28:12As the unique God-man, Jesus would be the ladder between heaven and earth. Jesus is not saying that this would be a physical experience (that they would see the ladder with their eyes) like the Transfiguration, but that they would have spiritua! insight into Jesus’ true nature and purpose for coming.
Life Application Study BibleJohnChapter 21
John 21
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1801, 1802
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
21John 21
1Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee.* This is how it happened. 2Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),* Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 3Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We'll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. 4At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was. 5He called out, “Fellows,* have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. 6Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. 7Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the LORD!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the LORD, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 9The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards* from shore.?When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. 10“Bring some of the fish you've just caught,” Jesus said. 11So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. 12"Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the LORD. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been taised from the dead. Jesus Challenges Peter (247) 15After 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. 16Jesus 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. 17A 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. 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.” "Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” 20Peter 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?” 21Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, LORD?” 22Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” 23So 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 J return, what is that to you?” 24This 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. 25Jesus 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..
Textual footnotes
- 21:15 Or more than these others do? 21:18 Some manuscripts read and another one.
Life Application Notes 9 notes
21:15-17In this beach scene, Jesus led Peter through an experience that would remove the cloud of his denial. Peter had denied Jesus three times. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. When Peter answered yes, Jesus told him to feed his sheep. It is one thing to say you love Jesus, but the real test is willingness to serve him. Peter had repented, and here Jesus was asking him to commit his life. Peter's life changed when he finally realized who Jesus was. His occupation changed from fisherman to evangelist; his identity changed from impetuous to “rock”; and his relationship to Jesus changed—he was forgiven, and he finally understood the significance of Jesus’ words about his death and resurrection.
21:15-17Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. The first time Jesus said, “Do you love (Greek agape: volitional, selfsacrificial love) me more than these?” The second time, Jesus focused on Peter alone and still used the word translated into Greek, agape. The third time, Jesus used the word translated into Greek, phileo (signifying affection, affinity, or brotherly love) and asked, in effect, “Are you even my friend?” Each time Peter responded with the word transtated into Greek as phileo. Jesus doesn’t settle for quick, superficial answers. He has a way of getting to the heart of the matter. Peter had to face his true feelings and motives when Jesus confronted him. How would you respond if Jesus asked you, “Do you ove me? Do you really love me? Are you even my friend?”
21:18,19This was a prediction of Peter's death by crucifixion. Tradition indicates that Peter was crucified for his faith—upside down because he did not feel worthy of dying as his LORD did. Despite what Peter's future held, Jesus told him to follow him. We may be uncertain and fearful about our future. But if we know God is in control, we can confidently follow Christ.
40:19,20If Jesus had been merely a man, his claims to be God would have proven him insane. But his miracles proved his words true—he really was God. The Jewish leaders could not see beyond their own prejudices, and they looked at Jesus only from a human perspective—Jesus confined in a human box. But Jesus was not limited by their restricted vision.
21:21,22Peter asked Jesus how John would die. Jesus replied that Peter should not concern himself with that. We tend to compare our lives to others, whether to rationalize our own level of devotion to Christ or to question God's justice. Jesus responds to us as he did to Peter: “What is that to you? As for you, follow me.”
21:23Early church history reports that after John spent several years as an exile on the island of Patmos, he returned to Ephesus where he died as an old man, near the end of the first century.
21:25John’s stated purpose for writing his Gospel was to show that Jesus was the Son of God (20:31). He clearly and systematically presented the evidence for Jesus’ claims. When evidence is presented in the courtroom, those who hear it must make a choice. Those who read the Gospel of John must also make a choice—is Jesus the Son of God, or isn’t he? You are the jury. The evidence has been clearly presented. You must decide. Read John’s Gospel and believe!
41:48The Jewish leaders knew that if they didn’t stop Jesus, the Romans would lash out against all of them. Rome gave partial freedom to the Jews as long as they were quiet and obedient. Jesus’ miracles often caused a disturbance. The leaders feared that Rome's displeasure would bring additional hardship to their nation.
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21:23 Greek the brothers.