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JUNE 14
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to
land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-
three; and although there were so many, the net
12
was not broken. Jesus said to them, “Come 21:18,19 A prophecy of Peter’s martyrdom.
and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples Jesus’call of devotion to Him would also mean
dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that that Peter’s devotion would entail his own
13
it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the death (Matt.10:37–39).Whenever any Christian
bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. follows Christ, he must be prepared to suffer
14 This is now the third time Jesus showed and die (Matt.16:24–26).Peter lived 3 decades
Himself to His disciples after He was raised serving the Lord and anticipating the death
from the dead. that was before him (2 Pet. 1:12–15), but he
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus wrote that such suffering and death for the
said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do Lord brings praise to God (1 Pet. 4:14–16).
Church tradition records that Peter suffered
you love Me more than these?” martyrdom under Nero (ca. A.D. 67–68), being
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I crucified upside down, because he refused to
love You.” be crucified like his Lord.
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Si-
mon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” whom Jesus loved following, who also had
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I leaned on His breast at the supper, and said,
love You.” “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” Pe-
21
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” ter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son about this man?”
of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain
because He said to him the third time, “Do till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
you love Me?” 23 Then this saying went out among the
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet
things; You know that I love You.” Jesus did not say to him that he would not die,
18
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Most but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is
assuredly, I say to you, when you were that to you?”
younger, you girded yourself and walked 24 This is the disciple who testifies of these
where you wished; but when you are old, you things, and wrote these things; and we know
will stretch out your hands, and another will that his testimony is true.
gird you and carry you where you do not 25 And there are also many other things that
wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what Jesus did, which if they were written one by
19
death he would glorify God. And when He had one, I suppose that even the world itself could
spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” not contain the books that would be written.
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple Amen.

DAY 14: How does Jesus deal with Peter’s denial of Him during the trial?
In John 21:15–17, the meaning of this section hinges upon the usage of two synonyms for
love. In terms of interpretation, when two synonyms are placed in close proximity in context, a dif-
ference in meaning,however slight,is emphasized.When Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him,He used
a word for love that signified total commitment.Peter responded with a word for love that signified
his love for Jesus, but not necessarily his total commitment.This was not because he was reluctant
to express that greater love,but because he had been disobedient and denied the Lord in the past.
He was, perhaps, now reluctant to make a claim of supreme devotion when, in the past, his life did
not support such a claim.Jesus pressed home to Peter the need for unswerving devotion by repeat-
edly asking Peter if he loved Him supremely.The essential message here is that Jesus demands total
commitment from His followers. Their love for Him must place Him above their love for all else.
Jesus confronted Peter with love because He wanted Peter to lead the apostles (Matt.16:18),but in
order for Peter to be an effective shepherd, his overwhelming drive must exemplify supreme love
for his Lord.
In v.15,when Jesus asked him if he loved Him “more than these,”He probably refers to the fish
(v. 11) representing Peter’s profession as a fisherman, for he had gone back to it while waiting for
Jesus (v. 3). Jesus wanted Peter to love Him so supremely as to forsake all that he was familiar with
and be exclusively devoted to being a fisher of men (Matt. 4:19).The phrase may refer to the other

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