John 21: Breakfast and the Restoration of Peter
The risen Jesus meets his disciples by the sea, fills their empty nets, shares breakfast, and gently restores Peter, calling him to feed his sheep.
John 21 (WEB)
1 After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way.
2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
3 Simon 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.
4 But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
6 He 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.
7 That 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 him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea.
8 But 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.
9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fish, one hundred fifty-three; and even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” None of the disciples dared inquire of him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead.
15 So 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.”
16 He 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.”
17 He 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.
18 Most 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.”
19 Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw a disciple following. This was the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who had also leaned on Jesus’ breast at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray You?”
21 Peter seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.”
23 This saying therefore went out among the brothers, that this disciple wouldn’t die. Yet Jesus didn’t say to him that he wouldn’t die, but, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and wrote these things. We know that his witness is true.
25 There are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they would all be written, I suppose that even the world itself wouldn’t have room for the books that would be written.
John 21 (KJV)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, and hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
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.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
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.
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.
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.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst 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.
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.
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.
John 21 (ASV)
1 After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and he manifested [himself] on this wise.
2 There was 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 come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing.
4 But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his coat about him (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea.
8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off), dragging the net [full] of fishes.
9 So when they got out upon the land, they see a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now taken.
11 Simon Peter therefore went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, the net was not rent.
12 Jesus saith unto them, Come [and] break your fast. And none of the disciples durst inquire of him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus cometh, and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and the fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15 So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of John, 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.
16 He saith to him again a second time, Simon, [son] of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of John, 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.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst 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 Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20 Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who also leaned back on his breast at the supper, and said, Lord, who is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter therefore 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.
23 This saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, that he should not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee?
24 This is the disciple that beareth witness of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his witness 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 would not contain the books that should be written.
Summary
After the resurrection, Jesus appears again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Peter and the others have fished all night and caught nothing, but a stranger on the shore tells them to cast on the right side, and the net fills with a great catch. The beloved disciple recognizes him, 'It is the Lord!' and Peter plunges into the sea to reach him. On the shore Jesus has already prepared a fire with fish and bread, and he invites them, 'Come and eat breakfast.' After the meal, Jesus asks Peter three times, 'Do you love me?' matching Peter's three denials, and each time he commissions him to feed and tend his sheep. He foretells the kind of death by which Peter will glorify God and says simply, 'Follow me.' When Peter asks about the beloved disciple, Jesus turns him back to his own calling. The Gospel closes by affirming that the beloved disciple wrote these things truly, and that the world itself could not contain all that Jesus did.
Main Characters
- Jesus — The risen Lord who provides the catch, shares breakfast, and restores and commissions Peter.
- Peter — The disciple lovingly restored after his denials and called to feed Jesus' sheep.
- The beloved disciple — The one who recognizes the Lord on the shore and bears faithful witness in this Gospel.
- The disciples — The fishermen who, at Jesus' word, haul in a great catch and eat with him.
Key Verse
John 21:17 (WEB)
He 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.
Lessons Learned
- The risen Jesus seeks out his disciples in their ordinary work and provides for them.
- Christ restores those who have failed him, not with condemnation but with love and a calling.
- Loving Jesus is expressed in faithfully caring for his people, his sheep.
- Discipleship means following Jesus on his terms, without comparing our path to another's.
- Jesus provides abundantly when we obey his word. At his command the disciples cast the net and 'weren't now able to draw it in for the multitude of fish' (John 21:6, WEB).
- The risen Lord welcomes his weary disciples. Jesus had prepared a charcoal fire with fish and bread and said, 'Come and eat breakfast' (John 21:9, 12, WEB).
- Christ restores those who have failed him. Three times Jesus asks, 'Do you love me?' and recommissions him, 'Feed my sheep' (John 21:16-17, WEB), undoing Peter's three denials.
- Love for Jesus is shown in caring for his people. To each profession of love Jesus replies, 'Feed my lambs... Tend my sheep' (John 21:15-16, WEB), tying love to faithful service.
- Our task is simply to follow Jesus. When Peter asks about another disciple, Jesus says, 'What is that to you? You follow me' (John 21:22, WEB).
- How does the great catch of fish help the disciples recognize the risen Jesus?
- Why does Jesus prepare breakfast and invite the disciples to eat with him on the shore?
- Why does Jesus ask Peter the same question three times, and how does it relate to Peter's earlier denials?
- What does Jesus mean when he tells Peter, 'Follow me,' even after pointing to a hard road ahead?
- Where in your own life do you need to hear Jesus' gentle restoration and his call to follow him?
- After a fruitless night, the disciples obey the stranger's word and bring in an overwhelming catch, and the beloved disciple cries, 'It is the Lord!' (John 21:6-7). The miracle echoes their first calling and reveals Jesus as their provider.
- Jesus has already prepared a fire with fish and bread and invites them to eat (John 21:9-13). The risen Lord meets his tired, discouraged followers with warmth and provision, sharing a meal before he speaks to Peter's heart.
- Jesus asks 'Do you love me?' three times, matching Peter's three denials by the earlier fire (John 21:15-17). Each answer is met with a commission to feed his sheep, gently healing Peter's failure and restoring him to service.
- Even after foretelling that Peter will glorify God in death, Jesus simply says, 'Follow me' (John 21:18-19). Discipleship is not about an easy road or comparing ourselves to others (21:22), but about faithfully following the Lord.
- This is a personal application question. Invite members to receive Jesus' gentle restoration where they have failed and to hear his call to follow. As leader, encourage tender honesty and avoid pressing anyone to share more than they wish.