seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 21:15 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.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
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.”
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?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 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 by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved 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?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers 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 and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. 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.
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Here's the link to the commentary I read.
Simon, son of Jonah: Jesus addressed the leader among the disciples as Simon, not as Peter. This perhaps was a subtle reminder that he had not stood as a rock in faithfulness to Jesus.
“There is an air of solemnity about John’s use of the full name, Simon Peter, and then of his reporting Jesus as using the expanded form, Simon son of John.” (Morris)
Do you love Me more than these: Jesus asked Peter to compare his love for Jesus to the love that the other disciples had for Jesus. Before he denied Jesus three times Peter claimed to love Jesus more than the other disciples did (Matthew 26:33). Jesus wanted to know if Peter still had a proud estimation of his love and devotion to Jesus.
It is possible that these referred to the fish and a fisherman’s life. Some think that Jesus asked Peter if he was willing to give up fishing again to follow Him. Yet, Peter’s previous claim to a greater love suggests that Jesus referred to the other disciples, not the fish.
Do you love Me more than these... You know that I love You: Jesus asked the question twice using the word agapas, which in its Biblical usage often speaks of an all giving, uncaused, unselfish love. Peter answered Jesus using the word philio, which in Biblical usage sometimes has in mind a more reciprocal love, a friendly affection. Some translations express Peter’s answer as, “I am your friend.”
Feed My lambs... Tend My sheep: After Jesus asked and Peter answered, Jesus twice gave Peter an instruction regarding how he should act towards God’s people. The idea was that Peter could demonstrate his claimed love for Jesus by feeding Jesus’ lambs and by tending Jesus’ sheep. Jesus emphasized that they were His sheep, not Peter’s.
He said to him the third time: The two previous questions Jesus asked Peter in the presence of the other disciples were not enough to accomplish what Jesus’ wanted to do in the life of Peter. Jesus had to ask him the third time.
Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time: Peter understood the significance of the question being asked the third time. It was a plain reminder of his previous three-time denial.
“Peter had thrice denied his Lord, and now Christ gives him an opportunity in some measure to repair his fault by a triple confession.” (Clarke)
Do you love Me: The third time Jesus slightly changed His question. He asked Peter if he did in fact have a brotherly love, a friendly devotion to Jesus (phileis).
Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You: Peter did believe that he loved Jesus (using the word philio), yet he relied on Jesus’ own knowledge of all things. Peter understood that Jesus knew him better than he knew himself.
Jesus didn’t ask Peter, “Are you sorry?” nor “Will you promise never to do that again?” Jesus challenged Peter to love.
“Jesus Christ asks each one of us, not for obedience primarily, not for repentance, not for vows, not for conduct, but for a heart; and that being given, all the rest will follow.” (Maclaren)
Feed My sheep: Jesus restored Peter in the presence of the other disciples by causing him to face squarely his point of failure; then Jesus challenged Peter to set his eyes on the work ahead.
When you are old, you will stretch out your hands: Jesus spoke of Peter’s future, when another would bind him (gird you) and carry Peter to a place he would not want to go — a place with stretched out hands, crucified on a cross. It would be by this death he would glorify God.
“Ancient writers state that, about thirty-four years after this, Peter was crucified; and that he deemed it so glorious a thing to die for Christ that he begged to be crucified with his head downwards, not considering himself worthy to die in the same posture in which his Lord did. So Eusebius, Prudentius, Chrysostom, and Augustin.” (Clarke)
But Lord, what about this man: Jesus just renewed His challenge to Peter, follow Me (John 21:19). Peter’s first response was not to tell Jesus yes, but turning around he looked at the other disciple, John. Peter first response to the personal challenge from Jesus was to deflect it by wondering what Jesus wanted to do regarding someone else.
If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you: Jesus answered Peter with another challenge. Though Peter was destined to die on a cross (John 21:18-19), Jesus wanted Peter to consider the possibility that He might have an entirely different destiny for John. Peter had to consider what Jesus required of him knowing that Jesus might require something different from John or other disciples.
You follow Me: This was a powerful and pointed challenge to Peter. Without regard to how Jesus might deal with John or other disciples, Peter had to decide for himself whether or not he would follow Jesus. This is a challenge for every one of Jesus’ disciples.
Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die: The challenge Jesus gave to Peter gave rise to a rumor among early brethren in the Christian faith. The rumor was that Jesus said that John would not die until Jesus returned. The fact that John was the last surviving disciple, having survived attempts to kill him, gave strength to this rumor.
Jesus did not say to him that he would not die: One reason John added this appendix to his Gospel was to clarify what Jesus said about this and correct the rumor. Jesus did not say to John that he would not die, but simply used the possibility of that as an example to Peter.
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It's personal. John couldn't make a decision for Peter and Peter couldn't make a decision for John. It's personal.
When Jesus was arrested, Peter denied he even knew Jesus.
Jesus knew Peter was a fake. Jesus knew that Peter would deny Jesus. Just as Jesus knew Judas was chosen to betray Jesus. Jesus knew Thomas would doubt his own safety until he saw the holes in Jesus' hands and feet. Jesus knew the others would scatter. Jesus knew Peter would be jealous of John. Jesus knew John would not deny Jesus.
IMHO.... The commentary is missing the big picture and it's causing big, big, humongous problems in the church today!!!!
Peter and the others were supposed to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and help the homeless, widows, and orphans. I was taught by a Baptist Preacher that "tending the sheep" was the premise that became the foundation of Catholic Charities.
In the old days, back when I was a kid, we gave money to the church so the church could care for "those who are less fortunate".
In the old days, back when I was a kid, the church didn't have locks on any of the doors.
In the old days, back when I was a kid, children were safe in the church.
Jesus also knew that Peter's priests would rape little boys and girls. Peter wanted to be the leader of all the churches.... Peter has to take the blame.
Peter didn't profess to love Jesus with all his heart, mind, and soul. I don't think Peter ever professed to love God with all his heart, mind, and soul.
The commentary says Peter thought of Jesus as a "friend". Peter wanted to be his "best friend", like John. Peter was jealous.
Peter asked Jesus "But what about him?!?"
Jesus told Peter "Don't worry about him. You just do as I instructed. Feed My sheep."
There are lots of churches around the community where I live. Only two of them in town here used to have a food bank. COVID shut those food banks down and they never came back. The closest food bank is in another town. It's a Methodist Church that has been "feeding" the people since before COVID. John Wesley would be very pleased. Jesus would be pleased.
When Jesus and His Father, God, were standing at the War Table in Heaven, looking at the future, Jesus knew what was in Peter's heart. Still, the mission called for a human like Peter to do what Peter did. Peter could have kept his mouth shut and not denied Jesus... but the future told God that Peter would do that. God probably showed Jesus the whole thing in advance.
I just imagined Jesus' slugging Peter in the nose and knocking Peter down and saying "you bum! you coward!". I've been watching too many Wells Fargo reruns.
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This ends the Gospel of John. Tomorrow, hopefully, I will skip to 1 John 1. John can continue the rest of his witness.
John said if he wrote down everything Jesus did and said, there would be no room on earth for anything else. I wonder what John would have shared with us if he had unlimited access to the internet!!!!
"Don't you worry about John!"
Some may be wondering about Hubby. He's doing better but continues to need a lot of prayer. Please pray for my family.... all of my family.... thank you.... Your prayers are helping.
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