Chapter 21

1After this, Jesus showed himself to the disciples again beside Lake Tiberias. This is how it happened.

2Simon Peter was there with Thomas, who was called the Twin; Nathanael from Cana in Galilee; the sons of Zebedee; and two other disciples of Jesus.

3Simon Peter told them, “I’m going fishing.” They replied, “We’ll come with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5Jesus called to them, “Friends, you don’t have any fish, do you?” They answered, “No.”

6He told them, “Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they threw it there, and they could no longer pull it in because there were so many fish.

7Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around himself, since he had stripped down for work, and jumped into the lake.

8The other disciples came in the small boat, dragging the net full of fish. They were not far from shore—only about a hundred yards away.

9When they stepped onto the shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it and bread beside it.

10Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”

11So Simon Peter climbed into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of 153 large fish. Even with so many, the net did not tear.

12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

13Jesus came over, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish.

14This was now the third time Jesus showed himself to the disciples after he had been raised from the dead.

15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.”

16Jesus asked him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love you.” Jesus told him, “Take care of my sheep.”

17Jesus asked him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him for the third time, “Do you love me?” He replied, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my sheep.”

18Jesus continued, “I tell you the truth: When you were younger, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands. Someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not want to go.”

19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would bring honor to God. Then he told Peter, “Follow me.”

20Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them. This was the disciple who had leaned close to Jesus during the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to hand you over?”

21When Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”

22Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I come, what concern is that of yours? You must follow me.”

23Because of this, word spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not tell Peter that the disciple would not die. He said, “If I want him to remain alive until I come, what concern is that of yours?”

24This is the disciple who reports these things and who wrote them down. We know that his account is true.

25Jesus also did many other things. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world could not hold all the books that would be written.