John 21:1-19 · Read 10 min · think and write 15 min
In the last lesson, in the high priest’s courtyard, Peter said three times that he did not know Jesus. John’s Gospel records a detail from that night: “Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals, for it was cold” (John 18:18), and “Peter was with them, standing and warming himself” (John 18:18).
After that, Jesus was crucified, died, and rose from the dead, and he appeared to the disciples twice (John 20:19, 26). This lesson is the time after his resurrection when, as the passage says, “This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples” (v. 14).
The place is Galilee again, and a fishing boat again.
1After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way.
2Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
3Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing.
4But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.
5Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
6He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish.
7That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around himself (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea.
8But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish.
9So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, with fish and bread laid on it.
10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of one hundred fifty-three great fish. Even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.
12Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast!” None of the disciples dared inquire of him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.
13Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise.
14This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples after he had risen from the dead.
15So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?” Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
18Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you don’t want to go.”
19Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
I’m going fishing. Peter said to the other disciples, “I’m going fishing” (v. 3), and six of them went with him in the boat. It ended the way Lesson 1 began: “That night, they caught nothing” (v. 3). The passage does not say why he went back to fishing. It only records that he went back to his old boat.
Another net full of fish. When day had come, someone on the beach told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat” (v. 6). They cast it, and “now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish” (v. 6). The disciple whom Jesus loved recognized him first and said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” (v. 7). When Peter heard it, “he wrapped his coat around himself (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea” (v. 7). In Lesson 1, facing a boat full of fish, he said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord” (Luke 5:8). This time he jumped into the water to get to the shore.
The fire on the beach. When the disciples came ashore, “they saw a fire of coals there, with fish and bread laid on it” (v. 9). Before they had even brought their catch to land, Jesus had it ready. On the night Peter denied the Lord in the high priest’s courtyard, there was also ‘a fire of coals’ beside him (John 18:18) — the same words in WEB, and the same word in the Chinese Bible. The passage does not explain this. It simply records both.
Breakfast first. Jesus said, “Come and eat breakfast!” (v. 12), and he himself “came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise” (v. 13). He asked Peter his three questions only “when they had eaten their breakfast” (v. 15).
Three times. Jesus questioned him three times: “do you love me more than these?” (v. 15), “do you love me?” (v. 16), “do you have affection for me?” (v. 17). Three times Peter answered, “you know that I have affection for you” (vv. 15–17). At the third time the passage says, “Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time” (v. 17). His last answer was, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you” (v. 17). This time he did not say what he would do. He only said that the Lord knew.
Feed my sheep. Each time Peter answered, Jesus gave him something to do: “Feed my lambs” (v. 15), “Tend my sheep” (v. 16), “Feed my sheep” (v. 17). Jesus did not mention the three denials of that night, and he did not say ‘we’ll let it go this time.’ He handed his own sheep to this man.
Follow me. Then Jesus spoke of Peter’s future: “when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you don’t want to go” (v. 18). The passage explains: “Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God” (v. 19). Then: “When he had said this, he said to him, ‘Follow me’” (v. 19). By the lake in Galilee he was first called; after his fall, he was called again by the lake.
In the Old Testament, God said through the prophet Ezekiel, “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down” (Ezek 34:15). Earlier in John’s Gospel, Jesus also said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
In this lesson Jesus says to Peter, “Tend my sheep” (v. 16). The sheep are Jesus’ own, and he hands them over to Peter to feed and to tend.
Perhaps you too have a ‘fire of coals’: a place where you fell, and you still don’t dare come near it when you think of it.
This lesson does not say that falling is no big deal. Peter’s three denials that night really happened, and when he was asked the third time, the passage says, “Peter was grieved” (v. 17). But this lesson also shows you that before Peter said a word, the fire on the beach was already lit, and the bread and fish were already laid out. It was Jesus who came looking for him first.
This week: Think of something you have not touched since you fell. Find a quiet time this week to read verses 15–17, putting your own name in: replace ‘Simon, son of Jonah’ with your name. Then write down one sentence you want to answer.
Scripture: World English Bible.