John 21

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

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1Later, Jesus appeared once again to a group of his disciples by Lake Galilee.

2It happened one day while Peter, Thomas (the Twin), Nathanael (from Cana in Galilee), Jacob, John, and two other disciples were all together.

3Peter told them, “I’m going fishing.” And they all replied, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and fished through the night, but caught nothing.

4Then at dawn, Jesus was standing there on the shore, but the disciples didn’t realize that it was him!

5He called out to them, saying, “Hey guys! Did you catch any fish?” “Not a thing,” they replied.

6Jesus shouted to them, “Throw your net over the starboard side, and you’ll catch some!” And so they did as he said, and they caught so many fish they couldn’t even pull in the net!

7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Peter heard him say that, he quickly wrapped his outer garment around him, and because he was athletic, he dove right into the lake to go to Jesus!

8The other disciples then brought the boat to shore, dragging their catch of fish. They weren’t far from land, only about a hundred meters.

9And when they got to shore, they noticed a charcoal fire with some roasted fish and bread.

10Then Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”

11So Peter waded into the water and helped pull the net to shore. It was full of many large fish, exactly one hundred and fifty-three, but even with so many fish, the net was not torn.

12“Come, let’s have some breakfast,” Jesus said to them. And not one of the disciples needed to ask who it was, because every one of them knew it was the Lord.

13Then Jesus came close to them and served them the bread and the fish.

14This was the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection.

15After they had breakfast, Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you burn with love for me more than these?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!” “Then take care of my lambs,” Jesus said.

16Jesus repeated his question the second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you burn with love for me?” Peter answered, “Yes, my Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

17Then Jesus asked him again, “Peter, son of Jonah, do you have great affection for me?” Peter was saddened by being asked the third time and said, “My Lord, you know everything. You know that I burn with love for you!” Jesus replied, “Then feed my lambs!

18Peter, listen, when you were younger you made your own choices and you went where you pleased. But one day when you are old, others will tie you up and escort you where you would not choose to go—and you will spread out your arms.”

19(Jesus said this to Peter as a prophecy of what kind of death he would die, for the glory of God.) And then he said, “Peter, follow me!”

20Then Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the disciple who sat close to Jesus at the Last Supper and had asked him, “Lord, who is the one that will betray you?”)

21So when Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “What’s going to happen to him?”

22Jesus replied, “If I decide to let him live until I return, what concern is that of yours? You must still keep on following me!”

23So the rumor started to circulate among the believers that this disciple wasn’t going to die. But Jesus never said that, he only said, “If I let him live until I return, what concern is that of yours?”

24I, John, am that disciple who has written these things to testify of the truth, and we know that what I’ve documented is accurate.

25Jesus did countless things that I haven’t included here. And if every one of his works were written down and described one by one, I suppose that the world itself wouldn’t have enough room to contain the books that would have to be written!

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