Jn 21

Where to follow Jesus

Read: John 21

Warm-up: What do you like about fishing? How does it feel when you catch nothing?

1) vv1-14: How did Jesus appear to his disciples this time?

vv1-3: Why did the disciples go back to fishing?
v4: Why were they unable to recognize Jesus?
vv7-8: How did they eventually recognize him? cf Lk 5:4-6
- v11: What was different this time about the net?
v12: Why did the disciples not dare to ask Jesus who he was? cf Ps 130:4

2) vv15-19: For what purpose did Jesus appear to them again?

Did he not already send them out earlier? cf Jn 20:22; so why did he come again?
v15: What do you think prompted Jesus to ask “Do you truly love me more than these”? cf Mt 26:33
- Why was Jesus not satisfied to ask this question only once? cf Jn 13:38
v17: Why do you suppose Peter kept answering “you know that I love (or like) you” and: “Lord you know all things”?
Whose love is the key for shepherding? v7, cf 1Jn 4:10

3) vv15-19: What job description did Jesus give especially to Peter?

Read Heb 4:13 => Being found out and exposed, did Peter suffer from low self-esteem as a result?
- Or was he only now sufficiently humbled to take the job? cf v11
How did Jesus define what it means to ‘take care’ of his sheep?
- How did that differ from what Peter’s know how as a fisherman? [feed – take care – feed]
What would have happened if Peter (or any disciple) would have thought that these sheep are his own? cf Ezk 34:3
- Did Peter finally understand this? Why? cf 1Pet 5:1-4
Did this commission to feed the sheep differ from the one in Jn 20:22? =>
- what aspect of their mission did Jesus highlight the second time? cf 2Cor 4:7

4) v18: Why did Jesus single out Peter to make this point?

What did this “promise” to Peter actually mean? cf v19
What could such a scary promise possibly be good for? Why would anyone want to be warned in advance that he is going to die a martyr? cf 1Pet 4:1
Read Jn 1:42 => Why did Jesus single out Peter with promises how he will be changed?
- Was Peter was more qualified? Or because his self-reliance took the longest to break? cf Isa 6:5; Phil 3:3; 2Cor 1:9; 3:5

5) vv20-25: By contrast, what did Jesus promise to ’the other disciple’?

v21: Why did Peter want to know whether John will meet the same fate?
v22-24: What was John tasked with instead?
Does this mean that John had a fruitful ministry without having to suffer? cf Rev 1:9

6) Personal and application

Do you think the world would be a better place if there were no sufferings? Or are you convinced that some suffering is necessary, also for yourself? Why?
Do you expect that if you are a good Christian you can avoid sufferings? cf e.g. 1Pet 5:9-11 =>
- Or are all believers promised together with Peter that they will experience their share in sufferings?
According to this passage, what is and what is not needed in Christian ministry that one can ‘feed the sheep of the Lord’?
How would you respond if Jesus, knowing everything about your past week asked you, “Do you love me?”
- Would you describe yourself like Peter as one who loves Jesus? Why? Or do you see yourself like John as ‘the one whom Jesus loved’? Why?