John 21:15-25

Following His resurrection, Jesus revealed Himself to Peter, James, John, Thomas, Nathanael and two unnamed disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. They recognized Jesus, not by His appearance nor by the sound of His voice, but by the net filled with fish which they drew from the water after casting their net as He directed (v. 6, 7). After dining with the disciples, Jesus addressed Peter.

Jesus asked, “Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me more than these?” On the surface, it would appear that Jesus is asking Peter to make a comparison. It is possible to read the question as asking Peter to compare his love for Jesus to the love which the other six disciples have for Jesus, or, as asking Peter to compare his love for Jesus to the love which he (Peter) has for the six disciples with him. Some commentators have suggested that Jesus was asking Peter if he loved the massive haul of fish more than he loved Him.

Peter answered, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.” Peter did not answer the question. Peter simply stated that Jesus knew his love for Him. Peter knew that Jesus knew him better than he (Peter) knew himself. Approximately two weeks earlier, Jesus made his knowledge of Peter known to Peter (and to all who read God’s word). When Peter declared that he would lay down his life for Jesus (Jn. 13:37-38), Jesus informed him that he would deny Him three times before the cock would crow.

In the scene before us, Peter stated that Jesus knew his love and Jesus responded, “Feed my lambs.” There is no reason to believe that Peter was expected to respond to this instruction or that he had time to reflect upon the Lord’s command when Jesus asked, “loveth thou me?” a second time.

First, consider the Lord’s command. On an earlier occasion, Peter heard Jesus say, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15). Feed my lambs is a commandment that Peter was bound by love to keep. The lambs which Peter was to feed were not livestock. The lambs which he was to feed are those who are dearly loved by the Lord. Every believer is dearly loved — so dearly loved that the Father gave His Son to be bruised, to be put to grief, and to be made an offering for sin (Jn. 3:16, Isa. 53:10). Because we are loved by Him, we are to love one another as He loves us (Jn. 13:34).

In verses 16 and 17, Jesus asked Peter again if he loved Him and each time Peter declared that He did. Commentators note that Peter denied Jesus three times (Jn. 18:15-18, 25-27) and that Jesus asked Peter three times to affirm his love for Him before recommissioning him for gospel service. While Jesus had told Peter that he would deny Him three times, Peter was not counting. When the cock crowed, Peter remembered and wept bitterly (Matt. 26:75). When Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him the third time, Peter grieved. Again, Peter was not counting. Peter grieved when he remembered his failings.

Peter supplied the same answer to the same question three times. Jesus answered each time with the command to “Feed my sheep.” When Peter grieved, Jesus revealed to Peter that the time would pass when Peter would fend for himself and do the things which “thou wouldest” (v. 18). Jesus said the time would come when others would bind his hands and carry him where he would not willingly go.

John provides commentary to this revelation in verse 19. John states that the Lord’s words spoke of the manner in which Peter would die. Historical records chronicle that Peter was crucified by the Emperor Nero more than thirty years after Jesus appeared to the disciples and spoke to Peter. The manner of Peter’s death affirms that Jesus knew “all things.” Peter’s death by crucifixion speaks of the manner in which he would obey the command to “Follow me” (v. 19).

Upon hearing the Lord’s words, Peter asked Jesus of John, “what shall this man do?” Seemingly, Peter’s question is related to Matthew 16:28 in which Jesus stated that there be some present who would not see death till they saw “the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” Peter wanted to know about John. He wanted to know if John would die in like manner or if John would see Jesus’ return. Jesus informed Peter that which would befall John should not be his concern. Peter was to follow Jesus. Peter was to feed the sheep. That which would happen to another was not to be his concern.

In verse 23, John was moved by the Holy Spirit to shift our focus from this scene which transpired in Galilee to a future time in which the brethren would attribute sayings to Jesus which never proceeded from His lips. We are put on notice that what Jesus stated may not agree with that which some believe that He said. Every word of scripture is true. The Comforter brought the actual words which Jesus spoke to John’s remembrance (see Jn. 14:26). John would have us know that which the Spirit speaks.

Verse 24 states, “This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.” The disciple who wrote these things and said these things is the disciple whom Jesus loved (v. 7, v. 20). John, repeatedly, referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved because Jesus revealed to him the love that He had for him. The “we” who know John’s testimony to be true are all who know Jesus’ personal love for us. The disciple who write these things speaks for all who are born again (see Jn. 3:3).

All believers rejoice because the testimony of the Son is true: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”