John 21

Jesus Appears by the Sea

1After these things Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. 2Simon Peter, Thomas called Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3Simon Peter said, “I am going fishing.” They told him, “We are coming with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not know it was Jesus. 5Jesus said, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered, “No.” 6He said, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they could not haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7The disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, because he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8The other disciples came in the little boat, dragging the net full of fish, because they were not far from land, only about two hundred cubits away. 9When they came ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish lying on it and bread. 10Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” 11Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish—one hundred fifty-three of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12Jesus said, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples after being raised from the dead.

Jesus Restores Peter

15When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Peter said, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.” 16He asked him a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter said, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love you.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd my sheep.” 17He asked him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my sheep.” 18“Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you tied your own belt and walked where you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will tie you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.”

What About This Disciple?

20Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them—the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is the one handing you over?” 21When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22Jesus said, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” 23So this saying spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not tell Peter that he would not die; he said, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

The Witness Behind the Gospel

24This is the disciple who testifies about these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 25There are also many other things Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.