John 21

Jesus Appears at the Sea of Galilee

1After these things Jesus 12manifested Himself 3again to the disciples at the 4Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. 2Simon Peter, and 5Thomas called 6Didymus, and 7Nathanael of 8Cana in Galilee, and 9the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and 10that night they caught nothing.

4But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not 11know that it was Jesus. 5So Jesus said to them, “Children, 12you do not have 13any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6And He said to them, “14Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 715Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about 16one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.

9So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal 17fire already laid and 18fish placed on it, and bread. 10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the 19fish which you have now caught.” 11Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Jesus Provides

12Jesus said to them, “Come and have 20breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took 21the bread and gave it to them, and the 22fish likewise. 14This is now the 23third time that Jesus 24was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

The Love Motivation

15So when they had 25finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you 2627love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I 28love You.” He said to him, “Tend 29My lambs.” 16He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you 30love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I 31love You.” He said to him, “32Shepherd My sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you 33love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him 34the third time, “Do you 35love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, 36You know all things; You know that I 37love You.” Jesus said to him, “38Tend My sheep.

Our Times Are in His Hand

18Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” 19Now this He said, 39signifying by 40what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “41Follow Me!”

20Peter, turning around, saw the 42disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had 43leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” 22Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain 44until I come, what is that to you? You 45follow Me!” 23Therefore this saying went out among 46the brethren 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 47until I come, what is that to you?”

24This is the disciple who 48is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25And there are also 49many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.