Luke 21
John 21 describes the third time Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples after His resurrection. It takes place by the Sea of Tiberias/Galilee and portrays a renewed encounter between the risen Jesus and His disciples, along with the reaffirming of their mission.
This chapter also shows how the disciples’ mission continues after Jesus’ death and resurrection.
1verseHe looked up and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury.
2verseHe saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins.
3verseHe said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them,
4versefor all these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.”
5verseAs some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said,
6verse“As for these things which you see, the days will come in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down.”
7verseThey asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?”
8verseHe said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them.
9verseWhen you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.”
10verseThen he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11verseThere will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
12verseBut before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
13verseIt will turn out as a testimony for you.
14verseSettle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer,
15versefor I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.
16verseYou will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death.
17verseYou will be hated by all men for my name’s sake.
18verseAnd not a hair of your head will perish.
19verse“By your endurance you will win your lives.
20verse“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.
21verseThen let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein.
22verseFor these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23verseWoe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath to this people.
24verseThey will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25verse“There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves;
26versemen fainting for fear and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27verseThen they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28verseBut when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”
29verseHe told them a parable. “See the fig tree and all the trees.
30verseWhen they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near.
31verseEven so you also, when you see these things happening, know that God’s Kingdom is near.
32verseMost certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished.
33verseHeaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.
34verse“So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.
35verseFor it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth.
36verseTherefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37verseEvery day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet.
38verseAll the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.
Jesus and the Disciples’ Encounter (Verses 1-14)
Even though the disciples had experienced Jesus’ resurrection, they return to their work as fishermen in Galilee. Jesus appears to them at night when they catch nothing, and when they cast the net as he said, they catch a large number of fish.
- This miracle calls to mind the situation of the first call in the past (Luke 5), and it shows the limits of ministry without Jesus.
- Jesus personally prepares breakfast and shares a meal at the table with the disciples, adding deeper meaning to “togetherness” and “restoration.”
Peter’s Restoration (Verses 15-19)
To Peter, who denied Jesus three times, Jesus asks him, three times, “Do you love me?” With each answer, the mission is given: “Feed my sheep.” “Take care of my sheep.”
- This shows Jesus calling him back to his mission again in love and trust, despite failure and discouragement.
- Through Peter’s confession of love, Jesus also hints at new responsibility and the hardships Peter will face in the future.
Lessons for the Path of a Disciple (Verses 20-23)
Regarding the future of John and the rumors about him, Jesus says that each person’s path given to them is different. The importance of following the mission assigned to oneself rather than someone else’s path is emphasized.
Conclusion and the Purpose of the Book (Verses 24-25)
The Gospel of John makes clear by whose testimony it was recorded, and although Jesus’ deeds are more than what is written, it concludes that what is recorded here is intended so that people will believe Jesus is the Christ.
Points for Reflection
- What grace can be seen in the way Jesus comes to failed disciples and restores them?
- Through Jesus’ way of entrusting Peter with a mission again through the question of love, what may readers today learn about restoration and responsibility?
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Consider how you can come to perceive Jesus’ calling and mission anew in your own place in life.
- In moments of failure and discouragement, how are you experiencing the grace of Jesus who comes to find you?
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