John chapter 21

vs 13

A fairly typical picture of the Lord giving thanks for food and distributing it. This is one of the enduring pictures of Christ in the gospels.

vs 14

That this is the third resurrection appearance to the disciples shows us how haphazard they were. I imagined Jesus hanging around for a month or so after his resurrection, but it doesn't seem that was the case. there was a full week of silence between the first and second appearance to the disciples. Now, this doesn't mean these are the only times Jesus appeared - John says this is the third time he appeard to his disciples - and the number three doesn't count the other appearance he records to Mary Magdelene.

vs 15

Is Jesus asking Peter whether he loves him more than the disciples love him, or whether he loves Jesus more than he loves the disciples? The truth is, the greek is vague. Peter actually must have understood, because he says yes. Jesus doesn't question him. Instead, he says "Feed my lambs".

vs 16

A second time, and Jesus asks the same question. "Truly" is not in the greek - just an addition there to break up the monotony I guess.

Peter's answer is, unsurprisingly, similar to the first. Jesus tells him to shepherd his sheep. Interestingly, the KJV repeats "Feed" here, but the greek is poimaino which means to tend a flock. That includes feeding I guess, but the KJV translates that as "feed" 6 times, and also translates "bosko", the word used in vs 15 for "feed" (which actually means feed, coming from the root bibrosko which means "to eat" and bous, which means "cow". So it is a very pastoral word, with regards specifically to feeding a flock. Compare with the root of poimaino, which is poimen, "a herdsman or shepherd").

The point (apart from the fact that the KJV obscures the meaning somewhat by using the same english word for 2 different greek words) is that these words are very pastoral. Their overtones of care and tending to a flock should not be lost on us, as they were certainly not lost on Peter. O think there's a bit of linguistic play going on here too. The word Jesus uses for sheep in this verse is only used twice in the whole Bible, and that both in John. It's probaton, and you can see the similarity with poimaino.

vs 17

Jesus asks a third time, and Peter is a little miffed. He obviously has no idea that Jesus is making Peter accept him three times, just as he had previously denied him three times.

There are some other interesting points here though. First is Peter's confession that Jesus "knows all things". That confession in and of itself does not mean that Jesus did. Although a fairly persuasive argument certainly could be put that he knew all things post-resurrection, this verse, being post-resurrection, doesn't really help us with a discussion of Jesus' pre-resurrection knowledge.

Secondly, the use of the word "love" here in these last three verses might shock you. I have heard many times in sermons about the wonderful word "agapeo" which resounds like a trumpet the love of God, and is separated from the other greek words for love "Phileo" and "erao" (or "eros"). The truth is that, in the last three verses, Jesus has said, "Peter, agapeo?" And Peter responded, "Yes, phileo". "Peter, agapeo?" "Yes my lord, phileo!" And now he says, "Peter, phileo?" "You know all things, you know I phileo!"

If you stick to grimly to "agapeo" meaning some sort of godly love, and phileo not, then you must interpret these verses as Jesus asking Peter for a certain kind of love, and Peter not giving it to him, and so Jesus finally gives in and accepts the lesser love. Or, you can accept that these words were somewhat crossed over in their meanings and that even Jesus used them interchangeably.

For your pedantic interest, the NIV on www.biblegateway.com has, incorrectly, put "Feed my sheep" in verse 18.

vs 18-19

We never read of Peter's actual martyrdom in the Bible, but we have to assume that, by the time this is written, Peter has been martyred. We're not assuming that like the liberal scholars who believe that Jesus couldn't possibly prophecy such things, and therefore this must have been written afterwards. I think we're assuming it because the way it is mentioned, it talks as if those reading it would already know about the death that Peter would die. In fact, it would seem, Peter is going to die very similarly to Jesus. Which is an honour, I guess.

vs 20

That would be John. Always hanging around with Peter. And Jesus.

vs 21

Peter's question obviously relates to what Jesus has just told Peter about his death. Now, just reading Jesus' words, I wouldn't have understood what he said to mean something about death. But if you imagine Jesus saying it in the flesh, and stretching out his hands as he says the words, I think I would have gotten the picture a lot faster.

So Peter is asking "Well, is that going to happen to John too?"

vs 22

Jesus knows Peter's heart, and so answers him on that level. Peter is in fact asking "Will John suffer as much as I will?" Jesus response is "Take your eyes off John, take your eyes of suffering, and put them on me." I think it's comforting to know that God's plan for our lives might include suffering, or it might not, but whatever it does include for us is our concern. We must follow Jesus through whatever is put in our path. And others will have a different path. There is no normative Christian experience of martyrdom.

vs 23

John is here dispelling a too-literalistic interpretation of Jesus' words. Jesus didn't say he would live forever, he only used John as an example. But what Jesus did say is somewhat true - John is traditionally the apostle who lived the longest, well into his nineties.

vs 24

And John finally reveals that the author of this gospel is none of ther than that disciple. Which is cool. I have always felt an affinity for John. I guess he's the most well known of the authors of the four gospels (Matthew being the only other gospel written by an actual Apostle).

vs 25

John is rambling on a bit now, but it's a wonderful sentiment, to think that this period, this three and a half years of Jesus' life, which we have covered in 4 gospels, only begins to scrape the surface of all the things Jesus did. We know only enough, so little, but enough, to know him as our saviour and Lord and Son of God. In a way, we can be jealous of the Apostles, because they would have seen so much more of him than they could record.