Book Order Plan

John 20-21

John 20

1Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw the stone [already] removed from the [groove across the entrance of the] tomb.

2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple (John), whom Jesus loved (esteemed), and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him!"

3So Peter and the other disciple left, and they were going to the tomb.

4And the two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and arrived at the tomb first.

5Stooping down and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings [neatly] lying there; but he did not go in.

6Then Simon Peter came up, following him, and went into the tomb and saw the linen wrappings [neatly] lying there;

7and the [burial] face-cloth which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the [other] linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.

8So the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, went in too; and he saw [the wrappings and the face-cloth] and believed [without any doubt that Jesus had risen from the dead].

9For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead.

10Then the disciples went back again to their own homes.

11But Mary [who had returned] was standing outside the tomb sobbing; and so, as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb;

12and she saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13And they said to her, "Woman, why are you crying?" She told them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

14After saying this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

15Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you crying? For whom are you looking?" Supposing that He was the gardener, she replied, "Sir, if you are the one who has carried Him away from here, tell me where you have put Him, and I will take Him away."

16Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher).

17Jesus said to her, " Do not hold Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"

18Mary Magdalene came, reporting to the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that He had said these things to her.

19So when it was evening on that same day, the first day of the week, though the disciples were [meeting] behind barred doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them, and said, " Peace to you."

20After He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with great joy.

21Then Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives]."

22And when He said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

23If you forgive the sins of anyone they are forgiven [because of their faith]; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained [and remain unforgiven because of their unbelief]."

24But Thomas, one of the twelve [disciples], who was called Didymus (the twin), was not with them when Jesus came.

25So the other disciples kept telling him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the marks of the nails, and put my finger into the nail prints, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe."

26Eight days later His disciples were again inside the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though the doors had been barred, and stood among them and said, "Peace to you."

27Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and put out your hand and place it in My side. Do not be unbelieving, but [stop doubting and] believe."

28Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and my God!"

29Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, do you now believe? Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, and favored by God] are they who did not see [Me] and yet believed [in Me]."

30There are also many other signs (attesting miracles) that Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

31but these have been written so that you may believe [with a deep, abiding trust] that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of God; and that by believing [and trusting in and relying on Him] you may have life in His name.

John 21

1After this Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee). And He did it in this way:

2Simon Peter, and Thomas who is called Didymus (the twin), and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, as well as [John and James] the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

3Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said, "And we are coming with you." So they went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

4As morning was breaking, Jesus [came and] stood on the beach; however, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

5So Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish [to eat along with your bread]?" They answered, "No."

6And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat (starboard) and you will find some." So they cast [the net], and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great catch of fish.

7Then that disciple (John) whom Jesus loved (esteemed) said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer tunic (for he was stripped for work) and threw himself into the sea [and swam ashore].

8But the other disciples came in the small boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.

9So when they got out on the beach, they saw a charcoal fire set up and fish on it cooking, and bread.

10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught."

11So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three [of them]; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

12Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared to ask Him, "Who are You?" They knew [without any doubt] that it was the Lord.

13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples, after He had risen from the dead.

15So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with total commitment and devotion]?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend]." Jesus said to him, "Feed My lambs."

16Again He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with total commitment and devotion]?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend]." Jesus said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."

17He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]?" Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, "Do you [really] love Me [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend]?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend]." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.

18I assure you and most solemnly say to you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and walked wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and arms, and someone else will dress you, and carry you where you do not wish to go."

19Now He said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after saying this, He said to him, "Follow Me [walk the same path of life that I have walked]!"

20Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His chest at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray You?"

21So when Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man [what is in his future]?"

22Jesus said to him, "If I want him to stay alive until I come [again], what is that to you? You follow Me!"

23So this word went out among the brothers that this disciple (John) was not going to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to die, but only, "If I want him to stay alive until I come [again], what is that to you?"

24This is the same disciple who is testifying to these things and has recorded them; and we know [without any doubt] that his testimony is true.

25And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were recorded one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.