Frameworks:
John's Gospel, chapter 21
(The
objective of these ‘Frameworks' is to provide an easy-to-read
layout of the text in order then to use these individual verses
for verse-by-verse study or meditation. To focus each
verse we have also added in italic a description of what is happening)
CHAPTER
21
v.1-14
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
v.15-19
Jesus Reinstates Peter
v.20-25
About John
v.1-14
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
v.1
(Jesus appeared to the disciples by the Sea of Galilee)
Afterward Jesus appeared again to
his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:
v.2
(seven of the disciples were there together)
Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as
Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee,
and two other disciples were together.
v.3
(Peter leads them fishing but they catch nothing)
“I'm going out to fish,” Simon Peter
told them, and they said, “We'll go with you.” So they went out
and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
v.4
(early next morning Jesus appeared on the beach)
Early in the morning, Jesus stood
on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
v.5
(he calls out asking if they caught fish) He
called out to them, “Friends,
haven't you any fish?” “No,”
they answered.
v.6
(he tells them to throw out the net out and they
had a full net) He said, “Throw
your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”
When they did, they were
unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
v.7
(John recognises Jesus and Peter swims in)
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved
said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard
him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around
him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
v.8
(the rest follow in the boat with the fish)
The other disciples followed in the
boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from
shore, about a hundred yards.
v.9
(on the beach is a fire with food) When
they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish
on it, and some bread.
v.10
(Jesus instructs them to bring in the catch)
Jesus said to them, “Bring
some of the fish you have just caught.”
v.11
(they pull in 153 large fish) So
Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore.
It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net
was not torn.
v.12
(Jesus invites them to breakfast) Jesus
said to them, “Come and have
breakfast.” None of the disciples
dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
v.13
(he shared bread and fish with them) Jesus
came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with
the fish.
v.14
(this was the third time he appeared to them all)
This was now the third time Jesus
appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
v.15-19
Jesus Reinstates Peter
v.15
(Jesus questions Peter on his love for him)
When they had finished eating, Jesus
said to Simon Peter, “Simon
son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes,
Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed
my lambs.”
v.16
(he does it again) Again
Jesus said, “Simon son of
John, do you love me?” He
answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take
care of my sheep.”
v.17
(he does it a third time) 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.
v.18
(Jesus prophesies the nature of Peter's death)
Very truly I tell you, when you were
younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when
you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else
will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
v.19
(finally he just says ‘follow me' ) Jesus
said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify
God. Then he said to him, “Follow
me!”
v.20-25
About John
v.20
(Peter turns to see John behind him) Peter
turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following
them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the
supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)
v.21
(he asks Jesus about his future) When
Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
v.22
(Jesus says don't worry, just you follow me)
Jesus answered, “If
I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?
You must follow me.”
v.23
(misunderstanding what he said a rumour spread)
Because of this, the rumour spread
among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus
did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If
I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
v.24
(this is John's testimony) This
is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them
down. We know that his testimony is true.
v.25
(Jesus did lots of other things not written down)
Jesus did many other things as well.
If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the
whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.