What does John 21:19 mean?
Jesus poetically asked Peter to affirm his love three times (John 21:15–17), after Peter denied knowing Jesus three times (John 13:36–38; Luke 22:61–62). When Jesus first called Peter, it was just after miraculously providing an enormous catch of fish (Luke 5:5–11). Here, after a similar miracle (John 21:4–8), Jesus will again restore Peter's calling as an apostle.In the prior verse, Jesus used a descriptive parallel. In youth, Peter could dress himself and walk where he chose, but in death he would be dressed and led by others, with outstretched hands. As this verse notes, Jesus has predicted how Peter would die: by crucifixion. Awful as that may be, it is also a prediction that Peter's restored faith would never fail again. He would make mistakes (Galatians 2:11–14), but never deny Christ, even in the face of his own death.
Church tradition affirms that Peter was crucified. Further details suggest he asked to be hung upside down, symbolic of his inferiority to Jesus. That prediction will make Peter curious about his fellow disciples, leading to the question he asks in the next verses (John 21:20–21).
John 21:15–19 is a poignant moment between Peter and the resurrected Jesus. Early in his ministry, Jesus inspired a faithful response from Peter, by miraculously providing fish (Luke 5:5–8). He then called Peter to become a disciple (Luke 5:10–11). Not many days before this breakfast on the beach, Peter had stood near a fire and denied even knowing Christ three times (John 18:25–27). Now, in front of another fire, Jesus asks Peter to affirm his faithful love three times. Peter grasps the symbolism. Jesus affirms Peter's calling to serve Him and predicts the matter of Peter's death.
After Jesus' resurrection, a group of disciples goes fishing while they wait in Galilee. From a distance, a figure appears and tells the men to cast again. Despite a fruitless night, they obey, and the net is immediately overflowing with fish. This confirms that the man on the shore is Jesus. As the disciples eat a meal with Christ, He presses Peter to reaffirm His faith. Jesus then predicts the nature of Peter's death; He does not do so for John. The gospel of John ends with an affirmation of its source, and a reminder that no single book could contain every detail of Jesus' ministry.
