The Love Question

15 Now when they had (A)finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you [a](B)love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [b]love You.” He *said to him, “Tend (C)My lambs.” 16 He *said to him again, a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you [c]love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [d]love You.” He *said to him, (D)Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you [e]love Me?” Peter was [f]hurt because He said to him (E)the third time, “Do you [g]love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, (F)You know all things; You know that I [h]love You.” Jesus *said to him, (G)Tend My sheep.

Our Times Are in His Hand

18 Truly, truly I tell you, when you were younger, you used to put on your belt and walk wherever you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will put your belt on you, and bring you where you do not want to go.” 19 Now He said this, (H)indicating by (I)what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had said this, He *said to him, (J)Follow Me!”

20 Peter turned around and *saw the (K)disciple whom Jesus loved following them—the one who also had (L)leaned back on His chest at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who is betraying You?” 21 So Peter, upon seeing him, *said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” 22 Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain (M)until I come, what is that to you? You (N)follow Me!” 23 Therefore this [i]account went out among (O)the brothers, that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain (P)until I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who (Q)is testifying about these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25 But there are also (R)many other things which Jesus did, which, if they were written in detail, I expect that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.

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Footnotes

  1. John 21:15 Gr agapao
  2. John 21:15 Gr phileo
  3. John 21:16 Gr agapao
  4. John 21:16 Gr phileo
  5. John 21:17 Gr phileo
  6. John 21:17 Or distressed
  7. John 21:17 Gr phileo
  8. John 21:17 Gr phileo
  9. John 21:23 Lit word

Jesus Reinstates Peter

15 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.”(A)

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”(B)

16 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.”(C)

17 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?”(D) He said, “Lord, you know all things;(E) you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.(F) 18 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.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death(G) by which Peter would glorify God.(H) Then he said to him, “Follow me!”(I)

20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved(J) 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?”)(K) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return,(L) what is that to you? You must follow me.”(M) 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers(N) 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?”

24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things(O) and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.(P)

25 Jesus did many other things as well.(Q) 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.

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