Daily Bread

Jesus Reinstates Peter

¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”^(A)

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”^(B)

¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”^(C)

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”^(D) He said, “Lord, you know all things;^(E) you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.^{(F) 18} Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death^(G) by which Peter would glorify God.^(H) Then he said to him, “Follow me!”^(I)

²⁰ Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved^(J) was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)^{(K) 21} When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

²² Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return,^(L) what is that to you? You must follow me.”^{(M) 23} Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers^(N) that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

²⁴ This is the disciple who testifies to these things^(O) and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.^(P)

²⁵ Jesus did many other things as well.^(Q) If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.