John 21:15-23

John 21:15-23

[15] So  when  they had dined,  Jesus  saith  to Simon  Peter,  Simon,  lovest thou  more than  He saith  unto him,  Yea,  Lord;  thou  knowest  that  I love  He saith  unto him,  Feed  lambs.  [16] He saith  to him  again  the second time,  Simon,  lovest thou  He saith  unto him,  Yea,  Lord;  thou  knowest  that  I love  He saith  unto him,  Feed  sheep.  [17] He saith  unto him  the third  time, Simon,  lovest  Peter  was grieved  because  he said  unto him  the third  time, Lovest  And  he said  unto him,  Lord,  thou  knowest  all things;  thou  knowest  that  I love  Jesus  saith  unto him,  Feed  sheep.  [18] Verily,  I say  When  young,  thou girdedst  thyself,  and  walkedst  whither  thou wouldest:  but  when  thou shalt be old,  thou shalt stretch forth  hands,  and  another  shall gird  and  carry  thee whither  thou wouldest  not.  [19] spake he,  signifying  by what  death  he should glorify  God.  And  when he had spoken  he saith  unto him,  Follow  [20] Peter,  turning about,  seeth  the disciple  whom  Jesus  loved  following;  which  also  leaned  on  his  breast  at  supper,  and  said,  Lord,  which  that betrayeth  [21] Peter  saith  to Jesus,  Lord,  and  what  shall this man  [22] Jesus  saith  unto him,  If  I will  that he  tarry  till  I come,  what  is that to  follow  thou  [23] Then  this  saying  abroad  among  the brethren,  that  that  disciple  not  die:  Jesus  said  not  unto him,  not  die;  but,  If  I will  that he  tarry  till  I come,  what  is that to 

What does John 21:15-23 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus now proceeded to use the miracle that He had just performed as the background for important instruction. John presented Jesus doing this many times in this Gospel. The repetition of this pattern in the epilogue is evidence that the epilogue was an original part of the Gospel. Jesus focused His teaching on Peter, but clearly He wanted all disciples to view Peter as their representative.