Christ Appears at Lake Tiberias (John 21:1-9) Photo: by William de Brailes c1250.
‘“Simon, son of John”, he said for the third time, “Are you my friend?”’ (John 21:17)
The friend zone: Janet Scott reads from the gospel of John
The gospel of John has a complex literary history, but it is clear that the final chapter is a late addition. The previous chapter has closing remarks and chapter 21 refers to the deaths of Peter and the beloved disciple, so must have been written and added after those occurred.
The author uses the story of the miraculous catch of fishes, which in Luke’s gospel (5:1-11) is told as the ‘Call of the disciples’. Here it is a resurrection appearance. There are some interesting features to the story.It illustrates the impulsive nature of Simon, whose naming as Peter, the Rock, was surely one of Jesus’ jokes. Peter leaps from the boat to swim to Jesus. We may perhaps see a metaphor for community: every Peter needs another six companions to bring the boat to shore!
John develops his theology through dialogue, and the purpose of this story is the dialogue between Jesus and Simon after breakfast, when three times Jesus asks whether Simon loves him and gives him commands to care for his flock. The particular interest comes from the use of two verbs meaning ‘to love’. One is αγαραν (agapan), the widespread love, as in loving one’s neighbour; the other is φιλειν (philein) which is to love as a friend.
The first two times that Jesus asks the question he uses the verb αγαραν but Simon responds with φιλειν. On the third time of asking Jesus adapts to Simon’s language and asks using φιλειν.
The interpretation of this depends on which verb is thought to be the stronger. I have heard one commentator suggest that Jesus uses the stronger verb first and then adapts to Simon’s weakness. This seems to be a general position. But if we read this story in the light of earlier parts of the gospel, we may take a more nuanced view. In his farewell speech Jesus addresses his disciples as no longer servants but friends (15:15). ‘You are my friends if you do what I command you’ (15:14). ‘This I command you, that you love one another’ (15:17). ‘No one has greater love than this that they lay down their life for their friends’ (15:13). This is in the context of the close and loving relationship of Jesus with his Father, which is extended to his friends.
It is possible then to read the final chapter as Simon remembering and reminding Jesus of what he said, and deliberately claiming that close friendship. We may hear him as saying, ‘Yes Lord, I will do what you command’; ‘Yes, I will care for and love your people’. Then when Jesus asks the third time, this time asking ‘Are you my friend?’, we may hear, ‘Yes, I will lay down my life’, for Jesus immediately tells him by what death he would glorify God (21:19).
And what of we who call ourselves Friends? Would Margaret Fell say of us that we are thieves who have stolen the word but know nothing of it in ourselves? (cf Quaker faith & practice 19.07). Are we some pale imitation that thinks Truth is a matter of questions and opinions? Or do we know ‘the word and power and spirit of the living God’? (Quaker faith & practice 19.61). How would we answer Jesus’ question: ‘Are you my friend?’
