The Risen Jesus Speaks with Peter

I. Introduction

Last week we saw that 7 of Jesus’ disciples encountered him again when He revealed Himself to them for the third time by the Sea of Tiberias.

When he decided to go fishing, 6 disciples followed Simon Peter. Having caught nothing all night long, they saw the risen Jesus on the shore, who commanded them to cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.

They encountered the risen Jesus and were reminded that He is Lord of creation, even the fish of the sea!

Today we continue in John 21:15-25. We begin to see that the risen Jesus had work for His disciples to do after, as He had already told them, He ascends back to the Father.

II. The Risen Jesus questions Simon Peter (vs. 15-17)

John 21:15 ESV

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.”

Why is Jesus singling out Simon Peter?

John 13:37–38 ESV

37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

John 18:10–11 ESV

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Matthew 26:74–75 ESV

74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Weren’t Jesus and Simon Peter already cool?

After all, Simon got a personal appearance from the risen Jesus, didn’t he.

Luke 24:33–34 ESV

33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

1 Corinthians 15:5 ESV

5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

A. Question & Answer #1

1. Do you love me more than these?

2. Yes, Lord; you know that I love you

3. Feed my lambs.

Definition of ‘Feed’: To tend to the needs of animals (BDAG)

Definition of ‘Sheep’: a sheep of any age (BDAG)

John 21:16 ESV

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.”

B. Question & Answer #2

1. Do you love me more than these?

2. Yes, Lord; you know that I love you

3. Tend my sheep.

Definition of “Tend”: to watch out for other people, to shepherd, of activity that protects, rules, governs, fosters (BDAG)

John 10:11 ESV

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

John 21:17 ESV

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.

C. Question & Answer #3

1. Do you love me more than these?

2. Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.

3. Feed my sheep.

III. The Risen Jesus foretells Peter’s future. (vs. 18-19)

John 21:18 ESV

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.”

A. Your death!

John 21:19 ESV

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.”

B. Jesus’ command – Follow me.

C. Peter’s question (vs. 20-23)

John 21:20–23 ESV

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?”

IV. The author’s final words (vs. 24-25)

A. Identifying himself (v. 24)

John 21:24 ESV

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.

B. Summary statement about the risen Jesus (v. 25)

John 21:25 ESV

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.