John 21:15-25 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is John 21:15-25. I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
John 21:15-17 (NIV)
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly 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 truly 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.
On verses 15-17: Peter’s most shameful moment was when he verbally denied Jesus three times (see John 18). So it is not a coincidence here that Jesus restores Peter by having Peter verbally affirm his love and commitment to Jesus three times.
In Jesus’ eyes, Peter was not the failure who denied him three times. Peter was the rock on which Jesus would still build his church, and that is why three times Jesus tells Peter to take care of his sheep, that is, his church. Peter had counted himself out already. That is why he had gone back to fishing (see verse 3), but Jesus had not given up on his vision for Peter’s life.
What can we learn from this?
First, for every one of our failures, Jesus has grace to give to us.
Second, Jesus’ vision for your life – what Jesus sees in you – is more important than whatever you see in you.
Third, if you want to know what you are meant to do in this lifetime, it begins with understanding Jesus’ vision for your life.
Fourth, even when you have given up on yourself, Jesus has not given up on you.
John 21:18-19 (NIV)
18 I tell you the truth, 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!”
On verses 18-19: Peter was once the one who denied Jesus three times, but over time he would emerge as the pre-eminent leader of the church and a martyr who died for his faith. According to church tradition, Peter died hanging upside down on a cross because he did not consider himself worthy to hang right side up like his Lord Jesus did. In his final days on earth Peter would not deny Jesus, even if it meant being killed for his association with Jesus.
What can we learn from this? It’s not how you start that matters most. It’s how you finish. Do not allow disappointments, failures and setbacks early on keep you from running the race God has called you to run. If you would persevere and not give up, those disappointments, failures and setbacks will become part of a much greater and inspiring story that God will write with your life.
John 21:20-24 (NIV)
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 brothers 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.
On verses 20-24: After hearing about the kind of death Peter was going to die, Peter asks Jesus about what will happen to another disciple John, the writer of this Gospel (“What about him?” – v21). Jesus responds to Peter in verse 22 essentially saying, “Peter, don’t worry about that. Focus on following me rather than comparing yourself to others.”
That is good advice for us as well. Don’t play the comparison game, because God has a unique destiny for your life that cannot be compared to anyone else. Learn from others and be inspired by others, but don’t be trapped or controlled by comparisons to others. Your God-given destiny is a pair of shoes that are custom-made for your feet, so don’t bother with unproductive and unhelpful comparisons.
John 21:25 (NIV)
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.
On verse 25: John was not trying to write an exhaustive account of Jesus’ life. Rather, aware that others like Matthew, Mark and Luke had already written their gospels, John here was recording some important events in Jesus’ life and significant sayings from Jesus’ lips that John was an eyewitness to, all in the hopes that those who read this Gospel would take seriously the claims that Jesus was making and believe him to be the Son of God. At the end of the day, you can research every possible detail you can find about Jesus’ life, but the most important questions you need to answer are: How seriously do you take what Jesus says about Himself? Do you believe Jesus to be who He says He is? Do you believe that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son Jesus, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16)?
This brings our look at the Gospel of John to an end. Praise God for this incredibly important book through which we can know who Jesus is and what we need to believe in order to have life at its the fullest.
Lord Jesus, thank You so much that for every one of my mistakes, there is grace from You to meet me and to cover my shame. Thank You that my failures don’t define me. Rather it’s Your love that defines me. May I not be controlled by unproductive comparisons. May I simply focus on following You, believing You to be who You claim to be: the Son of God, the light of the world (John 8:12), the gate by which we enter heaven (John 10:7), the bread of life (John 6:35), my good shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep (John 10:11), the vine I depend on (John 15:5), the way, the truth, the resurrection and the life (John 14:6 and 11:25). In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
