John 21:1-19 (NRSV)
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Chapter 21After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Verse 2Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Verse 3Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Verse 4Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Verse 5Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." Verse 6He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. Verse 7That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. Verse 8But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. Verse 9When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Verse 10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." Verse 11So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Verse 12Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Verse 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. Verse 14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Verse 15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." Verse 16A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." Verse 17He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Verse 18Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." Verse 19(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me."
Devotion
Follow Me. —John 21:19
As many have said, "God loves us just the way we are; but God loves us too much to let us stay that way." God's love has a purpose. From the time of God's covenant with Abraham to God's covenant with us, God blesses God's people so that we might be a blessing to all. God extends God's love to us so that we might be witnesses of that love in our daily lives. God’s love not only is, God's love does—through us.
Christ's call to follow him—loving others as Christ loves us—has nothing to do with our receiving God's promise of salvation—but it has everything to do with the character of our life together. What we do with our daily lives, what we do with the resources and talents God has given to us, matters. Being Christ's witnesses to and for the world is no easy task. That's why we follow him, trusting that he'll lead us in the way God calls us to go.
Prayer
O God, you sent Jesus to be the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Open our ears to hear your Word, open our eyes to see the mission you have set before us. Guide our lives that, through us, all people may know and believe and trust in you. Amen.