📖 Passage

John 21:15–25 Read John 21:15–25 (NKJV)

🧠 Context & Background

Following the miraculous catch and breakfast by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus turns His attention to Peter, the disciple who had denied Him three times before the crucifixion. In this intimate conversation, Jesus restores Peter publicly, reaffirming his role in shepherding the flock. This passage also contains Jesus’ prophetic words about Peter’s future martyrdom, as well as a clarification about John’s future. The Gospel closes with a testimony to its truthfulness and the inexhaustible works of Christ.

🌿 Key Themes

• Restoration of the Fallen — Christ’s grace fully reinstates Peter to ministry.
• Shepherding the Flock — Pastoral ministry is grounded in love for Jesus.
• Cost of Discipleship — Following Christ may lead to suffering and death.
• Sovereignty Over All Futures — Jesus’ plans for each disciple differ but are equally under His authority.
• Reliability of Witness — The Gospel’s closing affirms eyewitness truth and the endless works of Christ.

📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary

21:15–17

"Do you love Me more than these?" - Threefold Question — Mirrors Peter’s three denials, showing full restoration. - Agapē and Philia — Jesus uses both words for love, deepening the meaning of the exchange. - Shepherding Charge — “Feed my lambs… tend my sheep” defines pastoral ministry as care rooted in love for Christ. - Public Restoration — Done before the others to affirm Peter’s leadership in the early church.

21:18–19

"When you are old..." - Prophetic Martyrdom — Jesus foretells Peter’s death by crucifixion, signifying glorifying God even in death. - Follow Me — The same call as at the beginning, now carrying the weight of sacrifice and mission completion.

21:20–23

"If it is My will that he remain..." - Individual Callings — Jesus rebukes comparison between disciples, reminding them to focus on their own obedience. - Misunderstood Prophecy — Clarifies that John’s longevity was not guaranteed immortality but God’s sovereign plan.

21:24–25

"This is the disciple who is bearing witness..." - Eyewitness Testimony — The Gospel closes with the author’s affirmation of truthfulness. - Inexhaustible Christ — The world could not contain the books if all His works were written — a call to worship His limitless glory.

🔍 Trusted Insight

Andreas Köstenberger observes that Jesus’ restoration of Peter is not merely personal but also missional, reinstating him as a leader in the community of faith. D.A. Carson highlights that love for Christ is the only true basis for shepherding the flock — not ambition or guilt. R.C. Sproul reflects that Peter’s martyrdom is both sobering and glorious, showing that to follow Christ is to surrender even life itself. Summary: This passage teaches that restoration leads to renewed mission, discipleship may require great sacrifice, and every believer’s calling rests under the sovereign will of Christ.

🧩 Review Questions

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1. Why does Jesus ask Peter three times if he loves Him?
2. What is the relationship between love for Christ and caring for His flock?
3. How does Peter’s foretold martyrdom shape our understanding of discipleship?
4. Why does Jesus redirect Peter’s attention away from John’s future?

🔍 Definitions

• Agapē — Self-giving, sacrificial love.
• Philia — Brotherly affection or friendship love.
• Martyrdom — Witnessing to Christ by the giving of one’s life.

🙋 Application Questions

1. How does Peter’s restoration encourage you when you’ve failed?
2. What does it look like to “feed” and “tend” Christ’s sheep in your context?
3. How do you respond to the idea that following Jesus may require suffering?

🔤 Greek Keywords

• ἀγαπάω (agapaō) — “to love” in the highest, sacrificial sense.
• φιλέω (phileō) — “to love” in a warm, affectionate sense.
• ποιμαίνω (poimainō) — “to shepherd” or “to tend” the flock.

📚 Cross References

• Luke 22:31–34 — Jesus predicts Peter’s denial but also his restoration.
• 1 Peter 5:1–4 — Peter’s later exhortation to elders reflects this conversation.
• Philippians 1:20–21 — Glorifying Christ in life and death.
• Hebrews 13:20–21 — The Great Shepherd equips His people for every good work.

📦 Next Study

Series complete – Praise God for the fullness of His Word revealed in John’s Gospel!