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After breakfast, Jesus had a stroll (cf. v.20) and private conversation with Peter.
Corresponding to Peter’s threefold denial (cf. 18:15-18, 25-27), Jesus three times questioned him about his love for him (vv.15-17). Although this caused Peter some consternation, his response was consistently affirmative, and he was installed as a shepherd of Jesus' flock (cf. 10:1-18). More than these (v.15) probably refers to the other disciples. If so, Jesus was probing Peter for signs that his former boastfulness had vanished (cf. 13:37; Mt 26:33). Two Greek words for love are used in this conversation. In view of their interchangeability elsewhere in John, it would be precarious to stress a supposed difference in their meaning here.
The third invitation to Peter to care for Jesus' flock was immediately followed by a reference to his personal future (v.18). The meaning of this would remain obscure, except that the author specified that it referred to Peter’s death (v.19). But the editorial comment was not part of the original conversation, and Jesus added without interruption the command to follow (cf. 1:43). Obedience for Peter would mean both pastoring and martyrdom, possibly by crucifixion. It is probable that by the time ch. 21 was written he had already been executed.
Jesus commanded him to follow, and at that moment Peter observed the beloved disciple following (v.20). The juxtaposition of the words was probably intentional. There are many ways of following Jesus, and martyrdom is not the only one. But Peter was given no information about the future of his friend; he was told only to tend to his own mission (vv.21-22). However, it seems evident that the beloved disciple lived for many years and that this, coupled with an incorrect interpretation of Jesus' reply to Peter, gave rise to a rumor that this one would not die. But the emphasis of the account (v.23) makes it likely that he had died and that his death had caused distress among the faithful, which the author was trying to alleviate.