John 21: 1-25
John could have ended his gospel here:
John 20:30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
But he added this final story of Peter’s reconciliation with Jesus.
Key Scripture:
John 21:1 Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there - Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”
“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”
“No,” they replied.
6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them - fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.
12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.
15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved - the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”
22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” 23 So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
While wrangling through his unresolved guilt and shame Peter goes back to what his life was like before he met Jesus…
Luke 5:1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” 5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. 8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me - I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
In John 21, it appears Peter is eager to clear the air and make amends with Jesus.
These five things we can observe from Peter’s experience that can help us understand what reconciliation with Jesus means for each of us…
In Peter’s Example Of Reconciliation…
1. Jesus Initiates - He has done and continues to do everything necessary for us to find His grace and to have reconciliation.
2. Jesus Shows Kindness - Jesus shows up with breakfast , not condemnation.
3. Jesus Confronts - It can be painful and embarrassing, even humiliating walking through your mistakes and harmful decisions but this is the path to freedom
4. Jesus Reassures Our Relationship - Jesus asks repeatedly if Peter loves Him and because the answer is ‘yes’ the relationship be can repaired.
5. Jesus Restores A Future - Peter is reassured that he will lead and build the church. What does this mean for you?
John 21:24 This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate. 25 Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.
From March 2024 - one of the first sermons in the John series…
It’s Impossible to Overestimate Jesus.
Summary of the Gospel of John Series:
At the very end, John summarizes that even though so many great passages of teaching, miracles, and important moments in Jesus’ ministry are in this book, there is so much more.
It’s in John’s gospel that we read so many well known teachings from Jesus:
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’”
John 4:24 “For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
John 8:32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 10:10 “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”
John 13:34 - 35 I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
John 15:13 “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
I am the light of the world, the bread of life, living water
We also read about various miracles:
Turning water into wine
Healing various people
Feeding of the 5000
walking on water
Raising Lazarus from the dead
We read about significant moments in Jesus’ earthly ministry:
Like clearing out the money changers from the temple
Telling a Samaritan woman and eventually the whole village that they have seen the messiah
He stands up for the woman caught in adultery who’s about to be stoned to death
He was celebrated and glorified as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey
And then that evening he humbled Himself to wash the disciples feet
But there is so much more!
John 21:25 Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.
It’s Impossible to Overestimate Jesus.
John 20:30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
Continue to believe and have life in His name!