The Bible

 

John 21:15-25 : Feed my lambs, Feed my sheep

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15 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.

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

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

Commentary

 

Naked

  

Clothing in general represents day-to-day knowledge about spiritual things, held in the memory so it can be used for the goodness of life. For someone to be naked, then, usually represents a state of ignorance and disregard for spiritual things and the resultant lack of the desire for good and the capacity to be good. There is, however, a positive meaning for nakedness -- for instance, Adam and Eve were naked and "not ashamed" in Genesis 2:25, just before the serpent came on the scene. In this case, Adam and Eve represented the Most Ancient Church, which was celestial -- meaning it was in a state of pure love of the Lord. People who are celestial have an understanding of what is true which arises from the love they have in their hearts, and do not need to hold true ideas in their memories. This is represented by their lack of clothing, and the innocence it entailed. There are also some specifics based on the various parts of the body. For the head to be naked -- for someone to be bald -- represents lacking an intellectual understanding of true ideas about life. For the genitals to be naked, meanwhile, represents something deeper. The genitals represent the true love of marriage in individuals and the love that can exist with a couple in a true spiritual marriage. Since this is the wellspring of human love and joy, it follows that having the genitals uncovered represents a lack of love and the good that comes from it.