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John 21 English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus and Peter

¹⁵ When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus and the Beloved Apostle

²⁰ Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” ²¹ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” ²² Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” ²³ So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

²⁴ This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

²⁵ Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

REFLECTION

• Read over this passage a few times slowly. If time allows, read the whole chapter.
• Read it slowly as if you were Peter and the Lord was asking you three times, “Do you love me?” Follow Peter’s answers and imagine his mood, emotion and thoughts going through his whole person. Repeat it several times paying extra attention to what the Lord is saying to Peter. Is He speaking to you, too?
• Continue to be quiet before the Lord, listen, wait, listen, and wait…..
• If you have heard what the Lord is telling you, thank Him. If you haven’t, thank Him, too. Continue to wait and listen to the whispering voice of the Holy Spirit after this time with God.

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus, the question and answer between You and Peter seems to be the question and answer between You and me! Lord, You know that I love You, and You still ask me repeatedly, so that I can understand the price I have to pay for loving You. To love You means to please You, to imitate Your sacrificial love. You said that if someone wants to be Your disciple, he must deny himself, take up the cross and follow You. Lord, I am often unwilling to pay the price of this love. I am often willing in my heart but unable to act. I am such a weak person! Please help me, Lord, and give me more courage to love You; please, Lord, to give me wisdom, to make me understand that what You ask me to do in love is not to embarrass me, but to make me grow and receive abundant life. Lord, I would like to receive the abundance of Your life and see the glory of Your kingdom in imitating Your sacrifice. I would like to be a holy lily flower, blooming among the thorn bushes because of Your love, to be a beautiful witness for You. Amen!

HYMN

Will You Love Me – youtu.be/0dkrQWGw_LM