Jesus Restores Peter
Breakfast on the beach, and three questions
Jesus hints at how Peter will die, and the story looks back on Peter's worst failure.
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Peter: One of Jesus's closest followers. He was a fisherman from Galilee, in the north. Not long before, he said three times that he did not know Jesus.
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God. He has risen from the dead.
- Six other disciples: Thomas, Nathanael, the two sons of Zebedee (James and John), and two more. John does not give the last two names.
- The disciple whom Jesus loved: One of the seven. John's Gospel never gives his name.
Setting
- The Sea of Tiberias, another name for the Sea of Galilee. It is a large lake in the north. A fishing boat is out on the water. A fire burns on the beach.
When
- Some time after Jesus rose from the dead, and after he had appeared to his disciples twice. About 2,000 years ago. It is night, and then early morning.
Before the Story
Peter denied Jesus three times. On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter stood warming himself by a charcoal fire (John 18:18). Three times he said he did not know Jesus. Then he went out and wept (Luke 22:62).
Jesus rose from the dead. At the empty tomb, the women were told, "But go, tell His disciples and Peter" (Mark 16:7). Jesus had already appeared to his disciples twice in John's Gospel (20:19, 20:26).
Peter was a fisherman. Years earlier, he had fished all night and caught nothing. Then Jesus told him where to put down his nets, and the nets filled up. That day, Jesus called Peter to follow him (Luke 5:4-11).
Jesus had prayed for Peter. Before Peter fell, Jesus told him he had prayed for him. Jesus said, "When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32).
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A night with no fish | 21:1-3 | Seven disciples go fishing. They catch nothing |
| 2. A man on the shore | 21:4-6 | A man tells them where to cast the net. It fills up |
| 3. "It is the Lord!" | 21:7-8 | Peter jumps into the sea. The others bring the boat |
| 4. Breakfast by the fire | 21:9-14 | Jesus has a charcoal fire going. He feeds them |
| 5. Two questions | 21:15-16 | Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love Me?" |
| 6. The third question | 21:17 | Jesus asks a third time. Peter is hurt |
| 7. "Follow Me" | 21:18-19 | Jesus tells Peter about his future and calls him again |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 7A Night with No Fish
A fishing boat floated on the dark lake. Seven of Jesus's disciples were together by the Sea of Tiberias.
Peter was there. So were Thomas, Nathanael from Cana, the two sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
Peter said, "I'm going fishing."
The Bible doesn't say why Peter went fishing. But remember: fishing was Peter's work before he met Jesus.
The others said, "We'll come with you."
They got into the boat and went out. They fished all night. They caught nothing.
Scene 2 of 7A Man on the Shore
Early in the morning, a man stood on the beach. It was Jesus. But the disciples did not recognize him.
Jesus called out to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" (21:5).
"No," they answered.
He said, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some" (21:6).
So they did. Now the net was so full of fish that they could not pull it in.
This had happened to Peter once before. Years earlier, he had fished all night and caught nothing. Then Jesus told him where to let down his nets, and they filled with fish (Luke 5:5-6).
Scene 3 of 7"It Is the Lord!"
The disciple whom Jesus loved looked at the shore. He said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" (21:7).
Peter had taken off his outer garment. When he heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment back on. Then he jumped into the sea.
Peter did not wait for the boat. He went into the water to get to Jesus. The disciple whom Jesus loved was the first to know. Peter was the first to move.
The other disciples came to shore in the boat. They were about a hundred yards from land. They dragged the heavy net full of fish behind them.
Scene 4 of 7Breakfast by the Fire
When they reached the beach, they saw a charcoal fire. There was fish on it, and some bread.
Peter had stood by a charcoal fire once before. It was the night he said he did not know Jesus (18:18).
Jesus said, "Bring some of the fish you have caught."
Peter climbed into the boat. He dragged the net onto the sand. It was full of large fish. There were 153 of them. Even so, the net did not tear. John tells us the exact number. He does not say what it means.
Jesus said, "Come, have breakfast" (21:12).
None of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.
Jesus took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. Jesus served them himself. By this same lake, he had once fed a huge crowd with bread and fish (6:11).
This was the third time Jesus showed himself to his disciples after he rose from the dead.
Scene 5 of 7Two Questions
After they finished eating, Jesus turned to Peter. He used Peter's old name, the name Peter had before Jesus called him.
He asked, "Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?" (21:15).
Peter answered, "Yes, Lord... You know I love You" (21:15).
Peter said yes. But he did not say "more than these." This time, he did not compare himself with anyone.
Jesus said, "Feed My lambs" (21:15). Lambs are young sheep.
Jesus asked a second time. "Simon son of John, do you love Me?" (21:16).
Peter said again, "Yes, Lord... You know I love You" (21:16).
Jesus said, "Shepherd My sheep" (21:16).
This is a comparison. Jesus's followers are the lambs and sheep. Jesus was giving Peter a job. Peter would take care of Jesus's people. Much later, a letter that begins with Peter's name tells church leaders, "Be shepherds of God's flock" (1 Peter 5:2).
Scene 6 of 7The Third Question
Then Jesus asked a third time. "Simon son of John, do you love Me?" (21:17).
"Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time" (21:17).
The Bible doesn't say why Peter was hurt. But the night Jesus was arrested, Peter had denied him three times. Now Jesus asked him three times.
Peter did not make a big promise this time. He said, "Lord, You know all things... You know I love You" (21:17).
Jesus said, "Feed My sheep" (21:17).
Three times Peter had said, "I do not know him." Three times Peter said, "You know I love you." And three times Jesus gave him work to do.
Scene 7 of 7"Follow Me"
Jesus went on. "When you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted" (21:18).
"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" (21:18).
John explains what this meant. Jesus was telling Peter how he would die. Peter's death would bring glory to God.
Before Peter denied Jesus, he had said, "I will lay down my life for You" (13:37). That night, Peter failed. Now Jesus told Peter that one day he would die in a way that honored God.
Then Jesus said two words to Peter.
"Follow Me" (21:19).
Years before, by this same lake, Jesus had called Peter with those words (Matthew 4:19). Peter's failure had not cancelled the call. Jesus gave it to him again.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Children, do you have any fish?" (21:5) | "Children" was a friendly way to call out to someone. The disciples still did not know who was talking. |
| "It is the Lord!" (21:7) | The Bible doesn't say how the disciple knew. One likely reason: a full net after an empty night had happened before (Luke 5:6). |
| "A charcoal fire" (21:9) | The only other charcoal fire in John's Gospel is the one where Peter denied Jesus (18:18). |
| "Come, have breakfast" (21:12) | Jesus did not start with a lecture. He started with a meal. It was ready when they landed, and he served it himself. |
| "Do you love Me more than these?" (21:15) | The Bible doesn't say what "these" means. It could mean "more than these other disciples do." Peter had once said, "Even if all fall away, I never will" (Mark 14:29). It could also mean the boat, the nets, and the fish. |
| "Feed My lambs... Shepherd My sheep" (21:15-16) | This is a comparison. Jesus calls himself "the good shepherd" (10:11). Now he asks Peter to help care for his flock, which means his people. |
| "You know all things" (21:17) | Peter did not point to his own strength anymore. He trusted what Jesus knew about him. |
| "You will stretch out your hands" (21:18) | John says this was about how Peter would die (21:19). Many early Christians heard it as a picture of crucifixion. |
Back Then
The Sea of Tiberias is the Sea of Galilee. It took this name from Tiberias, a city on its western shore. The city is said to have been founded by Herod Antipas. (Easton's Bible Dictionary)
Fishermen on the lake often worked at night. Peter says so himself in Luke's Gospel: "We have worked hard all night" (Luke 5:5).
The word for "charcoal fire" is rare. In Greek it is anthrakia. In the whole New Testament, it appears only here and in John 18:18, the night Peter denied Jesus. Many readers think John wanted us to connect the two fires. John does not say so directly.
Early Christians said Peter was crucified in Rome. There is no Bible verse that tells how Peter died. Early church writers said he died on a cross in Rome. Tertullian, writing in the early 200s, said this happened under the emperor Nero. He read Jesus's words about someone else dressing Peter as Peter being fastened to a cross (Tertullian, Scorpiace 15).
Literal Reader Alert
Does it matter that the Greek uses two different words for "love"? You may have heard this in a sermon. In the first two questions, Jesus uses the word agapao. Peter answers with phileo. The third time, Jesus uses phileo too. Some preachers say this shows two kinds of love. But many scholars disagree. John uses both words for the same kinds of love in other places. The Father's love for the Son uses one word in 3:35 and the other in 5:20. The disciple whom Jesus loved is described with both words (13:23, 20:2). The story does not depend on this question. Either way, Jesus asked Peter three times, and Peter answered three times.
Why 153 fish? Some readers have said it stood for every kind of fish, or for all the nations. Others found number patterns in it. John does not say it means anything. It may be the number someone counted. It's okay to notice things like this. Careful readers have asked about it for centuries.
Why did Peter put clothes on to jump into the water? John says Peter had taken off his outer garment, and he put it on before he jumped (21:7). John does not explain why. One likely reason: Peter wanted to be dressed when he met Jesus.
Had Jesus already seen Peter before this? Yes. Luke says the risen Jesus "has appeared to Simon" (Luke 24:34). Paul says the same (1 Corinthians 15:5). The Bible does not tell us what they said. This breakfast is the first time the Bible tells us what they said to each other after the denial.
Is this story telling me I will die like Peter? No. Jesus was speaking to Peter about Peter's own life. If this story brings up big feelings, talk with a parent, pastor, or trusted adult.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The disciples | Tired and disappointed | They fished all night and caught nothing (21:3) |
| The disciple whom Jesus loved | Sure | He knew it was the Lord and said so (21:7) |
| Peter | Eager | He could not wait for the boat. He jumped into the sea (21:7) |
| The disciples | Awed | They knew it was Jesus, and they did not dare to ask (21:12) |
| Peter | Deeply hurt | Jesus asked him a third time if he loved him (21:17) |
| Jesus | The Bible doesn't say | John tells what Jesus did. He fed them, asked, and called Peter again (21:12-19) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Which part of Peter's morning feels closest to you? Tap one.
I let Jesus down
So did Peter. Jesus did not ignore what happened. He came back, gave Peter breakfast, and gave Peter work to do. He does not give up on you either.
I'm not good enough
Peter wasn't either. He stopped making big promises and said, "Lord, you know all things." Jesus knows you, all of you, and he still says, "Follow Me."
I feel far from God
The disciples went back to their old job. Jesus came to them on the shore. You don't have to find your way back alone.
I'm not sure
That's okay. The disciples didn't recognize Jesus at first. He was there anyway, standing on the shore.
It's really bad right now
Peter was hurt, and he told Jesus the truth. You can too. Please also tell a trusted adult today. In the U.S., call or text 988. If you are in danger, call 911 or your local emergency number. Outside the U.S., findahelpline.com lists free helplines.
You Might Have Heard
"Jesus made Peter say he loved him three times to make up for the three denials. You have to prove your love to earn God's forgiveness back."
What's true: Peter's three answers do match his three denials. Many Christians have seen it that way for a long time. Peter was hurt, because the questions touched what he had done.
What the story is mainly about: Jesus came first. He stood on the shore, filled the net, had the fire ready, and served breakfast. All of this happened before he asked Peter anything. Peter did not earn his way back. Jesus brought him back. Then Jesus trusted Peter with the work of caring for his people. Later, the Holy Spirit gave Peter the courage he did not have by the first fire (Acts 2:4, 2:14).
Where Jesus is: Jesus was on the beach, by the fire. He handed Peter bread. He asked Peter three questions. Then he called Peter again: "Follow Me" (21:19).
Good News
Peter's last memory by a charcoal fire was his worst. He had said three times, "I do not know him."
Jesus did not erase that memory. He gave Peter a new memory of another charcoal fire. This time there was bread and fish. There were three questions, three answers, and three times a job to do.
Guilt is the feeling "I did something wrong." Shame is the feeling "I am something wrong." Maybe you feel that you have failed too badly to be useful to God. Jesus did not wait for Peter to fix himself. Jesus did not give Peter a speech. Jesus fed him. Then Jesus trusted Peter to care for his people.
Paul writes, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Condemnation means being judged guilty and sent away. Jesus did not send Peter away. He called Peter to follow him again.
Your failure is not the end. Jesus comes to you, feeds you, forgives you, and says again, "Follow Me."
From the Wider Church
Augustine, a church leader in North Africa in the early 400s, preached on this story (Tractates on the Gospel of John 123). He said Peter's three answers of love matched Peter's three denials. In this way, Peter's words would serve love as much as they had served fear.
Big Idea
The risen Jesus feeds, forgives, and calls Peter again after his worst failure, and he does the same for us.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
In the Small Catechism (1529), Martin Luther asked what Baptism means for daily life. He answered that the old sinful self in us should be drowned every day. This happens through sorrow for sin and turning back to God. And every day, a new person should come out and rise up to live with God. Luther is using a picture from the water of Baptism.
Peter's morning by the lake looks like this pattern. He had failed. He turned back, and Jesus raised him up again. In the Large Catechism (1529), Luther taught that turning back to God is a return to Baptism. We do not need a new start with God each time we fall. We return to the promise God already made to us in Baptism.
Luther also taught this in the Small Catechism, in his explanation of the Third Article of the Creed. He said that in the church, the Holy Spirit daily and richly forgives all sins to me and all believers.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It reads John 21:1-19 on the Third Sunday of Easter in Year C.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?
How did that feel?