John - Week 59

Do You Love Me 

 READ 

John 21:13-15 

13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. 

15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”  

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” 

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 

After indicating this was the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, John now turns to what may be the main reason for this closing chapter. It reveals the restoration of Peter before the other disciples. Peter had denied the Lord three times and now he will be asked three times if he loves Jesus. To whom does Jesus refer when He asks Peter, “Do you love me more than these? Some believe it refers to the fish and his life of fishing before he followed Jesus. Others think it refers to the other disciples. Peter had boasted he would not forsake the Lord even if others did (see Matthew 26:33). His three denials were obvious to all, however; plus the others had also deserted Jesus at the cross and were in hiding when Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection. The instructions of Jesus to Peter were:  “Feed my lambs.” For a shepherd, the little sheep need feeding. 

REFLECT 

Think about the times you have stumbled and the Lord has graciously restored you after confessing your sin. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 

RESPOND 

Talk to your disciple about the need to admit it when we have dishonored God. Union with Christ is not broken but family fellowship is when a believer does something or says something to dishonor the Lord.  

Feed My Sheep 

 READ 

John 21:16-17 

16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” 

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” 

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 

17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” 

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” 

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. 

Two more times Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. Peter was hurt this time and admitted the Lord knew everything so Jesus would have remembered Peter’s denials of the past. Previously Peter boasted how much he loved Jesus, but now he was much more humble. He responded yes each time the Lord asked if he loved Him, and each time Jesus gave a command. He commanded Peter: “Then feed my lambs”; “Then take care of my sheep”; “Then feed my sheep.” These would be the ways that Peter could show he loved Jesus. These commands reveal the responsibility of a spiritual shepherd to minister to a flock at all stages of spiritual growth. They need both feeding and care. 

REFLECT 

At what stage are you in your spiritual growth? Is your need to be spiritually fed as a newborn baby or the care and feeding needed by a more mature believer? 

RESPOND 

Read 1 Peter 5:1-5 to see how Peter advised spiritual shepherds how to care for their flocks. One wonders if the words of Jesus to him were going through his mind as he penned these Scriptures. 

Follow Me 

READ 

John 21:18-19 

18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” 

These few verses record the kind of death Jesus predicted Peter would die. Peter would eventually have the courage to die a martyr’s death. Observe also that a believer’s death glorifies the Lord. Peter could either dwell on those ominous words, or he could do what Jesus instructed, “Follow me.” That choice remains the same today for those facing end of life decisions. Either to continue to dwell on the inevitable that someday everyone will be in eternity, or follow Jesus at the present and honor Him in all one does.  

REFLECT 

Where are your thoughts today, dwelling on the end of life or wanting to please Jesus at the present time? For those who have faced the end of life, even they can glorify the Lord in the process of dying as they are at peace about meeting Him face-to-face. Is this your confidence when that time comes? 

RESPOND 

When you hear of a believer’s death, you can encourage the grieving family by sharing a Scripture verse. Consider sharing one of the following: Psalm 116:15; Proverbs 10:7; or what Jesus said in John 11:25.  

What About Him 

 READ 

John 21:20-23 

20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” 

22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” 23 So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” 

Typical of most people, Peter wanted to compare himself to others. The other disciple referred to is John’s way of describing himself. Peter wanted to know what Jesus would say about the apostle John. The words of Jesus about John were twisted to mean something Jesus never intended. Jesus reminded Peter that it should not matter to him whatever was true concerning John. According to historical records, all the apostles were martyred except John who was persecuted and died in old age. 

REFLECT 

Think of two problems in this passage: wanting to compare oneself with others, and the twisting of the words of Jesus. Do you have the tendency to compare yourself with others? What do you do to make sure you are not believing someone who has twisted the words of Jesus? 

RESPOND 

The next time you hear someone quote Jesus as saying something you don’t think is accurate, ask, “Where in the Bible does it say that?” Many questions could be answered by just asking for a person’s source of authority or where it is mentioned in the Bible. Help your disciple to be able to answer such questions.  

An Accurate Account 

 READ 

John 21:24-25 

24 This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate. 

25 Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written. 

Having identified himself as the human author of the Gospel of John, these verses conclude the book. Some think that others had injected some comments verifying the accuracy of what John said he witnessed, but it is not certain. John let readers know that Jesus did many other things that are not written down. This reveals he was guided by the Holy Spirit of God in selecting what he did to support the theme of his Gospel seen in 20:30-31. If authors sought to record all that Jesus did—and especially the significance of His actions—it is understandable that the world could not contain the books. 

REFLECT 

Think of how enriched our knowledge is of the Lord Jesus Christ by what the apostle John included in his Gospel. Have you learned to love the Savior even more from what John recorded about Him? 

RESPOND 

When considering John’s comment about what Jesus did, reread John 1:1-5. Jesus is the great Creator. Verse 14 in the same chapter makes sure readers understand that “Word” of John 1:1 refers to Jesus Himself. Talk with your disciple about what you have learned by going through this Gospel and your plans to read it again sometime.