‏ John 21

Jesus and the Miracle of Many Fish

1After this, Jesus appeared to his disciples again. It was by the Sea of Galilee. Here is what happened. 2Simon Peter and Thomas, who was also called Didymus, were there together. Nathanael from Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee were with them. So were two other disciples. 3“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them. They said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat. That night they didn’t catch anything.

4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore. But the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5He called out to them, “Friends, don’t you have any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat. There you will find some fish.” When they did, they could not pull the net into the boat. There were too many fish in it.

7Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Simon Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Peter heard that, he put his coat on. He had taken it off earlier. Then he jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat. They were towing the net full of fish. The shore was only about 100 yards away. 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals. There were fish on it. There was also some bread.

10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat. He dragged the net to shore. It was full of large fish. There were 153 of them. But even with that many fish the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same thing with the fish. 14This was the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus Gives Peter His Task

15When Jesus and the disciples had finished eating, Jesus spoke to Simon Peter. He asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered. “You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16Again Jesus asked, “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.”

17Jesus spoke to him a third time. He asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter felt bad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He answered, “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18What I’m about to tell you is true. When you were younger, you dressed yourself. You went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands. Someone else will dress you. Someone else will lead you where you do not want to go.” 19Jesus said this to point out how Peter would die. His death would bring glory to God. Then Jesus said to him, “Follow me!”

20Peter turned around. He saw that the disciple Jesus loved was following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper. He had said, “Lord, who is going to hand you over to your enemies?” 21When Peter saw that disciple, he asked, “Lord, what will happen to him?”

22Jesus answered, “Suppose I want him to remain alive until I return. What does that matter to you? You must follow me.” 23Because of what Jesus said, a false report spread among the believers. The story was told that the disciple Jesus loved wouldn’t die. But Jesus did not say he would not die. He only said, “Suppose I want him to remain alive until I return. What does that matter to you?”

24This is the disciple who is a witness about these things. He also wrote them down. We know that what he says is true.

25Jesus also did many other things. What 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.