Day 21: John 21 - 21 Day Bible Reading Challenge

OK, be honest. When you started this challenge, did you think you'd make it to day 21? We're glad you stuck with it, because you have taken a significant step toward making Bible reading a daily part of your life. Whether you feel it now or not, your time in the Word will prove to have been time well spent.

Here in the last chapter of John, we see that at the end of His ministry on earth, Jesus' message to the disciples was the same as at the beginning: "Follow me." As we read this last chapter of John, ask yourself, what does following Jesus look like today?

PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the Words passed down to us by John. Thank you for this marvelous revelation of your love for us. We pray that as we read your Word, our ears will be more attuned to the voice of Jesus, and our hearts motivated to follow Him wherever He leads.


John 21 English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
21 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards[a] off.

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus and Peter
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus and the Beloved Apostle
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers[b] that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.


REFLECTION & APPLICATION
At the beginning of the chapter, the disciples are out on a boat fishing, but had not caught anything. Then, as dawn was breaking, a voice calls out from the shore saying, "Cast your net on the right side of the boat." And the disciples listened, obeyed, and when their nets came up full, they recognized it was Jesus who had called to them.

The Good Shepherd spoke, and His sheep recognized the voice of the One who had given His life for His sheep.

Today, we are surrounded by voices vying for our attention and it may seem impossible to hear Jesus' voice over the din. But with regular time in the Bible, for 21 days, 21 months, 21 years and more, Jesus' voice will be as clear to you as if there was no else speaking.

We're glad you joined us for these 21 days! We hope you plan to continue spending time in the Word on your own on a regular basis. You may want to choose another one of the Gospels--the different authors tend to focus on different aspects of Jesus' ministry and through their eyes you can build a more complete picture of our Savior. Or maybe you'll want to continue the story in the Book of Acts which begins with Jesus' ascension into heaven and continues with the arrival of the promised Holy Spirit.

As a reminder, we will be drawing a name for the book giveaway in the next day or two, so be watching for that announcement. And be sure to visit BacktotheBible.org on a regular basis; we hope to do more reading challenges like this in the near future.

Thanks again everyone!

We look forward to your comments and questions below!