Today’s Bible Study

John 21

Jesus is recognized in love. With Him, in our love for Him, we will be able to be fishers of men. Without Him we can save no one. Jesus feeds His disciples with the bread of life, His words, His truth. John was motivated totally by love. Simon Peter took action. He was a doer. Although not perfect, Peter loved Jesus. Those deeds that we perform here on earth for Christ, through love, for His children please God and save people. The love of God shown through us. to others, has the power of God the Spirit and it works for good.Our love for others shows our love for God. When we take care of others and tend to their needs we show God our love for Him. Love in faith pleases God. Faith without love accomplishes nothing.

The NKJ study bible explains it in this way:

John was the first to recognize the Lord; Peter was the first to act. Though Peter often made bad decisions, he had zeal that would eventually be channeled to good use. Tend means to shepherd. Lambs need to be fed (v. 15); sheep need to be guided. Peter would need to care for diverse people in different ways, as Christ had done with His disciples. Peter denied the Lord at least three times. Here he affirmed his love for the Lord for the third time.

In most instances the word, Life, is used to designate divine, eternal life, the life of God (Eph. 4:18). This life resided in Christ, and He has made it available to all who believe in Him. Human beings are born with the natural life, called psuchē in Greek, which can be translated "soul," "personality," or "life." Eternal life can be received only by believing in the One who is Himself life, Jesus Christ. John is the only Gospel writer who records the account of Jesus restoring Peter to His ministry after Peter's three denials.

Three times the Lord asked Peter if Peter loved Him. The first two times, Christ used the word agapaō, signifying a love of commitment, a love of the will. Peter responded with the word phileō, indicating his strong emotion for the Lord. The word suggests warmth, fondness, and friendship.

When Peter acknowledged that he loved Christ, the Lord gave him the task of feeding His lambs and taking care of His sheep. Expressing love for Christ implies accepting a duty to do the work of God and to be faithful. Peter had some difficulty with such faithfulness during Christ's earthly ministry. As Christ was getting ready to depart, He wanted to elicit a commitment from Peter.

The third time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him He used the word phileō, indicating strong friendship. Christ had taught that a friend who loves will lay down his life for a friend. Peter, instead, had denied Christ three times. With Peter's final response, "You know that I love You," Christ had drawn a commitment from Peter and assured the other disciples of the bond between Himself and Peter. In the process, He demonstrated His complete forgiveness of Peter. With this exchange, the Lord restored Peter to a position of leadership in the ongoing ministry of the gospel.