John 21:15
King James Version (KJV)
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.
Translations
John 21:15 - Amplified Bible
When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do--with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Feed My lambs.
John 21:15 - American Standard Version
So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, 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.
John 21:15 - Bible in Basic English
Then when they had taken food, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, is your love for me greater than the love of these others? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you are certain of my love for you. He said to him, Then give my lambs food.
John 21:15 - Darby Bible
When therefore they had dined, Jesus says to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He says to him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I am attached to thee. He says to him, Feed my lambs.
John 21:15 - English Standard Version
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."
John 21:15 - King James Version
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.
John 21:15 - La Biblia de las Americas
Entonces, cuando habìan acabado de desayunar, Jesùs dijo* a Simòn Pedro: Simòn, hijo de Juan (Algunos mss. dicen: de Jonás, aquì y en los vers. 16 y 17), ¿me amas más que éstos? Pedro le dijo*: Sì, Señor, tù sabes que te quiero. Jesùs le dijo*: Apacienta mis corderos.
John 21:15 - The Message
After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
John 21:15 - New American Standard Bible
So 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, "Tend My lambs."
John 21:15 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy
Cuando acabaron de desayunar, Jesùs dijo a Simòn Pedro: "Simòn, hijo de Juan, ¿Me amas más que éstos?" "Sì, Señor, Tù sabes que Te quiero," Le contestò* Pedro. Jesùs le dijo: "Apacienta Mis corderos."
John 21:15 - World English Bible
So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
John 21:15 - Young's Living Translation
When, therefore, they dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, `Simon, [son] of Jonas, dost thou love me more than these?` he saith to him, `Yes, Lord; thou hast known that I dearly love thee;` he saith to him, `Feed my lambs.`
John 21:15 - Additional Comments
Apparently Jesus and Peter went for a walk after breakfast. Verse 20 implies they were walking, and John was following them, i.e. walking behind them.
Jesus was ready for a very special conversation with Peter. For all that Peter had been through, this was the culmination and confirmation of his relationship with Jesus. Peter could have been viewed as a failure, but Jesus knew better. He may have had a time where he failed, but Peter was not a failure.
Jesus is reaffirming (i.e. restoring, giving back) Peter's position and purpose in Christ. In Mark 16:7, the angel told the women who discovered the empty tomb to contact the disciples, and they specifically mention Peter, so everyone knows Peter is to continue to be included despite his denials, his failure.
Others who may have been perceived as a failure, who had a time of failure, but succeeded:
-- Boy Scout who was giving his speech, and stuttered, but continued with courage to complete it -- it started in failure, but because of the courage required became a success.
-- Abraham Lincoln lost several elections before being elected to President.
-- Thomas Edison failed 2000 times before he succeeded in the invention of the light bulb.
-- Charles Schultz, who created Charlie Brown, was a loser early in life, socially and in school (he failed every class in the eighth grade, and many in high school).
-- Helen Keller became blind and deaf at 19 months old, due to a fever, which destined her for failure. Yet she became a world-famous author and public speaker, persuading millions that disability is not the end of the world.
In fact, we all fail -- no one is perfect, and sin is failure. The problem isn't whether we fail, but how we handle failures when they come.
What brings "success"?
-- Wisdom (thinking and acting as God does) brings success (Eccl 10:10).
-- Knowing God's Word and obeying it brings success (Joshua 1:8).
We need to be careful to accept any fellow believer who has failed and is ready for restoration. God certainly is ready to accept them!
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