John 21
1 After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way.
After that, Jesus showed himself to [us] disciples when we were at Tiberias Lake, [which is another name for Galilee Lake]. This is what happened:
2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
Simon Peter, Thomas who was called {whom [we] called} The Twin, Nathaniel from Cana [town] in Galilee, my older brother and I, and two other disciples were together.
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing.
Simon Peter said to us, “[I] am going to [try to] catch some fish.” We said, “We will go with you.” So we went down [to the lake] and got into the boat. But that night we caught nothing.
4 But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.
Early the next morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but we did not know that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
He called out to us, “My friends, you have not [caught] any fish, have you?” We answered, “You are correct, [we have not caught any].”
6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish.
He said to us, “Throw your net out from the right-hand side of the boat! Then you will find some!” We did that, and we caught so many fish [in the net] that we were unable to pull the net into [the boat]!
7 That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around himself (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea.
[But I knew that it was Jesus], [so] I said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Peter had taken off his cloak [while he was working], but as soon as he heard [me say] “It is the Lord!” he wrapped his cloak around himself and jumped into the water [and swam to shore].
8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish.
The rest of us came [to the shore] in the boat, pulling the net full of fish. We were not far from shore, only about 100 yards/meters.
9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, with fish and bread laid on it.
When [we] got to the shore, we saw that there was a fire of burning coals there, with a [large] fish on the fire, and [some] buns.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
Jesus said to us, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught!”
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of one hundred fifty-three great fish. Even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.
Simon Peter got in [the boat] and dragged the net to the shore. It was full of large fish. There were 153 of them! But in spite of there being so many fish, the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast!” None of the disciples dared inquire of him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.
Jesus said to us, “Come and eat some breakfast!” None of us dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because we knew that it was the Lord.
13 Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise.
Jesus took the buns and gave them to us. He did the same with the fish.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples after he had risen from the dead.
That was the third time that Jesus appeared to [us] disciples after [God] caused him to become alive again after he died.
15 So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
When we had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “John’s [son] Simon, do you love me more than these [other disciples do]?” Peter said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that you are dear to me (OR, that I love you).” Jesus said, “Give to [those who belong to] me [what they need spiritually, like] [MET] [a shepherd provides] food for his lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
Jesus said to him again, “John’s [son] Simon, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that you are dear to me (OR, that I love you).” Jesus said to him, “Take care of [those who belong to] me, [like] [MET] a [shepherd takes care of his] sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?” Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Jesus said to him a third time, “John’s son Simon, am I really dear to you (OR, do you really love me)?” Peter was grieved because Jesus asked him this three times, [and because the third time he changed the question]. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that you are dear to me (OR, that I love you).” Jesus said, “Give to [those who belong to] me [what they need spiritually, as] [MET] [a shepherd provides] food for [his] sheep.
18 Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you don’t want to go.”
Now listen to this carefully: When you were young, you put your clothes on by yourself, and you went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your arms, and someone will fasten them [with a rope] and will lead you to a place where you do not want to [go].”
19 Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Jesus said this to indicate how Peter would die ([violently/on a cross]) in order to honor God. Then Jesus said to him, “Keep being my faithful disciple [until you die].”
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw a disciple following. This was the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who had also leaned on Jesus’ chest at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”
Peter turned around and saw that I was following them. I was the one who leaned close to Jesus during the [Passover] meal and said, “Lord, who is going to enable your enemies to seize you?”
21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”
When Peter saw me, he asked, “Lord, what [is going to happen] to him?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.”
Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain [alive] until I return, (that is not your concern!/what is that to you?) [RHQ] You be my [faithful] disciple!”
23 This saying therefore went out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn’t die. Yet Jesus didn’t say to him that he wouldn’t die, but, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you?”
Some of the other believers heard [a report of] what Jesus had said about me, and [they thought that Jesus meant] that I would not die. But Jesus did not say that I would not die. He said only, “If I want him to remain [alive] until I return, (that is not your concern!/what is that to you?) [RHQ]”
24 This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and wrote these things. We know that his witness is true.
[I, John], am the disciple who has seen all these things and I have written them down. My [fellow apostles] and I know that what [I have written] is true.
25 There are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they would all be written, I suppose that even the world itself wouldn’t have room for the books that would be written.
Jesus did many other things. If they would [all] be written {If people would write them [all]} down [in detail], I suppose that the whole world would not have enough space [HYP] to contain the books that would be written {that they would write} [about what he did].
