Last Sunday, we looked at the resurrection of Jesus. He appeared to his disciples, reassuring them of who he is.
He is still the same Jesus of Nazareth. The same teacher they had been learning from for over three years. The same prophet proclaiming that the kingdom of God has come. The same Messiah who has come to bring restoration between God and people, and to renew all things.
John’s Gospel appears to come to a conclusion at the end of chapter 20 with what seems to be a final word:
John 20:30–31 “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
So when chapter 21 opens, we are meant to feel some surprise. Why is there more? Not because John forgot to finish his book, and not because he is trying to give us a precise chronological sequence of resurrection appearances.
The chapter functions like an epilogue. The main story is complete, but we need to circle back to an unfinished plot line. Peter, who was one of Jesus’ closest disciples, has failed by denying Jesus. The purpose of this closing story is to show what life means for those of us who struggle with our loyalty to a crucified God. What does Jesus do with failures?
To set the scene, let’s go back to the moment of failure.
John 18:15–18 “Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.”
The scene then goes to Jesus being questioned by the high priest, and then back to Peter in the courtyard.
John 18:25–27 “Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.”
In another Gospel, it says that Jesus looked at Peter. It was in that moment, he realized what he had done.
Friday: he denies Jesus as he is being sentenced to die. Saturday: Jesus is lifeless in the tomb. Sunday: Jesus is alive and has appeared to his disciples. But Peter still has not been addressed.
Through all of this, can you imagine the tension felt by Peter? Knowing that he has disappointed Jesus even though he promised his loyalty even unto death. The fear that because of his failure, he could be rejected by Jesus.
In the time that passed between Jesus’ resurrection and the event we are about to read, Peter must have been struggling deeply. He knows the tomb is empty. He knows Jesus is alive. But he still does not know what Jesus will do with him. So, what does he do? He goes fishing…
Jesus Provides
John 21:1–8
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.
Peter and six of the other disciples decided to go fishing, but had no success. Then, after a long and unsuccessful night, when it was likely still too dark to recognize who it was yelling at them from the shore, they heard, “Throw your net over the right side of the boat and you’ll find some fish.”
What did they have to lose? They did it and their net filled up with fish. They knew immediately this was Jesus yelling at them.
This wasn’t the first time this happened.
Luke 5:4–7 “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.”
The two stories illustrate the way Jesus provides even before people know Jesus or what he is about to invite them into.
In their discouragement and lack of direction, Jesus meets them. He provides practically, but it is also a symbol of what sort of life he is going to invite them to participate in.
Jesus Invites
John 21:9–14
When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 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. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus was cooking up some fish, but maybe not enough to feed all of them. It is an invitation to share in a meal, which he has provided. Not only by bringing his own fish, but by empowering the disciples to also bring some from the big catch they just hauled in.
We see here an invitation to join in the life of Jesus, not by our effort alone, but with the empowerment of Jesus. He provides and we participate in the provision as we follow his voice.
Then, as the disciples sat down with Jesus, the invitation was transformed into fellowship. He fed them physically and spiritually.
Especially Peter. Let’s hone in on a significant detail that brings Peter’s story into focus.
There is a word in 21:9 that is used only one other place in the Bible, which is also in John’s Gospel. It seems to be used by John rather intentionally, to draw our attention to what is happening between Jesus and Peter.
The word is translated literally as “charcoal fire.” Not just any kind of fire. If you read the word “fire” anywhere else in the New Testament, it will be a different Greek word, pyr, which occurs about 70 times. But this word, anthrakia, only occurs twice.
John could have used the more common word for fire, but he instead he specified that it was a fire made of burning charcoal.
John 21:9 “When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread.”
John 18:15–18 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” the servant girl asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a charcoal fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.”
Let’s now see how Jesus restores Peter’s calling to share in the mission of Jesus.
Jesus Sends
John 21:15–19
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.” 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.” 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. 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.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
The resurrection of Jesus does not erase Peter’s failure by pretending it never happened but by meeting Peter in the midst of his failure.
Jesus enables Peter to undo his denials through three reaffirmations of love and loyalty, removing the barrier of failure and sin that would otherwise prevent him from following Jesus.
The question “Do you love me more than these?” seems most likely to mean whether Peter loves Jesus more than the other disciples love him.
But how could Peter know how much the others loved their Master? Of course he could not know. It was not long ago that he thought he did, and that his love could outdo theirs.
Whatever the others might do, Peter said in the upper room, “I will lay down my life for you” (John 13:37). But, however willing the spirit was, the flesh was weak, as Peter proved in the courtyard of the high priest’s palace. 1
His actions had shown that Peter had not wanted a crucified Lord. But Jesus was crucified. How did Peter’s devotion stand in the light of this? Was he ready to love Jesus as he was, and not as Peter wished him to be? That was an important question. Peter must face it and answer it.2
Three times he had denied his Lord. Now he has three times affirmed his love for him, and three times he has been commissioned to care for the flock. Whatever had been the mistakes of the past, Jesus was restoring Peter to a place of trust.
We know from history and the letters he wrote, that Peter took his commissioning seriously.
In 1 Peter 5:1–4, he writes, “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
Jesus Leads the Way
John’s Gospel ends in a curious manner, but there is a helpful picture here for us to close with.
John 21:20–25 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?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 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?” This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 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.
After being restored and commissioned by Jesus, Peter wants to know about John. He knew they had a special relationship. John stuck by Jesus like a brother. He was known as the one that Jesus loved.
And Jesus says, don’t worry about John. You follow me. He says the same to us. As we embrace the life of Jesus and learn to live that life, let’s not get wrapped up in allegiances. Jesus leads the way. We follow him in his resurrection life.
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- F. F. Bruce, The Gospel of John: Introduction, Exposition and Notes (Nashville, TN; Bath, England: Kingsley Books, 2018), 404. ↩︎
- Leon Morris, The Gospel according to John, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), 768. ↩︎
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