John 21

English God's Word - GW 1995

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1Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples. This is what happened.

2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee's sons, and two other disciples of Jesus were together.

3Simon Peter said to the others, "I'm going fishing." They told him, "We're going with you." They went out in a boat but didn't catch a thing that night.

4As the sun was rising, Jesus stood on the shore. The disciples didn't realize that it was Jesus.

5Jesus asked them, "Friends, haven't you caught any fish?" They answered him, "No, we haven't."

6He told them, "Throw the net out on the right side of the boat, and you'll catch some." So they threw the net out and were unable to pull it in because so many fish were in it.

7The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Lord." When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put back on the clothes that he had taken off and jumped into the sea.

8The other disciples came with the boat and dragged the net full of fish. They weren't far from the shore, only about 100 yards.

9When they went ashore, they saw a fire with a fish lying on the coals, and they saw a loaf of bread.

10Jesus told them, "Bring some of the fish you've just caught."

11Simon Peter got into the boat and pulled the net ashore. Though the net was filled with 153 large fish, it was not torn.

12Jesus told them, "Come, have breakfast." None of the disciples dared to ask him who he was. They knew he was the Lord.

13Jesus took the bread, gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

14This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after he had come back to life.

15After they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the other disciples do?" Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus told him, "Feed my lambs."

16Jesus asked him again, a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus told him, "Take care of my sheep."

17Jesus asked him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt sad because Jesus had asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" So Peter said to him, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you." Jesus told him, "Feed my sheep.

18I can guarantee this truth: When you were young, you would get ready to go where you wanted. But when you're old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will get you ready to take you where you don't want to go."

19Jesus said this to show by what kind of death Peter would bring glory to God. After saying this, Jesus told Peter, "Follow me!"

20Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved. That disciple was following them. He was the one who leaned against Jesus' chest at the supper and asked, "Lord, who is going to betray you?"

21When Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"

22Jesus said to Peter, "If I want him to live until I come again, how does that concern you? Follow me!"

23So a rumor that that disciple wouldn't die spread among Jesus' followers. But Jesus didn't say that he wouldn't die. What Jesus said was, "If I want him to live until I come again, how does that concern you?"

24This disciple was an eyewitness of these things and wrote them down. We know that what he says is true.

25Jesus also did many other things. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the world wouldn't have enough room for the books that would be written.

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