The Gospel According to St. John

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- Chapter 21 -

After this, Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. And he manifested himself in this way.

These were together: Simon Peter and Thomas, who is called the Twin, and Nathanael, who was from Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “And we are going with you.” And they went and climbed into the ship. And in that night, they caught nothing.

But when morning arrived, Jesus stood on the shore. Yet the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

Then Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any food?” They answered him, “No.”

He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the ship, and you will find some.” Therefore, they cast it out, and then they were not able to draw it in, because of the multitude of fish.

Therefore, the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” Simon Peter, when he had heard that it was the Lord, wrapped his tunic around himself, (for he was naked) and he cast himself into the sea.

Then the other disciples arrived in a boat, (for they were not far from the land, only about two hundred cubits) dragging the net with the fish.

Then, when they climbed down to the land they saw burning coals prepared, and fish already placed above them, and bread.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just now caught.”

Simon Peter climbed up and drew in the net to land: full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.(a)

Jesus said to them, “Approach and dine.” And not one of them sitting down to eat dared to ask him, “Who are you?” For they knew that it was the Lord.

And Jesus approached, and he took bread, and he gave it to them, and similarly with the fish.

This was now the third time that Jesus was manifested to his disciples, after he had resurrected from the dead.(b)

Jesus and Peter

Then, when they had dined, 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.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

He said to him again: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

He said to him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was very grieved that he had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” And so he said to him: “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my sheep.(c)

Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you are older, you will extend your hands, and another shall gird you and lead you where you do not want to go.”

Now he said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus and the Beloved Disciple

Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, the one who also had leaned on his chest at supper and said, “Lord, who is it who shall betray you?”

Therefore, when Peter had seen him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, but what about this one?”

Jesus said to him: “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow me.”(d)

Therefore, the saying went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?”

This is the same disciple who offers testimony about these things, and who has written these things. And we know that his testimony is true.

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if each of these were written down, the world itself, I suppose, would not be able to contain the books that would be written.

Footnotes

(a)21:11 The catch of fish represents souls saved by the Church in the end times. The size of the fish represents the number of souls saved: a large number. The number of the fish represents the way that they are saved: through the holy Rosary, represented figuratively by the 153 Hail Mary’s found in the traditional form of the prayer.(Conte)

(b)21:14 Notice that the verb tense is active not passive. Jesus has the power, as the Son of God, to raise himself up from the dead. At the general resurrection, we shall all be resurrected from the dead (passive tense) by Christ. But at His own resurrection, Christ resurrected himself from the dead (active tense).(Conte)

(c)21:17 Feed my sheep:Our Lord had promised the spiritual supremacy to St. Peter; St. Matt. 16. 19; and here he fulfils that promise, by charging him with the superintendency of all his sheep, without exception; and consequently of his whole flock, that is, of his own church.(Challoner)

(d)21:22 All the Apostles were martyred except John. This is a foreshadowing of the last days before the Return of Christ, when almost the whole Church will suffer severe persecution, but one part will be spared, so that the Church will not pass away prior to Christ’s return.(Conte)

After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way.

Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,(a) Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

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.

But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.

Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”

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.

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 the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits

(b)

away), dragging the net full of fish.

So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, with fish and bread laid on it.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”

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.

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.

Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise.

This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples after he had risen from the dead.

Jesus and Peter

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.”

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.”

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.

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 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 and the Beloved Disciple

Then Peter, turning around, saw a disciple following. This was the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who had also leaned on Jesus’ breast at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”

Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”

Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.”

This saying therefore went out among the brothers(c) 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?”

This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and wrote these things. We know that his witness is true.

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.

Footnotes

(a)21:2 or, Twin

(b)21:8 200 cubits is about 100 yards or about 91 meters