The Gospel of John, Chapter 21

¹ After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

² There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

³ Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

For the years these disciples followed Jesus, they dedicated all their time to Jesus to learn. Now that Jesus was crucified and risen again, they went back to fishing. I imagine they didn’t quite know what to do now…. they knew Jesus had prepared them for ministry, but at that point they had no direct plan as to what to do, so they got busy doing what they knew to do and waiting on the Lord.

⁴ But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

⁵ Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

They fished all night and caught nothing.

⁶ And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

First, they waited on Jesus…then Jesus shows up and tells them what to do….and suddenly, they’re bringing in the fish…so much so they nearly broke their nets. These future fishers of men were learning that they need Jesus to fill their nets….on the sea with the fish and in the ministry with the lost souls. Only Jesus saves. If you look at the fact they had been fishing all night and hadn’t caught a single fish….then when Jesus comes on the scene and instructs them, their nets are full. A ministry without Jesus is a religion without the power to save the soul. In the ministry, they need Jesus to fill their nets.

⁷ Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

Peter got dressed and started swimming back to shore to see Jesus.

⁸ And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

⁹ As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

The beautiful resurrected savior was cooking breakfast for his disciples!!! I love this.

¹⁰ Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

¹¹ Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

Not only was the nets full, Jesus filled it with GREAT FISH…. 153 of them… and Jesus kept the nets from breaking too. I imagine the joy they all had… after a night of pointless fishing they find Jesus making breakfast for them… and he blesses them so they pull in a wonderful catch.

¹² Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

John 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

¹³ Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

Jesus serves them the breakfast he made for them. So much love. If we are to follow Jesus, this is the heart and frame of mind we need to have….one of love who is willing to serve others.

¹⁴ This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

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.

Jesus is asking Simon if he loves him more than the other things. Peter answers that Jesus knows he does. Jesus instructs him to feed the 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.

Jesus asked again and again Peter answers, “You know I love you.”

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.

He asked him a third time and again Peter says that Jesus knows all things, and he knows he loves him. Jesus again tells him to feed his sheep. I’ve heard commentary that the word love is different each time Jesus ask him… or that it has something to do with the three denials of Peter….I don’t know…but what I do know is, this is a changed Peter. In John 13 Peter had to be reproved over not wanting to submit to the foot washing… In Matthew 16 Jesus had to rebuke Peter for attempting to rebuke him stating Jesus would not go to the cross. Peter didn’t understand the plan of God at this time. In Luke 22: ³¹ And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:³² But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.³³ And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.³⁴ And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
This Peter that Jesus asked 3 times if he loves him is a now humbled Peter… the fire he went through had burned off the pride and left this refined Peter who is wiser ,more mature and quieter.

¹⁸ Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest 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.

Peter did follow Jesus. He glorified God by also dying on the cross, they say he wanted to be crucified upside down because he said he wasn’t worth to be crucified the way Jesus was.
I love Peter… his life and all his mistakes give me hope… if Jesus can transform Peter, he can transform me…though I think I’m a way worse sinner than Peter.

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.

Peter was wondering what Jesus had in store for John… and Jesus instructed Peter to worry about what he was told to do and not about what John was going to do.

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.

The Angels in heaven recorded them all… and one day we will all get to see what all Jesus did while he was on this earth.

Dear God, I come to you in the name of Jesus, your beloved Son and my savior and Lord. I thank you for your word and for the understanding you give me. I pray your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Help me to judge myself and correct my behavior by your word and the power of the Holy Spirit. Help me to walk in your word so I can be more like Jesus. AMEN