As we conclude the Book of John with chapter 21, we witness Jesus making another appearance to His disciples after His resurrection. This Daily Devotional focuses on a profound conversation between Jesus and Peter, centering on the question of love and devotion. Jesus’ repeated inquiry, “Do you love me?” not only challenges Peter but also invites each of us to reflect on our own relationship with Jesus. How would we respond if asked the same question? Take a moment to read or listen to John 21 and ponder your answer. To learn more about Jesus’s resurrection from the dead, please read the Daily Devotional on John 20.
What does John 21:15-17 Teach Us?
John 21:15-17 teaches us about the importance of love and restoration in the Christian faith. In this passage, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him, mirroring Peter’s three denials of Jesus before the crucifixion. Each time Peter affirms his love, Jesus commands him to “feed my lambs” and “tend my sheep,” emphasizing the call to care for and lead others in the faith. This exchange highlights the themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the responsibility of believers to nurture and support their fellow Christians.
“Do You Love Me More Than These” Meaning
In John 21:15, when Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” He is addressing Peter after His resurrection, during a moment by the Sea of Galilee. The phrase “more than these” could refer to various things: the other disciples present, Peter’s previous way of life as a fisherman, or the material possessions and comforts he once valued. By asking this question, Jesus is prompting Peter to affirm his love and commitment to Him above all else, highlighting the importance of prioritizing one’s devotion to Jesus over other attachments or loyalties. This question also serves to reinstate Peter after his earlier denial of Jesus, emphasizing the themes of forgiveness and renewed purpose in discipleship.
Reflecting on Allen J. Huth’s past Bible reading journal entries provides a deepened understanding of John 21. In 1990, the focus was on Jesus’ thrice-repeated question to Peter, emphasizing the necessity of personal affirmation of love for Jesus. By 2005, the reflection evolved to highlight the individual nature of Jesus’ call, “You follow Me!” stressing personal commitment over comparison with others. In 2018, the contemplation shifted to practical application in daily life, asking whether one is metaphorically “fishing in the right place” and recognizing the call to care for others as a demonstration of love for Jesus.
What Is the Main Point of John 21?
John 21 is not just a narrative but a mirror reflecting our spiritual journey and relationship with Christ. As Jesus prepares breakfast for His disciples and converses privately with Peter, He invites each of us into a personal relationship marked by love, service, and following His lead. The Gospel of John reminds us of the authenticity and truth of John’s testimony, encouraging us to internalize the message and live out our faith. As we finish this Gospel, let’s carry forward the lessons learned and the profound truth of knowing Jesus personally through John’s eyewitness account.
John 21 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
Today, we conclude the Book of John with John 21. Jesus appears to more disciples, and He has a conversation with Peter. Do you love Jesus? How many times would He need to ask you? Please read or listen to John 21.
Why Did Jesus Ask Peter “Do You Love Me” Three Times?
Let’s take a look at my journal entries one more time. On John 21 (NASB), in 1990, I wrote, “Jesus appears to His disciples after the crucifixion and resurrection. ‘Do you love Me? . . . ‘do you love Me?’ . . . ‘do you love Me?’ (vs. 15-17). Yes, Lord, You know I do. ‘Follow Me!’ (v. 19). We know that His witness is true.”
Who Is Jesus Referring to in John 21:15?
In 2005, I wrote about John 21 (NASB), “‘You follow Me!’ (v. 22). It’s not about others, ‘Lord, and what about this man?’ (v. 21). John wrote a gospel so that we may believe. We can read it and decide for ourselves what we believe. It’s not about someone else who believes, it’s about me. Jesus calls each of us, ‘You follow Me!’ (v. 22). Lord, I choose to follow You.”
Who Is Jesus Referring to in John 21:15?
In 2018, I wrote, “In my career or job, am I fishing in the right place? Lord, show me where to cast my net. May I be productive for You. One-hundred and fifty-three fish! God is specific. Peter, asked by Jesus three times, do you love me? Is Jesus reminding him of his three denials? ‘Feed my sheep’ (v. 17). ‘Tend my sheep’ (v. 16). Care for My people in my church. ‘Follow me’ (v. 19), though Jesus would not be around. What about others? Don’t worry about what Jesus has for others; ‘You follow Me!’ (v. 22). I follow You. What John wrote is true, an eyewitness, a personal friend of Jesus.”
Let’s take a look at John 21. This time, Jesus reveals Himself, not to all eleven disciples, but to a few. There He stands on the seashore while they are fishing and catching nothing. It reminds me of the verse, without Jesus, we can do nothing (John 15:5). Peter and his crew were experienced fishermen. The last thing they probably needed was some guy on the shore telling them how to fish. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat” (v. 6). You can imagine what they thought. “So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish” (v. 6). John was the first one to recognize, “It is the Lord!” (v. 7), but Peter is the first one to act, jumping in the water and swimming to shore. There, Jesus prepared breakfast for His disciples.
Do you wonder what the conversation was like? Do you think they reminisced about the good old days? Maybe the story about when they had a little bread and couple of fish and they fed thousands of people? What are your conversations like with Jesus? Do you listen to Him when He says cast your net on this side or that side? Do you respond to Him when He says come and have breakfast? Do you have time for conversations with Jesus?
Then it looks like Jesus says to Simon Peter, “Let’s go for a walk down the beach.” He wants individual time with you too. What if He asks you, do you love Me? Does He need to ask you three times, do you really love Me? If so, are you tending to His lambs? Are you tending to His sheep? Is He asking you once again in your life, follow Me? Jesus was having a private conversation with Peter. Is He having a private conversation with you?
John finishes his gospel with a little bit about himself. Verse 20 says, “Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them”. John was probably in earshot of this conversation. That is why he could record it. He was always following Jesus. Are you?
He finishes with these last two verses, “This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (vs. 24-25).
John gave us a glimpse into the personal life of Jesus Christ. John was the disciple Jesus called the one He loved. The Gospel of John is a personal eyewitness account of a friend of Jesus. We got to know Jesus up close and personal because of His good, good friend, John.
As we conclude this book, let’s go back to the book introduction at the very beginning. The Gospel of John is different than the other three synoptic gospels. After reading it and listening to it, I think we understand why. John did not need another source for his information. His is a personal account.
John wanted us to understand by believing in Jesus, we could have eternal life. He wanted his readers to not only come to saving faith in Jesus, he also wanted them to grow in their faith. I hope we have grown in our faith because we spent time in the twenty-one chapters of the Gospel of John.
John tells his readers Jesus is God, that you do not know God unless you know Jesus. And if you do not believe Jesus is God, you missed the whole point of why Jesus came to earth. I do not know about you, but as I finish the Gospel of John, I am in awe I am reading the account of someone who knew Jesus personally. I hope the Gospel of John has touched your heart as it has mine.
We finish with a couple of the most famous verses in this book:
John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 3:3, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me”.
John 6:35, “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life.’”
John 8:7, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:31-32, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”.
John 9:4, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.”
John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.”
John 11:35, “Jesus wept.”
John 12:24-25, “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
John 14:1, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you”.
John 15:12-13, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide”
John 16:24, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
John 20:21, “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’”
John 20:31, “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
May God add His blessing to the reading of His Word. Let’s pray.
Holy Spirit, thank You for inspiring the Apostle John to write the Gospel of John for us. Like John, might we see and believe. In Jesus’ name, amen.
