Jesus tells Peter to serve him faithfully
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus spoke to Simon Peter. He said, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these other disciples love me?’
Peter answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know that I love you.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’
16 Jesus asked him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
Peter answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know that I love you.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Take care of my sheep.’
17 Jesus asked him a third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
21:17Jesus asked Peter three times, ‘Do you love me?’ Before Jesus died, Peter had said three times that he did not know Jesus.
Peter was sad because Jesus asked him a third time, ‘Do you love me?’ So he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, you know everything. You know that I really love you!’
Jesus said to him, ‘Take care of my sheep. 18 I tell you this. When you were young, you put on your own clothes. Then you went to any place that you wanted to visit. But when you are old, it will be different. You will hold out your arms and someone else will tie your clothes for you. Then they will take you to a place where you do not want to go.’
19 When Jesus said this, he was showing how Peter would die. His death would give honour to God. Then Jesus said to Peter, ‘Follow me.’
21:19Jesus was saying that Peter would die as punishment, possibly on a cross.
21:19When Jesus says ‘Follow me,’ he means that Peter should continue to serve him faithfully as his disciple.
