Jesus Reinstates Peter
15When
they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon
son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16Again
Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17The
third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love
me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time,
"Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you
know that I love you."
18Jesus
said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were
younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but
when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and
someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not
want to go." 19Jesus
said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would
glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
20Peter
turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was
following them. (This was the one who had leaned back
against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is
going to betray you?")
21When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about
him?"
22Jesus
answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return,
what is that to you? You must follow me."
23Because of
this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple
would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die;
he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return,
what is that to you?"
24This
is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote
them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25Jesus
did many other things as well. If every one of them were
written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not
have room for the books that would be written.