John:21

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* After this , Jesus again showed Himself to the disciples . It was at the Lake of Tiberias . The circumstances were as follows . * Simon Peter was with Thomas , called the Twin , Nathanael of Cana in Galilee , the sons of Zabdi , and two others of the Master 's disciples . * Simon Peter said to them , »I am going fishing .«»We will go too ,« said they . So they set out and went on board their boat ; but they caught nothing that night . * When , however , day was now dawning , Jesus stood on the beach , though the disciples did not know that it was Jesus . * He called to them . »Children ,« He said , »have you any food there ?«»No ,« they answered . * »Throw the net in on the right hand side ,« He said , »and you will find fish .« So they threw the net in , and now they could scarcely drag it along for the quantity of fish . * This made the disciple whom Jesus loved say to Peter , »It is the Master .« Simon Peter therefore , when he heard the words , »It is the Master ,« drew on his fisherman 's shirt –for he had not been wearing it – put on his girdle , and sprang into the water . * But the rest of the disciples came in the small boat (for they were not far from land –only about a hundred yards off ), dragging the net full of fish . * As soon as they landed , they saw a charcoal fire burning there , with fish broiling on it , and bread close by . * Jesus told them to fetch some of the fish which they had just caught . * So Simon Peter went on board the boat and drew the net ashore full of large fish , 153 in number ; and yet , although there were so many , the net had not broken . * »Come this way and have breakfast ,« said Jesus . But not one of the disciples ventured to question Him as to who He was , for they felt sure that it was the Master . * Then Jesus came and took the bread and gave them some , and the fish in the same way . * This was now the third occasion on which Jesus showed Himself to the disciples after He had risen from among the dead . * When they had finished breakfast , Jesus asked Simon Peter , »Simon , son of John , do you love me more than these others do ?«»Yes , Master ,« was his answer ; »you know that you are dear to me .« »Then feed my lambs ,« replied Jesus . * Again a second time He asked him , »Simon , son of John , do you love me ?«»Yes , Master ,« he said , »you know that you are dear to me .«»Then be a shepherd to my sheep ,« He said . * A third time Jesus put the question :»Simon , son of John , am I dear to you ?« It grieved Peter that Jesus asked him the third time , »Am I dear to you ?«»Master ,« he replied , »you know everything , you can see that you are dear to me .«»Then feed my much-loved sheep ,« said Jesus . * »In most solemn truth I tell you that whereas , when you were young , you used to put on your girdle and walk whichever way you chose , when you have grown old you will stretch out your arms and some one else will put a girdle round you and carry you where you have no wish to go .« * This He said to indicate the kind of death by which that disciple would bring glory to God ; and after speaking thus He said to him , »Follow me .« * Peter turned round and noticed the disciple whom Jesus loved following –the one who at the supper had leaned back on His breast and had asked , »Master , who is it that is betraying you ?« * On seeing him , Peter asked Jesus , »And , Master , what about him ?« * »If I desire him to remain till I come ,« replied Jesus , »what concern is that of yours ? You , yourself , must follow me .« * Hence the report spread among the brethren that that disciple would never die . Yet Jesus did not say , »He is not to die ,« but , »If I desire him to remain till I come , what concern is that of yours ?« * That is the disciple who gives his testimony as to these matters , and has written this history ; and we know that his testimony is true . * But there are also many other things which Jesus did –so vast a number indeed that if they were all described in detail , I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would have to be written .

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