Lesson 56: John 21:1-14 - Jesus’ Appearance by the Lake
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”
6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.
7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.
8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.
14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus’ last demonstration of His “I AM” words are in this chapter – He has already demonstrated He is Truth by completing so many of the prophecies which had been made hundreds of years before He became a man. He has demonstrated He is Life by defeating death and the grave. Now He demonstrates His “Way.” (See John 14:6.)
Peter, who had promised he would never leave Jesus, even when Jesus foretold Peter would deny Him, now knows Jesus has risen from the dead. His despair must have known no bounds. So, thinking he had no chance of ever being reconciled to his Jesus, he went back to the only life he’d known before Jesus.
But Jesus’ way is not man’s way. Jesus went looking for Peter rather than waiting for Peter to come to Him. In this case, He gave Peter what he thought he was looking for – a catch of fish – but in the end gave Peter far more than he had expected. We will see more about Jesus’ encounter with Peter in our next lesson.
*What are you discouraged about today, thinking Jesus cannot forgive you?
Go to Him now. Ask Him.
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”
6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.
7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.
8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.
14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus’ last demonstration of His “I AM” words are in this chapter – He has already demonstrated He is Truth by completing so many of the prophecies which had been made hundreds of years before He became a man. He has demonstrated He is Life by defeating death and the grave. Now He demonstrates His “Way.” (See John 14:6.)
Peter, who had promised he would never leave Jesus, even when Jesus foretold Peter would deny Him, now knows Jesus has risen from the dead. His despair must have known no bounds. So, thinking he had no chance of ever being reconciled to his Jesus, he went back to the only life he’d known before Jesus.
But Jesus’ way is not man’s way. Jesus went looking for Peter rather than waiting for Peter to come to Him. In this case, He gave Peter what he thought he was looking for – a catch of fish – but in the end gave Peter far more than he had expected. We will see more about Jesus’ encounter with Peter in our next lesson.
*What are you discouraged about today, thinking Jesus cannot forgive you?
Go to Him now. Ask Him.