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In John 21
● notice that the chapter begins with the author announcing another revealing of Jesus and showing a determination to detail the encounter, to give the “in this way” (1) explanation,
● ponder why the revealing begins with the disciples, like Mary Magdalene in the garden, seeing Jesus but not recognizing who they are seeing,
● see that the catch of fish, instructed by Jesus, provides the moment of recognition,
● notice the cataloging of Jesus’ revealings to the disciples: “This was now the third time” (14),
● ponder the centerpiece of the chapter, Jesus’ threefold questioning of Peter’s love, and wonder if it is meant to offset symmetrically Peter’s three denials or more likely to bind in Peter’s mind (and ours) the necessary link between love and tending and feeding, a link that perhaps goes back to the footwashing of chapter 13, and
● ponder also Jesus’ response to Peter’s classic “whataboutism” when Peter says, “What about this man?” (21), and Jesus draws Peter back with the command, “You follow me” (22).
Thank you,

Randy Tumlinson