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Read John 21

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus Reinstates Peter

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Go Deeper

What do you do when you fail to keep your promises to God? Where do you go when you deny what you know to be true and let fear dictate your decisions? We know what Peter did. He went back to what he knew, his old line of work—fishing. This is where we find him. It’s also where we find Jesus. On a beach. Making breakfast for His friends. Serving up fish, bread, and restoration and redemption. An unexpected breakfast turned recommissioning service. Peter’s denials were public knowledge, so he needed to be publicly restored. What grace. What kindness. What love. 

Though we sin, sin does not disqualify us from service. This was the message for Peter that morning on the beach. It’s the message for us, too. Repentance leads to restoration. We, like Peter, can have lives marked by faithfulness even with moments of failure. Our denials can usher in a deeper devotion to Jesus. But it will require repentance and love. 

We have an enemy who wants to make us think we are disqualified by our denials. Satan wants you to believe that failure is fatal and forgiveness is only available to those people you think deserve it. This is a lie. None of us deserve forgiveness. None of us deserve grace. Yet, it is FREELY offered to us through Jesus’s death and resurrection. He still serves up restoration and redemption and this could be the very day of your recommissioning service. 

Wouldn’t it be great if we could hear from Peter? What would he say to us? What advice would he give us? What hard earned life lessons would he want us to know? Oh, wait…

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 

1 Peter 3:15

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory…will restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.”

1 Peter 5:10

Peter experienced what he wrote. He lived it. The love of Christ which covered his multitude of sins covers our multitude of sins as well. He is the God of ALL grace, not just some. It is the Good News indeed. 

Questions

  1. What do you learn about the character of Jesus in this chapter? 
  2. How are you similar to Peter? How are you dissimilar? 
  3. Are you motivated by love for Christ? What will keep you serving the Lord when the going gets tough?

Watch This

Now that we have completed the book of John, take a few minutes and go back to re-watch the second half of the overview video from The Bible Project!

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3 thoughts on “John 21”

  1. The very ones who dispersed, denied and denounced him while he was suffering arrest and brutal cross-examination before the cross, Jesus calls friends afterwards. What a stunning example of the upside down mindset of his kingdom. He manifests and meets their physical & spiritual needs, and the disciples will never be the same. They (and we) can be confident in following Christ no matter what the future holds. We are commissioned to go and make disciples to the ends of the earth. Are we actively participating or passively watching? Be encouraged to enter the race and run well with the torch of the gospel, the greatest news ever!

  2. “You follow me” at the end of verse 22. It is our job to follow Him not others around us. I try not to be judgey but it is a struggle and I have to repent often. I believe that Jesus is talking to me here. Beware when your eyes get off and start looking at other Christians because we should be “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,”. Being distracted by ourselves, our circumstances or by other Christians is to disobey and possible get detoured from what God has for us/me to do for Him. Hebrews 12:1-2 We are to not ignore our responsibility of caring for one another but just keep our focus and priority on His plan for our life, individually. Feed my lambs, tend my sheep, and feed my sheep as you walk your walk with the Great Shepherd.

    God thank You for helping me to keep my eyes on You!!! God thank You helping me not take my focus off of You as I love on Your people around me. God thank You for all You are teaching me and that what I learn I do not forget but practice. God thank You for a slow beautiful rain today and that it waters these parched grounds in Jesus name amen.
    WOOHOO!!

  3. Oh how I needed this today!!

    These reflections are MY story:

    I fail to keep my promises to God. I deny what I know to be true and let fear dictate my decisions and actions.

    BUT GOD says sin does not disqualify me from service. My repentance makes way for HIS restoration. I CAN have a life marked by faithfulness … even with moments of failure.

    I need to hear that, again and again, because I stumble, again and again … and again.

    I fall down, weary, beat down by battle with an enemy determined to see me defeated. He will do everything possible to persuade me I’m disqualified. He wants me to believe my failure is fatal.

    This is a lie.

    God’s grace is freely, REPEATEDLY offered through Jesus’s death and resurrection. He CONTINUALLY offers restoration and redemption.

    TODAY could be the day of my recommissioning service!

    (Adapted and shared with gratitude from today’s “Go Deeper” reflections.)

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