John Chapter 21 is the last chapter in John’s gospel.

It happens after the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. It begins when Jesus reveals Himself to His disciples on Lake Tiberius. This is the third time that Jesus revealed Himself to His loved ones and disciples after the Resurrection. Peter, who made his living as a fisherman, decides to go fishing. Some of the other disciples, including Thomas, Nathanael, and the sons of Zebedee go with him, but their nets come up empty that night.

Jesus Appears on the Shore

When the morning comes, they see Jesus on the shore watching them, but they are not sure that it is Him. Even as they come close enough to hear Him speak, they still do not seem to recognize Him. When they tell Him they have no fish, He commands them to cast the net over the right side of the boat and see what happens. When they obey Jesus, their nets grow so full they cannot haul them into the boat. It is then that the beloved disciple recognizes Him and tells Peter that the man is, in fact, Jesus.

At this point, Peter puts his coat on and throws himself into the sea. The other disciples drag their net full of fish up to the shore where they find a cooking fire, fish, and bread. Peter also manages to haul the great catch of fish to the shore. Even though the net was very full, it still does not break.

Breakfast with Jesus

Jesus asks them all to dine with Him. None of the disciples ask who He is, though they can tell that it is Jesus. Jesus then turns to Peter and asks if he loves Him more than the other disciples gathered. Jesus asks this question three times until Peter is exasperated. Finally, Peter reminds Jesus that since He knows all things, He must know that he loves Jesus. Jesus seems satisfied with this answer. After this, Jesus asks the disciples to follow Him. The beloved disciple asks who betrayed Him, for the disciples do not really know. But Jesus dismisses the question.

John ends his gospel with a paragraph vowing that all in his book is true. He also says that if he had written down everything that Jesus said and did after His Resurrection, the entire world would not be able to hold all the books that would need to be written.

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John 21 (King James Version)

1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

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