Hi everyone. This is the podcast where we as
Catholics take a look at the Gospel reading, which we were
here in the massive today, and the aim of this podcast is to
help you understand the context, what is, what were the words,
meaning in the original context, what was the author trying to
get at? So that's called looking at the
literal sense. Some of the text and today the
passage we're looking at. If you go to Mass is from John
chapter, 21, verses 15 to 19. So let's start by reading out
that whole passage. Jesus showed himself to his
disciples. And after they had eaten, he
said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John.
Do you love me? More than these others do?
He answered. Yes Lord you know I love you.
Jesus said to him, feed my Lambs.
A second time he said to him Simon son of John.
Do you love me? He replied yes.
Lord you know I love you. Jesus said to him look after my
sheep. Then he said to him a third
time. Simon son of John.
Do you love me? Peter was upset that he asked
him, the third time, do you love me and said Lord, you know
everything, you know, I love you.
Jesus said to him, feed my sheep.
I tell you most solemnly when you were young you put on your
own belt and walked where you liked but when you grow old you
will stretch out your hands and somebody else will put a belt
around you and take you where you would not rather go.
In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter
would Glory would give glory to God.
After this, he said, follow me. So there's probably many of you
would have heard this passage. And perhaps, you've heard this
idea that when Jesus says, do you love me the three different
times? There's different Greek words
used and that that has some sort of significance in terms of the
kind of love Jesus is asking from Peter.
We'll talk about that theory because it's quite a popular
one, but it may not be correct. But as always, let's start by
talking about the context, we're in John chapter 21 which is the
final chapter of the Gospel of John.
By analogies is has risen from the dead.
And he's already appeared to the apostles several times.
At the start of chapter 21, the disciples are at the Sea of
Galilee waiting for Jesus to appear.
He told them to meet him at the Sea of Galilee, but he hasn't
told them when exactly he's going to appear.
So, they decide to go fishing while they wait.
And all of a sudden he appears on the shore and he cook some
breakfast. So Jesus, Peter realizes that
Jesus is on the shore and he jumps into the water to swim to
Jesus. So you can hear that particular
Gospel reading on Easter Friday every year.
So the Friday following Easter, and it's also on the third
Sunday of Easter in a year C, and it's well worth reading that
passage because of the conversation, that they will
having the apostles amongst themselves.
Elves leads directly into the conversation that we see today.
Now there is a church if you go today to the Sea of Galilee,
There is a church which commemorates this scene, the
conversation between Jesus and Peter and it's called The Church
of the Primacy of Saint Peter and it's right there on the
shoreline and in fact the altar there's a big rock at the altar
there and that is believed to be the very spot where Jesus cooked
the breakfast. So it's well worth going to see
and it really does help give you some context for what this
conversation might have looked like, now, this text we're
looking at along with Matthew 16 where Jesus says on this A rock.
I will build my church. These are the two primary texts
which the Vatican one Council used to support the teaching
that Jesus made Peter, the first pope.
So this conversation, we're about to see here is quite
significant in terms of Peters roll verse 15 after they had
eaten. So Jesus has just cooked them
breakfast. And this probably would have
been quite a joyful meal, a strange meal for them because
they're not 100% sure if it's Jesus.
But also joyful in Why? Because they had been waiting
for him to appear for quite some time.
He said to Simon Peter. So notice the Jesus initiates,
the conversation which is interesting because at this
point Peter is still kind of, you could say in the bad books
with Jesus, because he denied Jesus three times and that
hasn't been reconciled yet. But here Jesus Takes the
initiative that shows his mercy and concern for Peter, even
though Peter is still still separated from him in a way.
Remember the last time Jesus had a personal conversation with
Peter was before Jesus? Death, and Jesus predicted that
Peter would portray him three times.
The conversation that we're about to see is basically
repairing the damage that was done by that last conversation,
repairing, the damage that Peter caused by his betraying.
Jesus, three times what we'll see here.
Is that Jesus is Calling Peter to repent.
This conversation is a call for Peter to really think about
Jesus and to repent and to come back to him and therefore, if
Peter takes up this call, it's effectively restoring Peter's
place as the leader of the It's rain stating him as the leader
and the way, we know that that's probably what's going on that
there is a connection between the scene, where Peter denies,
Jesus, three times and this particular scene, there's a few
interesting features. So firstly, the obvious one,
Peter denies, Jesus three times and here he's going to affirm
Jesus three times. Also, this is interesting Peter
denied, Jesus near a charcoal fire.
And you can see that in chapter 18, verse 8, that's when Jesus,
that's when Peter denies Jesus and here in this scene, they're
having breakfast over a charcoal fire.
And also Jesus calls Peter Simon, which is interesting
because not all the time, but Jesus usually calls Simon Peter.
After Matthew 16, the fact that Jesus, he chooses to call Peter
Simon indicates that Jesus is deliberately using his old name,
because he's still in that kind of Old State of sin, which he
was before, he was promoted to being the chief Apostle.
So it's like he's out of Far with Jesus, but by the end of
the conversation, he kind of goes back to being Peter, that
seems to be the idea of the way, the names are used.
So here verse 15, Jesus calls, Peter Simon, son of John or son
of Jonah. As some translations, have it.
That's his father's name. Do you love me?
More than these others do? Now, that's an interesting
question to ask Peter. Let's think about what love
means, although love can have different meanings, depending on
the word, that's used generally in the New Testament.
Love means want to serve and do good for so effectively.
Jesus is asking Peter, do you want to serve and do good for me
more than the other Apostles do in effect?
It's a question. Are you worthy to be the leader
of the Apostles? Because if is the leader, he's
going to have to want to do good for Jesus more than the other
Apostles are. Keep in mind, all the things
that Peter has said about himself earlier, Peter earlier
had claimed that he would never leave Jesus.
Even if the other Apostles do you can see that in Matthew
26:30? 3, Peter said I will never leave
you. So maybe Jesus is deliberately
seeing. If that really is the case,
notice that Peters Primacy is presupposed all the way through
this. This is a question for Peter.
Jesus wants Peter to be restored to the leader of the Apostles.
That's not even questioned. And none of the Gospel authors.
In fact, pretty much no one in the early church.
Questioned that Peter was in fact, the leader of the
Apostles. So this is Peter's response the
first time. Yes, Lord, you know I love you.
Now notice Peter, doesn't actually answer the question
directly. The question was remember, do
you love me more than these others do?
And Peter says yes Lord, you know, I love you.
So maybe Peters thinking while look Jesus, I don't know if I
love you more than the others do.
But at least I know that I do love you, perhaps that's what
Peter's thinking. Peter is probably also quite
confused by the question because Peter knows that Jesus is the
son of God. And so Peter knows that Jesus
can read his mind and that Jesus would actually already know if
Peter loves him or not. So he's probably a bit confused.
Jesus, why are you asking me this?
You already know the answer to the question, which indicates
that Jesus is not seeking information because he can get
whatever information he wants. He's giving an opportunity to
Peter to be reinstated. Now, Jesus is about to start
using the language of sheep and lambs and it's worth pointing
out. Why Jesus does that remember in
the parable of the Good Shepherd in chapter 10 and in that
particular scene, Jesus is depicted as the shepherd.
And the Sheep. Are those who follow Jesus?
It's Jesus followers. Jesus now knows that he's going
away, so he can't physically be present as the shepherd for the
Sheep anymore. So he's going to entrust his
sheep, his followers to other Ads, which are the apostles.
Keep in mind that being a Shepherd requires a lot of hard
work. Tending to the Sheep is not an
easy job, it requires commitment and love.
And effectively what he's doing here is he's asking Peter, if
he's ready for the challenge of tending, the sheep and this
language of religious leaders being Shepherds is actually
quite common in the Old Testament.
You can see it in second. Samuel five Ezekiel 34 and then
later in 1 Peter 5 as well often, religious leaders of
God's people are depicted as a shepherd Birds now, because here
we're saying that Peter is going to become the primary Shepherd.
After Jesus has gone back to Heaven.
That does not detract from Jesus being the ultimate Chief
Shepherd, in fact, Peter, even later says that the in 1, Peter
5 chapter 4, Peter calls Jesus, the chief Shepherd.
And so, even though Peter is the visible Shepherd of the church,
He Shepherd nurse derives from Jesus shepherdess.
So after Peters response is yes, Lord, you know, I love you.
Jesus says feed my Lambs. So, the basic meaning, in
context, when Jesus says feed my Lambs is well, then if it's true
that you love me, Peter go feed my Lambs, so it's a command to
Peter as the future leader of the Apostles to look after and
protect Christian. Believers after Jesus is gone,
it's a command. It's not a suggestion.
Some people have tried to make some significance out of the
fact that Jesus uses the word Lambs here and then later
transitions to sheep and there could be But there probably
isn't, as we'll see verse 16. Jesus is now going to ask the
same question of second and a third time we need to keep in
mind though that it might not have been straightaway.
There might have been some small talk among the apostles as they
continue to eat breakfast. At some point.
It appears that Jesus and Peter got up and started walking away.
They're having a private conversation but even then there
could be some small talk in between.
But eventually Jesus says Verse 16 a second time, he said to
him, Simon son of John. Do you love me?
Notice, this is a slightly different question.
It would appear the first time it was, do you love me more than
the other Apostles now, it's just.
Do you love me? She Peters response.
It's the exact same response. He gave the first time.
Yes. Lord, you know, I love you.
So Jesus says look after my sheep.
So, the word sheep is, used this time verse 17, then he said to
him a third time. Simon son of John, do you love
me? This is the same as the
question. He asked the second time this
time, it says, Peter was upset that he asked him, the third
time. Do you love me?
So Peter is still upset that Jesus still doesn't is Pete a
Jesus still isn't confident that Peter loves him.
And so Peter says this time Lord you know everything, you know, I
love you. Jesus already knows this, so
Peter is wondering why he keeps asking Lord, you know
everything, you know, I love you.
So Jesus said to him, feed my sheep.
Now I different word, here is used for feed compared to what
was used this second time, the second time Peter was told to
look after the Sheep. This time, he's told to feed my
sheep. Perhaps, there's some
significance here. Maybe Jesus is emphasizing that
Peter that he wants Peter to protect the From the World.
Perhaps that's what look after my shape means and maybe he also
wants Peter to teach the disciples in that case.
That's what feed my sheep would mean.
Remember that Catholic teaching, is that Peter will be the first
pope and he's effectively the prime minister of the kingdom of
God on Earth. And if you haven't looked at
Matthew chapter 16, there's some really interesting things going
on there. In terms of Peters Prime
ministership and the Old Testament context for that.
You can go back and have a look through our podcast, archives,
to find the Matthew 16 Passage But even then Peters Prime
ministership derives, its energy and Foundation from love of
Jesus. That's the source for
everything. Now, let's talk a bit about the
Greek words that are used here. Jesus has asked Peter three
times, do you love me? And some people have made a big
deal out of the different Greek words that are used for love.
And that's possible. There is there might be
something going on here. But let's, let's look at it.
Keep in mind that Jesus spoke Aramaic.
Okay, so when John wrote his gospel in Greek, he is writing a
translation. So, Jesus would not have spoken
Greek in, you know, in this actual conversation.
So it's unlikely. That Jesus would have used
different, Greek words. Sorry different words for love,
but for whatever reason, John has chosen to use different
Greek words for love throughout this passage.
And let's talk about why this might be.
So for the first and second, Kitchens, the first and second
time, he questions, Peter, Jesus uses the word Agape, 04 love.
And that's a derivative of a group, a, which in the New
Testament, usually refers to God's love.
So it could be. That Jesus is asking, Peter.
Do you love me with God's love? Now, all three responses from
Peter. So when Peter says yes, you
know, I love you all three times as well, as Jesus, third
question, a different Greek word is used, which is phileo.
And that's basically refers to love between friends.
So some have tried to distinguish the differences
between these different Greek words for love.
If Jesus asked the first and second time, do you a Gap?
A me. And every time, Peter, It's
responding with. Yes, I filio.
ET filio you. And then the third time Jesus
says, do you feel you owe me? And Peter says yes, I feel your
you. Maybe it could be that Jesus
eventually realizes that Peter can only give phileo love.
And by the end, Jesus is willing to settle for that.
So in the end he says, okay well he can't give me a Gap, a love.
Will do you phileo me, Peter? So that's that will be one
Theory as in Jesus kind of settles for for a lesser, Kind
of Love by the end of the conversation.
That is possible. But remember, Jesus spoke
Aramaic, not Greek. And there's probably a different
reason why John has chosen to use different Greek words here.
We know that throughout the Gospel of John, John uses, both
verbs, interchangeably, filet filet oh and Agra pay he uses
them as synonyms, for example. Jesus love for Lazarus in
chapter 11. Both words are used.
It says that Jesus has a Gap, a love for Lazarus and also phileo
love for Lazarus. You can see that in chapter 11
verse 3 and verse 5 and also phileo is applied to the
Father's, Love For The Sea. Which is interesting because you
would expect it to be a go pay for the Father's, Love For the
Sun, but in 5:20, filho is used and both verbs.
Feel you're in a group, a are applied to the Father's.
Love For Jesus disciples in chapter 16 and 17.
So what's going on here? It looks like John is using them
as synonyms and so he's just choosing to use different Greek
words as part of his translation so that his sentences don't
become clunky and repetitive. So it appears that John is just
using He has chosen to use different Greek words for love
as a stylistic feature. As part of his writing to avoid
redundancy when translating from Aramaic to Greek, similar with
sheep and Lambs In this passage, there's probably Jesus probably
would have used the same Aramaic word for sheep and Lambs, John
just decided to use different Greek words to make his
sentences seem a bit more interesting.
So I think that's probably right.
I don't think there is any significance to Jesus being said
to use different Greek words here for love.
Although that is certainly an open question and you need to
come to your own conclusions. So this ends that part of the
conversation about love. The threefold question has been
addressed to Peter and that corresponds to his threefold
denial, all three times Peter affirms, that he loves Jesus and
Jesus reinstates him as the future leader of the church.
He does not hold Peters past sins against him terrible as
they were. He actually did, you know,
basically helped Jesus be put to death and that's a terrible sin
but Jesus doesn't hold that against him.
That's incredible forgiveness, that Jesus shows here and that
forgiveness is available to all of us because we've all that
Jesus down in different ways. The Catholic commentary on the
sacred scripture summarizes. This section by saying this, the
same dynamics of repentance and forgiveness apply to all
disciples for Peter is still a sheep in relation to Jesus.
No. Matter how serious or how many
of the sins we have committed and Peters were very serious.
The love. And mercy of Jesus is infinitely
greater. He seeks us out, and invites us
to return to him. This scene should give us
confidence that when we seek reconciliation with Jesus, he
forgives us completely and forever as Pope Francis has
beautifully taught. God does not tired of forgiving
us. If we are able to return to him
with a contrite heart, Now there is more In this passage though.
Verse 19 the so he's reinstated Peter.
Jesus is now going to tell Peter what is to come in his future
and there's some interesting things going on with the words.
Here once again he says to Peter, I tell you most solemnly,
when you were young, you put on your own belt and walked where
you liked. So this is kind of like a
metaphor. Jesus says this is what all
people are like when they're youthful and vibrant, they able
to move around without assistance, they can make their
own decisions, they can do what they want, and that's pretty
much what Peter has been doing up till this point in his life
Jesus goes on. But when you grow old, you will
stretch out your hands and somebody else will put a belt
around you and take you, where you would rather not go.
So on the primary level, Jesus appears to be saying something
like this to Peter, one day, you will grow old and frail.
That will be the most basic meaning of what he says here.
And why would Jesus say that, while in context?
It could be Jesus, saying something like this to Peter.
You have lived quite a self-centered life, particularly
in your denial of me. You've done whatever you wanted.
Keep in mind that one day you will need the assistance of
others. So perhaps Jesus is pointing out
a particular Vice. The Peter has and he's telling
him to keep it in mind and it's kind of a warning to Peter that
Peter you will need to keep your selfishness in check.
That is perhaps one thing that Jesus means here but John the
author. Now tells us that Jesus also
intended a second meaning, when he says when you grow old, you
will stretch out your hands and somebody else will put a belt
around you and take you where you would rather not go
Peterson. John says, by this Jesus.
The kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God.
Now Jesus, by this point in the gospel has already predicted
that Peter would one day follow Peta to the Peta.
Would one day follow Jesus to Heaven.
That's in 13:36 and now Jesus tells Peter explicitly.
How his death is going to happen.
Although the word crucified isn't used here that is
certainly implied. And we know from history that
Peter was actually killed by crucifixion.
He was crucified upside Side down in Rome and apparently he
chose to be, he said, I don't want to be crucified the same
way as Jesus. So put me upside down, instead
that's what the tradition tells us happened.
So John says, that that is an additional meaning that Jesus
intended by. When you grow old, you will
stretch out your hands and somebody else will put a belt
around you and take you, where you would rather not go and
that's an important lesson to us as as we look at the literal
sense of the text. Not all the time, we shouldn't
over analyzer, but sometimes Jesus deliberately uses words
where he means two things at once.
So, there are two literal senses of Jesus words.
And that's certainly what appears to be happening here.
Jesus chose words, that meant two things at the same time.
Now, there is a link here to the previous conversation.
Just as Jesus, the Good Shepherd, lays down his life for
his sheep as we saw in chapter 10 Pete.
Sure, as the new Shepherd which Jesus has just made him is going
to do the same when he dies. As The Shepherd of the church,
Peter is going to have to make a great sacrifice for the Sheep
when he lays down his life, even though he may not want to
According To Jesus. Through Peters willing
crucifixion, which he chose, he will cause people to be pointed
back to God. And that would make sense here
because John says Peter's death will give glory to God.
So Peter's death will cause people watching Peter's death to
be pointed back to God. In fact, the Greek word for
martyr, which is what Peter was, is derived from the same word
that's used for witness, which is interesting.
John says in these words he indicated the kind of death by
which Peter would give glory to God.
So that's the second meaning of Jesus words.
Now, did Peter know that, that that's what Jesus meant, it
appears. He does because in verse 21
which will look at tomorrow, it seems that Peter does
understand. That Jesus is prophesying.
Peter's death, maybe John didn't understand.
At the time though, probably John, only later worked out that
that was Peters. That that was Jesus.
Ian with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Remember in the farewell discourse, Jesus had
specifically promised that the holy spirit will give the
apostles the ability to understand the true meaning of
Jesus words, which is apparently what's happened here with John.
Now, there's some interesting information in this verse which
relates to the dating of the Gospel of John, Because it's
talking about the crucifixion of Peter.
So many have felt that the fact that John adds this phrase like
he talks about this phrase indicates that Peter must have
died by this time because what it says here is here Jesus
indicated, the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.
And that would seem to imply that Peter's death has already
happened. And John is reflecting backwards
on Jesus words here because He now sees are so that's what
Jesus meant, because he's now seen that.
That's how Peter died and that's possible.
And if that's correct, it would tell us something a bit about
the dating of the Gospel of John.
It would mean that the Gospel of John was written after Peter's
death. We know that Peter died in
around a.d. 55 or sorry, 65 or 66.
Therefore, if this theory is right, and John is indeed
reflecting on Peter's death, which is already happened.
That means the Gospel of John. John must have been written
after ad 66. However, that's probably not
right because many translations including our lectionary.
Although they put it as they make it sound like a past event.
As if Peter's death has already happened, the Greek word here.
Doc sack say Doc say is actually more properly rendered in the
future tense and so what it actually says in Greek here is
by this Jesus indicated, the kind of death.
He shall glorify God with. And that's a future tense.
So, if that's correct. And the Greek does seem to
indicate that. That's a future tense.
Then, John must have written his gospel prior to Peter's death
and that would make the gospel prior to a d65.
So there's some interesting discussions which come out of
that. You might ask well, if it's the
future tense, why do most translations put it as past
tense? And it appears that there's
because of translators often have a bias.
Lots of translators. Who work on Bible translations.
Think that the Gospel of John was written light.
That was that that's their assumption that they start with.
And therefore they end up translating versus like this in
strange ways to make their theories about the Gospel of
John work. And so, you know, that's really
getting into the nitty-gritty of dating and of authorship.
In any case we don't this would not be a permitted Catholic
teaching to say that. John is adding purely his own
interpretation of Jesus words, or Worse.
We don't want to say that. John is putting words in Jesus
mouth. That would not be within the
scope of Catholic teaching. John here is being enlightened
by the Holy Spirit to understand Jesus intended, meaning of words
that Jesus really did say, And then Jesus goes on and says,
after this. He said, follow me.
So that's Jesus. Final instruction to P, do
follow me. If Peter can get that right,
everything else will fall into place.
When speaking about his own death, Jesus says whoever serves
me must follow me and where I am there.
Also, my servant will my servant be and that's in 12:26 for Peter
to serve as the shepherd of Jesus sheep.
He must follow Jesus. Pletely even to the point of
laying down his life. And we see that in chapter 13
verse 37, he must carry out his role as Shepherd by imitating
Christ. The Good Shepherd who lays down
his life for the sheep and performs the greatest act of
Love 15:13. So that brings together.
Lots of different parts of the Gospel of John there.
Now, this conversation is not over.
They'd actually continues in tomorrow's election are
rereading and they start to discuss what they move from
discussing Peter to discussing John.
So we'll look at that in tomorrow's reading.
Let's read out a few catechism paragraphs to finish the a so
paragraph, 553 is about the Keys of the Kingdom.
The power of the keys, designates authority to govern
the house of God, which is the Church of Jesus, the Good
Shepherd confirms this mandate after his resurrection feed, my
sheep, the power to bind and loose connotes the authority to
absolve sins to pronounce doctrinal judgments and to make
disciplinary decisions in the church.
Jesus entrusted, this authority to the church through the
ministry of the Apostles, and in particular through the ministry
of Peter. The only one to whom he
specifically entrusted, the Keys of the Kingdom paragraph 881.
The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the rock of his
church. He gave him the keys of his
church and instituted him, Shepherd of the whole flock.
And we see that institution here, the office of binding and
loosing was given to Peter was also assigned to the College of
Apostles, United to its head, the Pastoral office of Peter.
And the other Apostles belongs to the church's, very
foundation, and is continued by the Bishops, under the Primacy
of the Pope. Paragraph. 14, 29.
This is about the call of baptized Christians to
continually be converted st. Peter's conversion.
After he had denied his master three times Bears, witness to
this. Jesus look of infinite, Mercy,
Drew tears of repentance from Peter and after the Lord's
Resurrection, a three-fold affirmation of love for him.
The second conversion also has a communitarian dimension as it is
clear in the Lord's call to a whole church.
ENT. So all Christians are called to
repent, from sinning in the same way that Peter was called by
Jesus here. Lastly paragraph. 5511 sorry
1551 and this is about how Christians are united to the
head of the body of Christ, which is Jesus himself.
The priesthood is ministerial that office which the Lord
committed to the pastures of his people in the strict sense of
the term, a service, it is entirely related to Christ and
to men it depends entirely on Christ and on his unique
priesthood it has been instituted for the good of men.
The communion of the church, the sacrament of holy orders,
communicates a sacred power, which is none.
Other than that of Christ. The exercise of this Authority
must therefore be measured against the model of Christ who
by love made himself, the least and the servant of all the Lord
clearly said, the concern for his flock was proof of love for
him. So there's quite a few nice
paragraph paragraphs from the catechism there which linked to
John. 21 today. So it has been a bit of a longer
podcast because of how important this passage is in helping us
understand Peter and his role and also because of different
theories about what's going on within the text itself.
Hopefully you've found this exploration beneficial and
you've learned something new. If that's the case, please share
this with other people who you think would benefit from hearing
it as well. Thanks and we'll continue in
John chapter 21 tomorrow.