All of John 21 comes as a bit of a surprise. The final words of chapter 20 sound like a fitting conclusion to John’s Gospel, but John’s pen went back into the ink and wrote out what is now considered to be his epilogue. And his final words are enlightening, for they answer a few questions that may have been lingering in the minds of his early readers. First, John shows that Peter’s death had been prophesied by the Lord Jesus, including the manner in which he died (vv18-19). This recollection could strengthen the faith of these first-century believers. Second, John provides clarity about his own death by restating what the Savior said to Peter. Apparently, a rumor was circulating that Christ would return before John died. John sets the record straight in this epilogue (vv22-23). Finally, John identifies himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (v20), a phrase he has used repeatedly throughout his Gospel.
We will take a closer look now at John’s concluding words and notice three particular relationships: the Lord and Peter, the Lord and John, and the Lord and us.
The Lord and Peter
They had just finished breakfast after their miraculous catch. The Lord had met His disciples’ physical needs and now began to address the spiritual needs of Peter in particular. Jesus began with a question: “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” (21:15).1 Perhaps the best way to interpret the Lord’s question here is to rephrase as, “Do you love me more than these other disciples love me?” On the night of the Savior’s arrest, He informed them that they would all fall away because of Him. Peter had boasted, “If they [the disciples] all fall away because of you, I will never fall away! … Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you” (Mat 26:31-35 NET). He was, in effect, saying, “I love you more than the rest of the disciples!” But Peter did fall away. He did deny his Lord. His bold claim turned out to be a big collapse. Now, as he sat by the fire with some of the same men present, would Peter dare to make such a rash declaration again?
Peter answered wisely, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee” (21:15). He said nothing about the other disciples, but pledged his own love for his Lord. Jesus asked him the same question three times, and Peter affirmed his love three times. This was likely meant to draw a contrast with Peter’s three denials of the Lord, which also occurred by a fire (Luk 22:55ff.).
A word should be said about Peter’s professed love. Much ink has been spilled on seeing a difference between the Greek words agapao and phileo here. It seems that John used these words interchangeably throughout his Gospel, so it may be wise to interpret them as being synonymous here.2 Therefore, Peter is not pledging a lower form of love for the Lord (i.e., phileo rather than agapao). Because the Savior asked Peter the same question three times in the presence of the other disciples, He was helping Peter declare his love publicly. At the same time, Peter’s answers demonstrated that he would not unfairly attempt to assess the love of his fellow disciples for their Lord. We should note, then, that this was Peter’s restoration, not privately (for that likely occurred when the Savior appeared to him on resurrection day), but publicly. Jesus was helping to reestablish the others’ confidence in Peter, as he would be an early leader among the Twelve.
We should also point out Peter’s responsibility. After Peter answered the Lord’s question each time, professing his love, Jesus followed up with the exhortation, “Feed my sheep.” Therefore, one of the ways we prove our love for the Savior is to feed His sheep. Perhaps the Lord Jesus even used His hands to point to the other disciples as He gave Peter this new responsibility to feed His sheep (a responsibility they would also share). Rather than comparing himself with them or elevating himself above them, Peter would have to put their needs above his own, as do all shepherds. This was a lesson Peter learned well, for he told the readers of his first epistle to care for God’s flock, and not to act as lords over them but to be clothed with humility (1Pe 5:2-5).
Notice also that the Lord said something about Peter’s release, telling him, “‘When you were young, you used to dress your self and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.’ (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God)” (Joh 21:18-19a ESV). Perhaps this was why Peter was able to sleep in prison in Acts 12. Although Herod’s intention was to execute him as he had done with James, Peter was not “old” by anyone’s reckoning, so he had nothing to fear.
Peter had likely been dead for nearly thirty years by the time John wrote this. Now it has been almost twenty centuries, and there is still mystery about exactly what the Lord meant by these words. Early Church Fathers like Tertullian and Eusebius state that Peter was crucified in Rome under Nero in the 60s, fulfilling the Lord’s words that his hands would be “stretched out.” It is difficult to know with absolute certainty. But we do know that this prophecy remained with Peter all his days, for he wrote these words about his coming release: “Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me” (2Pe 1:14).
After the Lord’s prophecy about his death, notice Peter’s recommissioning. “And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me” (Joh 21:19b). The present tense imperative of the verb means “Keep on following me.” Peter was called, as he had been at the beginning, to once again follow Christ and continue following Him until the end, even if that end meant being martyred for his faith. But it is here that the narrative shifts its focus from Peter to “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”
The Lord and John
“Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?” (v20). Here we have John’s identity. At last, the secret is out. We wondered who it could be when John first used the phrase in the upper room. John was the one who leaned upon Jesus (13:23). John was the one who returned to the scene of Christ’s death (19:26). John was the one who ran with Peter to the Lord’s tomb (20:2). And John was the one who noticed that it was the Lord on the shore (21:7). And just to make things crystal clear, John writes, “This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things” (v24). John, the author of this Gospel, is “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”
But note also John’s mortality. Peter was curious about John’s future, after having his own future spelled out by the Lord. So he asked, “Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” (vv21-23). The Lord only meant that John could stay alive until He returned, not that he would stay alive. And quite obviously, John’s mortality has been proven. Although many believe he lived into his late 80s, death claimed John, just as it has everyone else.
We also need to appreciate John’s reliability as a witness. In the epilogue’s penultimate verse, John writes, “and we know that his testimony is true” (v24). John’s words are dependable because he was an eyewitness of the Savior’s life, ministry, miracles, death and resurrection. We can and should believe all he wrote about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Finally, John’s selectivity is highlighted. He could have written so much more, but space was limited. “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I3 suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen” (v25). Is John using hyperbole here? I believe he is being quite literal. The Psalmist wrote, “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (Psa 40:5). If it is impossible to record all that our omnipotent, omniscient, loving God has done for us, is it not equally impossible to count and record all that our infinite Savior (who is divine) did while here on earth, not only in deed but in thought? John is aware of his Gospel’s limitations. He could have written so much more. But he is also aware of his Gospel’s sufficiency. There is enough recorded to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and receive eternal life through Him.
The Lord and Us
John has packed a lot into his epilogue about Peter and about himself. But as his readers and believers in the Christ about whom he wrote, let us not miss what is critical for us. We might scratch our heads about the 153 fish, about the Greek words for love, and about the Lord’s prophecy concerning Peter’s death. But in John’s closing chapter, there is something so clear it is impossible to miss. The Savior wants us to love Him, follow Him and take care of His people. And if this is all we learn and all we do, we will not have missed a thing.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV unless otherwise noted.
2 See NET Bible study notes.
3 This is the only use of the first person singular by John in his Gospel.
