Lesson 332

(Lesson 322)(07-12-12) John 21:15-25, "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."

This is the final lesson of the four accounts of Jesus' ministry. Jesus stressed to Peter that he was to "feed my sheep", a statement indicating that Peter was to prepare his brethren for the coming challenge of spreading knowledge of the new law of faith in and through the sacrifice Jesus had made. Peter was to devote his entire life to the message of Jesus, "When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not." This statement indicated that Peter's life would not be his own, but would belong to, and be led by, the "operation of God", for the purpose of spreading the divine truth.
John, herein, goes on to make the point that there were many, many other wonderful things that Jesus did, far to many to write down.
John also makes it clear the he is specifically authorized to document the gospel of Jesus. When Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, and what shall this man do?(Referring to John, who was following them.) Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me."If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true."~