right side (John 21:6). The man on the shore tells them where to cast, and the net fills.
- It is the Lord (John 21:7). The disciple whom Jesus loved recognizes him, and Peter goes into the sea.
- A hundred and fifty three (John 21:11). Peter drags the net ashore full of great fishes, unbroken.
- Lovest thou me (John 21:17). Asked a third time, Peter is grieved and appeals to what Jesus knows.
- Follow thou me (John 21:22). Told about another disciple, Peter is directed back to his own following.
- More than books could hold (John 21:25). The book ends by saying much more was done than could be written.
For reflection
Peter is asked the same question three times and is grieved by the third. What does the repetition do that a single question would not?
People in this chapter
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