John – Gospel 21 – Jesus’s Will: Follow Me

Later on, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. 2 It was in this way: Simon Peter, Thomas, who was called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, Zebediah’s sons, and two other disciples of Jesus were together when Simon Peter said: 3 “I am going fishing.” “We will come with you,” said the others. They went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night.

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus came and stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was he. 5 “My children,” he said, “have you anything to eat?” “No,” they answered. 6 “Cast your net to the right of the boat,” he said, “and you will find fish.” So they cast the net, and now they could not haul it in on account of the quantity of fish. 7 Upon this the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter: “It is the Master!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Master, he fastened his coat round him (for he had taken it off), and threw himself into the sea.

8 But the rest of the disciples came in the boat (for they were only about a hundred yards from shore), dragging the net full of fish. 9 When they had come ashore, they found a charcoal fire ready, with some fish already on it, and some bread as well. 10 “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught,” said Jesus. 11 So Simon Peter got into the boat and hauled the net ashore full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and yet, although there were so many, the net had not been torn.

12 And Jesus said to them: “Come and breakfast.” Not one of the disciples ventured to ask him who he was, knowing that it was the Master. 13 Jesus went and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish too. 14 This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after he had risen from the dead.

15 When breakfast was over, Jesus said to Simon Peter: “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the others?” “Yes, Master,” he answered, “you know that I am your friend.” “Feed my lambs,” said Jesus.

16 Then, a second time, Jesus asked: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Master,” he answered, “you know that I am your friend.” “Tend my sheep,” said Jesus. 17 The third time, Jesus said to him: “Simon, son of John, are you my friend?” Peter was hurt at his third question being ‘Are you my friend?’ and exclaimed: “Master, you know everything! You can tell that I am your friend.” “Feed my sheep,” said Jesus.

18 “In truth I tell you,” he continued, “when you were young, you gird your loins, and walked wherever you wished; but, when you have grown old, you will have to stretch out your hands, while someone else harnesses you, and takes you where you do not wish.” 19 Jesus said this to show the death by which Peter was to honor God, and then he added: “Follow me.”

20 Peter turned round, and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following—the one who at the supper leaned back on the Master’s shoulder, and asked him who it was that would betray him. 21 Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus: “Master, what about this man?” 22 “If it is my will that he should wait till I come,” answered Jesus, “what has that to do with you? Follow me yourself.”

23 So the report spread among the brethren that that disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say that he was not to die, but said “If it is my will that he should wait till I come, what has that to do with you?” 24 It is this disciple who states these things, and who recorded them; and we know that his statement is true.
25 There are many other things which Jesus did; but, if every one of them were to be recorded in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not hold the books that would be written.

To read the previous chapter the Book of John, please Gospel of John – 20.

This Online New Testament Gospel of John is excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Century Gospels). Including over 200 bookmarked citations from the canonical Gospels, this Progressive Christian book appeals to the Unitarian spirit at the heart of all faiths.

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Looking for Jesus

Gospel of Mark 16

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought some spices, so that they might go and anoint the body of Jesus. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb after sunrise. 3 They were saying to one another: “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”

4 But on looking up, they saw that the stone had already been rolled back; it was a very large one. 5 Going into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on their right, in a white robe, and they were dismayed; But he said to them: 6 “Do not be dismayed; you are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified; he has risen, he is not here! Look! Here is the place where they laid him. 7 But go, and say to his disciples and to Peter: ‘He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.’”

8 They went out and fled from the tomb, for they were trembling and bewildered; and they did not say a word to anyone, for they were frightened; 9 After his rising again, early on the first day of the week, Jesus appeared first of all to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had driven out seven demons. 10 She went and told the news to those who had been with him, and who were now in sorrow and tears; 11 Yet even they when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, did not believe it.

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12 Afterwards, altered in appearance, he made himself known to two of them, as they were walking on their way into the country. 13 They also went and told the rest, but they did not believe even them. 14 Later on, he made himself known to the eleven them-selves as they were at a meal, and reproached them with their want of faith and their stubbornness, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen from the dead.

15 Then he said to them: “Go into all the world, and proclaim the gospel to all creation. 16 He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 Moreover these signs shall attend those who believe. In my name they shall drive out demons; they shall speak with ‘tongues’; 18 They shall take up serpents in their hands; and, if they drink any poison, it shall not hurt them; they will place their hands on sick people and they shall recover.”

19 So the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them was taken up into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God. 20 But they set out, and made the proclamation everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the message by the signs which attended it.

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Browse the entire Book of Mark here: Gospel of Mark