John 21:15-25
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
20Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 21When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"
22Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." 23Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"
24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25Jesus did many other things as well. 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.
Jesus eats after His death...St. John writes after their large catch of 153 fish, He is eating fish with His disciples (John 21:15)...In Luke 24:42, Jesus also eats broiled fish with the disciples...This is probably done to show that He is not a ghost, but still has a body...After His eating with His Disciples this time, He has questions for Peter...
Jesus has nicknamed Simon, the son of John, Cephas, or Peter...Instead of calling him Peter or Simon Peter He calls him, Simon, Son of John...Jesus asks questions of Simon to reaffirm his loyalty...He asks Simon if he truly loves Him...Simon answers Him, "You know that I love You."...For a second time, Jesus asks, "Simon, Son of John, do you truly love Me."...Simon answers, "Yes, LORD, You know that I love You."...Jesus tells Simon, "Take care of My sheep."...For the third time, Jesus asks, "Simon, son of John, Do you love Me."...Simon for the third time says, "LORD You know all things, You know that I love You."...Jesus finally says, "Feed My sheep."...
We will probably do something, at least once in our lives, that will lessen the trust of others...When we do something to lose the trust of others, we are bound to get questions from them either directly or in thought...Peter had denied Jesus, not once, but three times... Jesus had even told Peter before it happened, that he would deny Him three times in a short period...Even though Peter knew this, he still denied his Teacher...
Peter who had denied Jesus three times, is ask three times by Jesus if He loves Him...Peter has gotten the point that he did not acknowledge his Teacher three times...These questions were repeated for Peter's benefit (and ours) and not Jesus's...Jesus knows all things and He could not only feel the love for Him by Peter, but also the pain of his denying Him... Peter would not forget this...How could one forget, a questioning like this from the Greatest Teacher of all...
Jesus then tells Peter how he would die in the future...When he is old he will stretch out his hands and arms and be crucified on a cross... This will be a death that will glorify God...
Then Jesus says follow Me to Peter...Peter turned and saw John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, coming...Peter ask Jesus what about him?...Jesus told Peter that, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"...The rumor spread that John would not die, but Jesus did not say this...
St. John ends his gospel telling us that he wrote down these things to testify that what Jesus did is true...This book is not everything that Jesus taught or did...If he would have written everything down that Jesus did he would not had enough books or time to do it...
Jesus is telling us that we have to examine our past sins and repent...This confession and remembering helps us to remain humble in our following of Him...When we lose the trust of another, on something we have done, we deserve the hard questions...We are not to forget our past, but to live with it a grow from our mistakes...Even though Jesus is pressing Peter to think about these things, it is Peter, who He wants to lead His church and fee His sheep and to build His rock...Peter would become the first Pope of the Christian Church...
We also are not to mind ourselves with other people's business when it doe not concern us...We must do our work at hand and mind our own business...Jesus did not tell Peter of John's future...That future was between He and John...We are curious of many things that are close to our lives, but we are not to meddle into the business of others...We are to do what is right and follow Jesus' teachings...When we have trouble doing what is right, pray to Jesus for help...
The future will bring suffering and pain...Peter would also die on the cross...Peter would bring glory to His Teacher and to God...
Everything about Jesus is not written down...We will find out so much more about Him when we get to heaven and are with Him...Our lives here on earth (like Peter's) will have suffering and pain, but a future happiness awaits...We will learn more about the Truth then...This gospel was written so we can believe in and follow Him...God, in His grace, will give eternal life to those who believe in His Name...