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John 21

25 verses

TL;DR

John 21 records Jesus' final post‑resurrection appearance to His disciples, featuring a miraculous catch of fish, a special calling of Peter, and a final affirmation of faith and mission.

Summary

The chapter opens with Jesus appearing at the Sea of Tiberias, where He reveals Himself to the disciples. A futile night fishing turns into a miraculous catch after Jesus instructs them to throw the net on the right side of the ship. Peter recognizes Jesus, but the disciples do not question Him because they know it is the Lord. Jesus feeds them, making it the third time He appears after His resurrection. Jesus then calls Peter three times, asking if he loves Him, and gives him a task of feeding His sheep, foreshadowing Peter’s future ministry and future death. Jesus then predicts that the beloved disciple will not die, while He speaks of Peter’s future hardships. The chapter ends with a brief note about the many other works of Jesus that could not be written.

Outline
  1. Jesus appears and performs a miraculous catch of fish at the Sea of Tiberias.
  2. Jesus feeds the disciples and reveals His identity to them.
  3. Jesus speaks to Peter about love, mission, and future hardships.
Themes
Divine revelation and recognitionFaith and obedience in following ChristChrist’s commissioning of the disciples
Keywords
miraclecatch of fishfeedlovePeterdiscipleshipresurrection
People
JesusSimon PeterThomas (Didymus)NathanaelJamesJohnthe disciple whom Jesus lovedsons of Zebedee
Places
Sea of TiberiasshoreshiplandCana in Galilee
Things
netfishbreadfire of coalslambssheepfisher's coat
Key Verses
  • John 21:6: Illustrates the miracle of the catch and Jesus’ instruction to the disciples.
  • John 21:13: Jesus identifies Himself as the one who feeds them, confirming His identity.
  • John 21:16: The third asking of Peter’s love highlights the central theme of love and discipleship.
Questions
  • Why does Jesus choose to reveal Himself through a miraculous catch of fish?
  • What is the significance of Peter’s repeated denial and the Lord’s subsequent reinstatement?
  • How does Jesus’ description of Peter’s future hardships reflect the cost of discipleship?
  • What does the beloved disciple’s prediction of not dying suggest about his role?
  • In what ways does the feeding of the disciples serve as a symbol of Jesus’ provision?
Sentiment

positive
The narrative emphasizes hope, divine guidance, and the fulfillment of Jesus’ mission.