Jesus and the Beloved Apostle
📖 John 21:20–25
This wraps up the study of John and the Harmony of the Gospels series. I will begin anew tomorrow with something else that I hope you find Encouraging, Promising, Interesting and Challenging!
📖 Scripture Reading (NKJV)
John 21:20–25
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
📋 Gospel Parallels (if applicable)
This passage — the final verses of the Gospel of John — contains a deeply personal conversation between Jesus, Peter, and John. There are no direct parallels to this exact moment in Matthew, Mark, or Luke.
However, the themes of calling, discipleship, and Gospel witness do echo throughout the Gospels:
🔁 Related Gospel Themes:
- “Follow Me” — A Constant Call:
- Matthew 4:19 — “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
- Luke 9:23 — “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
- These words from Jesus form bookends for Peter’s journey — first as a fisherman, and now as a shepherd.
- Jesus Foretelling a Disciple’s Death:
- Matthew 20:22–23 — Jesus speaks to James and John about sharing in His suffering, saying they would “indeed” drink the cup He drank. This sets the tone for the path of discipleship.
- Final Gospel Testimonies:
- Luke 1:1–4 and John 21:24 both speak of eyewitness testimony, affirming the truth and trustworthiness of what’s been written.
💡 In short: While this scene is unique to John, the message of personal calling, loving correction, and Gospel truthis found across all the Gospels.
🕰️ Historical and Cultural Background
🧍♂️ A Walk with the Risen Lord
This scene takes place just after breakfast on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus had just restored Peter with the threefold “Do you love Me?”
Now, Jesus and Peter are walking, and John is following behind.
Walking and talking was a common rabbinic method of mentoring — teachers would walk with their disciples, using the road as a place for deeper instruction and relational connection.
In Jewish tradition, this form of walking together was called halakhah (from the Hebrew word for “to walk”), and it came to describe the way one lived out God’s commands.
👥 The Identity of “the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved”
This phrase is understood to refer to John, the son of Zebedee — the apostle, Gospel writer, and close friend of Jesus.
- He reclined next to Jesus at the Last Supper (John 13:23)
- He stood at the cross and received the care of Mary (John 19:26–27)
- He was deeply trusted, both by Jesus and the early church
By referring to himself indirectly, John followed the modesty custom of ancient writers, avoiding self-promotion while still affirming his witness.
🖊️ Misunderstandings in Oral Tradition
Verse 23 clarifies that Jesus’ words about John — “If I will that he remain till I come…” — were misunderstood.
- Early Christians repeated and shared teachings orally.
- Jesus’ phrasing was likely seen as cryptic or prophetic, sparking speculation.
- John wants to set the record straight before closing his Gospel: “He didn’t say I wouldn’t die — He said, If I will…”
This kind of correction and clarification was very common in the early church, especially as more time passed after Jesus’ ascension.
📚 The Greatness of Jesus’ Unwritten Works
Verse 25 closes the Gospel with an awe-struck confession:
“Even the world itself could not contain the books…”
In that time, books were precious, hand-copied, and few. The idea of an uncontainable volume was poetic and powerful — a way of saying:
“We’ve only scratched the surface of His glory.”
🗝️ Key Word Studies
1. “Follow” — ἀκολουθέω (akoloutheō)
“You follow Me.” (v. 22)
- Strong’s G190 — Akoloutheō means to accompany, to follow one who precedes, to join as a disciple.
- It implies continuous, ongoing discipleship — not just direction, but relationship.
- This same word was used when Jesus first called His disciples in John 1:43, and again here — a poetic full-circle return.
💡 Jesus is telling Peter: “Keep walking with Me. Even now. Even after failure, restoration, and uncertainty.”
2. “Remain” — μένω (menō)
“If I will that he remain till I come…” (v. 22–23)
- Strong’s G3306 — Menō means to stay, abide, endure, continue to be present.
- John uses menō more than any other Gospel writer — it’s a word of intimacy and stability.
- It echoes earlier themes in John:
- “Abide in Me, and I in you…” (John 15:4)
- “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me…” (John 6:56)
💡 The question was not about John’s death, but whether he would continue to live or remain present until Jesus returned — and Jesus leaves the answer graciously open.
3. “Testifies” — μαρτυρέω (martureō)
“This is the disciple who testifies…” (v. 24)
- Strong’s G3140 — Martureō means to bear witness, to affirm the truth of what one has seen or heard.
- Related to the English word martyr — someone who gives their life for their testimony.
- John isn’t just telling stories — he’s testifying to truth, and putting his name to it with conviction.
💡 This is a legal and spiritual declaration that everything written is real, true, and meant to be believed.
🔍 Theological Themes
1. 🧭 The Personal Nature of Discipleship
Jesus responds to Peter’s question about John with:
“What is that to you? You follow Me.”
💡 This reveals a powerful truth:
Every disciple’s path is unique. We are not to compare our walk with another’s.
Jesus does not call us all to the same service, suffering, or story — but He calls us all to follow Him personally, faithfully, and fully.
2. ✝️ Restoration Continues with Relationship
Even after restoring Peter, Jesus doesn’t leave him with a job alone — He says again: “Follow Me.”
The invitation is not just to serve, but to walk with the Savior — just as he did in the beginning.
Discipleship isn’t about performance.
It’s about abiding in love and remaining in step with Jesus.
3. 📖 Testimony Matters
John ends by affirming:
“This is the disciple who testifies… and we know his testimony is true.”
This tells us:
- Eyewitness testimony was considered sacred and binding in Jewish and early Christian circles.
- John is not writing fables — he’s offering a living witness.
- The Gospel isn’t just information — it’s invitation to believe.
4. 🌍 The Inexhaustible Glory of Christ
“Even the world itself could not contain the books…”
💡 This poetic conclusion points to the limitless depth of Jesus’ life and works.
We have what we need to believe — but we’ve only seen a glimpse of His majesty.
His story continues — not in books, but in our lives, as we follow Him.
🔗 Old Testament Connections
1. 🐑 “Follow Me” — Echoes of the Shepherd-King
Jesus’ command to Peter (“You follow Me”) is a call not just to action, but to devotion and trust—a familiar idea in the Old Testament.
📜 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want… He leads me…”
—Psalm 23:1–3
In ancient Israel, following God was often pictured as sheep following their shepherd, and later, as disciples following a prophet or king. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, continues this image right to the end of the Gospel.
2. ✍️ The Role of a True Witness
John’s self-description as one who “testifies” is steeped in the Old Testament’s emphasis on reliable witnesses:
📜 “By the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.”
—Deuteronomy 19:15
John isn’t just a writer—he’s presenting himself as a truthful, trustworthy witness to the life of the Messiah. His words carry legal and prophetic weight in Jewish tradition.
3. 🌊 The Uncontainable Works of God
“…even the world itself could not contain the books…”
This poetic statement echoes the Old Testament’s view of God’s immeasurable greatness:
📜 “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.”
—Psalm 145:3
Just as no temple could contain God (1 Kings 8:27), no book could contain the fullness of Jesus. He is the I AM of the Old and New.
📖 New Testament Connections
1. 🧍♂️ Peter’s Calling Continues in Acts
Jesus says to Peter: “You follow Me.”
And that’s exactly what Peter does.
In the Book of Acts:
- Peter becomes a bold preacher of the resurrection (Acts 2:14–36)
- He leads the early church in Jerusalem, heals in Jesus’ name, and suffers for the Gospel
- He fulfills Jesus’ words in John 21:18–19 about stretching out his hands (a prophecy of martyrdom)
💡 Peter’s obedience to “follow” becomes a living testimony of restored love.
2. 🕊️ John’s Testimony Continues Through the Church
John ends his Gospel with these words:
“This is the disciple who testifies…” (John 21:24)
And later, in 1 John 1:1–3, he writes:
“That which was from the beginning… we have heard… seen… and handled… we declare to you.”
John’s writings:
- Emphasize firsthand witness
- Point always to belief in Jesus as the Son of God
- Encourage the church to remain in truth and love
His Gospel, his letters, and eventually the book of Revelation are all part of his apostolic testimony.
3. 📚 The Limitless Christ — Echoed in Paul’s Letters
Paul expresses a thought very much like John 21:25 when he writes:
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”
—Romans 11:33
And in Ephesians 3:8:
“…the unsearchable riches of Christ…”
💡 The idea that “the world could not contain the books” matches the awe seen throughout the New Testament — that Jesus is limitless, eternal, and still being revealed.
✨ Thoughtful Reflection Questions
- 🧍♀️ “What is that to you? You follow Me.”— In what ways do I sometimes compare my journey with someone else’s?How might Jesus be calling me to a more personal, undistracted walk with Him?
- 📜 John’s humble testimony closes the Gospel.— What does it mean for me to testify truthfully about what I’ve seen, known, and experienced with Jesus?In what quiet ways can I declare His love and faithfulness in my life?
- 🌊 “The world could not contain the books…”— Do I ever limit Jesus in my heart, in what I think He can do or has done?What helps me grow in awe and wonder at the unsearchable depths of Christ?
- 🕊️ A closing question of peace and purpose:— What part of the Gospel of John touched me most deeply in this season?How has it changed the way I see Jesus… and how I follow Him?
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