Read John 21:1-25.

Introduction⤒🔗

So, what will you do now that Easter is past?

A few weeks ago there was all the preparation and excitement in anticipation of Easter Sunday. It began with Palm Sunday: a special time when the children perhaps marched through the sanctuary waving palm branches in a re-enactment of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Then, perhaps, there was a Maundy Thursday worship service, commemorating the night Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples and when He instituted the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. This was followed by the special worship services held on Good Friday: the church was somber and the cross was draped in black as we remembered the atoning death of our Lord upon the cross of Calvary. Then came Easter Sunday morning! The church was filled with fragrant white lilies as we sang songs of praise to God the Father for raising Jesus from the dead.

But that is all in the past. Time has moved on.

So, what will you do now that Easter is past? Will it be forgotten until next year? Or will Easter make a life-changing impact on your life?

At first, it seems that Easter made little or no life-changing impact upon the lives of the original disciples. John 20:24-29 records the incident when Thomas encountered the risen Jesus. In response to that personal encounter he makes the wonderful profession: “My Lord and my God!” But where do we find him in the very next chapter? According to John 21:2 he has joined Peter and several of the other disciples on a fishing expedition!

But Jesus does not allow Easter Sunday and the days immediately following His resurrection day to be the end of the matter; on the contrary, it is only the beginning. Just as He was raised to new resurrection life, so now He calls His disciples to join Him in that new life. Jesus comes to these very same men and issues to them the renewed call to discipleship.

We must appreciate the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ persistently calls His people to a life of discipleship; training us for that great purpose of becoming like Himself and sharing in His glory. If you have been redeemed by Christ, be assured that He will persistently call you to a life of discipleship.

Christ will Call You to Discipleship, Whenever You Revert Back to Your Former Lifestyle←⤒🔗

The incident described in John 21 took place “by the Sea of Tiberias,” located on the west side of the Sea of Galilee near the town of Tiberias. At the conclusion of the Passover celebration in Jerusalem, it would be quite natural for the disciples to return to their homes in Galilee. Furthermore, they may still have had some fear of the Jews.

But notice their failure to comprehend what Jesus had said to them: “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, so [now] I am sending you” (Jn. 20:21). Note, too, their failure to comply with their Lord’s command: “I am going to send you what my Father has promised [namely, the Holy Spirit]; but stay in the city [i.e. Jerusalem] until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Lk. 24:49).

We find these men once more gathered together in their old familiar surroundings as partners and associates in the fishing industry. They have gravitated back to their former home and their former occupation, they are drifting back and settling into their old way of life. The “Jesus experience” is quickly wearing off; now that they have had their encounter with the risen Christ, they are settling back into the old familiar routine. As the New Testament commentator, Leon Morris writes, “The general impression left is that of men without a purpose.”¹

Now, at Peter’s initiative, these seven set out on a fishing excursion; but the entire night is spent without success: they caught nothing. But with the first rays of early morning sunlight, the men can distinguish a solitary figure standing on the beach. The man on the beach calls out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They simply reply, “No.” They are tired, discouraged, and perhaps at this point somewhat depressed about their future; they are in no mood to strike up a conversation with a stranger.

The man on the beach now instructs them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat, assuring them that by so doing they will have a catch of fish. Perhaps it was due to his commanding tone, perhaps it was with hope in the word of his promise, but whatever the case, they follow his instructions. As a result, they were now unable to haul in the nets, they were so full of fish: one hundred and fifty-three large fish!

It is the beloved disciple, John, who is the first to recognize the true identity of the stranger on the beach; and it is Peter who is the first to act upon this information: he puts on his outer garment and jumps into the water. We are told that the fishing boat was only about one hundred yards from shore.

When the men have anchored the boat and have reassembled on the beach, they find fish frying on a crackling fire. Although He has fish frying, Jesus instructs the men to supply some of their fresh catch. He wants to focus their attention on the miraculous catch and the fact that it serves as an illustration of the spiritual harvest they are being called to gather in for Him.

Notice the striking parallel between this present passage and the initial call of these men to discipleship as it is recorded in Luke 5:4-11,

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, Go out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch. ⁵Simon answered and said, Master, we labored all night and caught nothing. However, because you say so, I will let down the nets. ⁶When they had done this, they caught such a great amount of fish that their nets were breaking. ⁷So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. ⁸But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. ⁹[He said this because] he and all who were with him [in the boats] were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken; ¹⁰and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, Fear not; from now on you shall catch men. ¹¹After they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Just as Jesus initially called these men to discipleship, so now He renews that call.

As Christians, we must understand that Jesus will persistently call us to discipleship whenever we revert back to our former lifestyle. We must appreciate the fact that the purpose of our redemption is discipleship, as Jesus clearly indicates in His giving of the Great Commission:

Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ^20aand teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. Matt. 28:18-20a

The invitation He extends to us is an invitation to become His disciples: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls; ³⁰ for my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Whenever the “Jesus experience” begins to wear off, whenever we begin to settle back into our old familiar routine, (with its focus upon this present world and our own personal life), we will find the Lord Jesus calling us back to discipleship.

Christ will Call You to Discipleship, By Reminding You of Your Divine Calling←⤒🔗

After the disciples have finished breakfast, Jesus turns to Peter and asks the question, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Note that two different Greek words for “love” are used by Jesus and Peter respectively in this dialogue. Jesus begins by using the word, αγαπαω (pronounced, agahpao). The connotation of this type of “love” is a devotional love; a self-giving, sacrificial love; it is the word for love that occurs in John 3:16, “for God so loved [αγαπαω] the world, that he gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but shall have eternal life.” Peter, on the other hand, consistently uses the word, φιλεω (pronounced, phileho) the connotation of this type of “love” is affection, warm feelings and friendship; the Greek word for “friend” (Wιλοs) is derived from this word for “love.”

Jesus now addresses to Peter the question, “Simon, son of John, do you love [aγaTraω] me more than these [others love me]?” Jesus is asking, “Peter, do you have a greater love for Me, a greater devotion to Me, than do these other men?” Jesus is alluding to Peter’s self-confident claim he had made on the night when Jesus had announced His impending arrest: “Even if all [of them] fall away on account of you, I never will” (Matt. 26:33).

Peter replies to Jesus’ inquiry, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love [Wιλzω] you!” Peter strongly affirms his affection for Jesus and appeals to Jesus’ own knowledge as proof of that affection; even though the actual record of Peter’s actions indicates a betrayal and denial of such affection and friendship. Proverbs 17:17a tells us, “a friend loves at all times.” Peter’s insistence on his love for the Lord Jesus is in striking contrast to his denial of the Lord three times on the night of His arrest and trial. Peter chooses to ignore the record and appeals rather to Jesus’ knowledge of the deep feelings of affection and friendship that he holds within his heart for the Lord Jesus. Jesus does not rebuke Peter; rather, He instructs him, “Feed my lambs.” The Lord is entrusting Peter with a sacred ministry.

Then the whole cycle of questioning starts over again. Jesus asks a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love [aγaTraω] me?” Jesus wants Peter to focus on the significance of the word, aγaTraω, the word for devotional, self-giving love. Jesus is emphasizing to Peter the type of love He is concerned to find exhibited in the lives of His disciples; note John 14:15, “If you love [aγaTraω] me, you will keep my commandments.” This time, by omitting the phrase, “more than these,” Jesus calls Peter to focus on his own relationship with Jesus without comparing his love and devotion with that of any other disciple.

For a second time Peter replies, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love [Wιλzω] you!” Upon receiving Peter’s reply, Jesus again issues the command, “Take care of my sheep.” He again issues the command that entrusts Peter with a sacred ministry.

Then the cycle is repeated one last time: “Simon, son of John, do you love [Wιλzω] me?” Note that this time Jesus uses the same word for “love” that Peter has been consistently using. Jesus is saying to Peter, “Do you truly have affection for me? Are you truly my friend?” If so, Peter must consider the characteristic of a true friend as it is defined by the Lord Jesus: “No one has any greater love [aγaTraω] than to lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13). Peter must exhibit this kind of love in his relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Peter is grieved that Jesus should repeat His question three times, and that this third time He should ask Peter, “Do you really love me as a friend, do you really have affection for me?” For the third time, Peter appeals to Jesus’ knowledge of all things to confirm that Peter, indeed, does love Jesus. In response, for the third time Jesus instructs Peter, “Feed my sheep.” Jesus is calling upon Peter to demonstrate his love for Him by carrying out the sacred ministry to which He is calling him.

Jesus now proceeds to speak a solemn word of prophecy to Peter:

I tell you the truth, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked wherever 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. Jn. 21:18

Peter’s youth and his present life have been characterized by impulsiveness and self-will; he was in charge of his life: he dressed himself and he went where he desired to go. But what lies ahead for Peter is helplessness, (someone else will dress him), and restraint, (someone else will lead him where he does not desire to go). In verse nineteen, John interprets these words of prophecy to be a reference to Peter’s future martyrdom. So it is revealed that Peter must bear the very cross he so despised and sought to avoid. Peter must submit to the very fate he once sought to deter the Lord Jesus from accepting:

From that time on, Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. ²²Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Never, Lord! he said. This shall never happen to you! (Matt. 16:21-22)

Having explicitly informed Peter of what lies before him, Jesus now renews His initial call to discipleship, “Follow me.”

As Christians, let us be assured that Jesus will persistently call us to discipleship; reminding us of the divine calling He has given us. Jesus has given to us the divine calling to follow Him, no matter what that might entail:

Then he said to them all, If anyone would be my disciple, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me; ²⁴for whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. Lk. 9:23-24

Jesus has called us to the sacred ministry of serving Him. The Apostle Paul explains how this applies to the Christian’s everyday life when he exhorts the Colossians, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for men” (Col. 3:23). Paul goes on to explicitly call upon one member of the church to be diligent to fulfill the specific ministry entrusted to him by the Lord Jesus: “And tell Archippus, ‘See to it that you fulfill the work you received by the LORD’” (Col. 4:17).

Christ will Call You to Discipleship, Because Our Commitment is so Inconsistent←⤒🔗

Apparently, to impress upon Peter this renewed call to discipleship, Jesus at this point got up and began to walk away. Peter, literally heeding the LORD’s call and desiring to demonstrate his commitment, got up and began to follow Jesus. But as he does so, Peter begins to wonder about the rest of the group. He turns around, he sees John also following, and he inquires, “Lord, what about this man?”

Notice what has just happened. Within moments of responding to Christ’s call, Peter has failed again. He has literally stopped following Christ and has turned his back on Christ. As Peter stands there in this embarrassing position with his back to Christ and his finger pointing at John, Jesus declares, “Why should that matter to you? You follow Me!” In the Greek text, the pronoun, “you,” is in the emphatic position.

As Christians, we may be assured that Jesus will persistently call us to discipleship because our commitment is so inconsistent and wavering. We can so easily become sidetracked by getting caught up in the life of this present world. Our prayer needs to be that of the hymn writer, John E. Rode,

O let me feel Thee near me,
The world is ever near.
I see the lights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear.
My foes are ever near me, Around me and within.
But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.

Like Peter, we can so easily become sidetracked by concentrating on what other Christians are doing, instead of concentrating on Christ and what He has called us to do for Him. But we must take to heart the word that Christ first spoke to Peter, “What is that to you? Follow me” (Jn. 21:22).

Conclusion←⤒🔗

We must appreciate the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ persistently calls His people to a life of discipleship: training us for that great purpose of becoming like Himself, as He declared during the days of His earthly ministry: “The disciple is not above his teacher; but every one when he is perfected shall be like his teacher” (Lk. 6:40).

As He calls us, let us respond to Him, personally taking to heart these words of Scripture:

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. ⁹Do not be like the horse [self-willed] or the mule [stubborn and resistant].Psl. 32:8-9a

The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.' 1 Sam. 3:10

Discussion Questions←⤒🔗

1. Compare the situation described in John 21:2-3a with the one described in Mk. 1:16, which describes an earlier encounter between the Lord Jesus and these men. What accounts for the disciples reverting back to their former occupation and lifestyle; do they assume that once Jesus has ascended into heaven, life will return to the way it was? Do you entertain the misconception that once you have “received Jesus as your Savior,” you then get back to living your life the way you always have?

Simon Peter, Thomas, (who is called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the [sons] of Zebedee, and two [more] of his disciples were [all] together. ³Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They replied, We will come with you. So they went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Jn. 21:2-3

And as [Jesus] walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Mk. 1:16

2. At daybreak, who do the disciples see standing on the beach (cf. Jn. 21:4a)? How does He address them (cf. Jn. 21:5a); of what is this reminiscent? See Jn. 13:33. What is significant about this? What was Christ’s concern for His disciples on that earlier occasion? What is His concern for them on this present occasion? Christian, do you appreciate Christ’s on-going concern for you: His concern that you do not drift away from Him?

At daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵Jesus called out to them, Children, do you have any fish? They answered him, No. Jn. 21:4-5

Little children, I will be with you for only a little while longer. You will miss me; but what I told the Jews, I now tell you, Where I am going, you cannot come. Jn. 13:33

3. How does Jesus’ present action (cf. Jn. 21:5-6) compare with His action on that earlier, similar occasion (cf. Lk. 5:4-6)? What had the Lord Jesus told them on that occasion? See Lk. 5:10b. What had He told them following His resurrection? See Jn. 20:21. Like those original disciples, do we, too, tend to forget our calling? The world called them “Christians,” but what does the Scripture call those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? See Acts 11:26. What is required of such? See Matt. 11:29,

​Jesus called out to them, Children, do you have any fish? They answered him, No. ⁶Then he said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find [some]. They did so, and now they were not able to haul in the net because of the large number offish. Jn. 21:5-6

But Simon answered and said to him, 'Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless, at your word I will letdown the net.' ⁶And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. Lk. 5:5-6

And Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.' Lk. 5:10b

Again, Jesus said to them, Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, so [now] I am sending you. Jn. 20:21

And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:26b

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matt. 11:29

Our Lord Jesus calls us to come under His yoke of discipleship.

4. Following the breakfast He had prepared for them, what question does Jesus ask Peter? See Jn. 21:15a. To what previous dialogue was Christ alluding? See Matt. 26:31-33. How does Peter repeatedly reply to Jesus’ questions? See Jn. 21:15b, 16a, 17a. Like Peter, do we profess our love for the Lord Jesus, while overlooking our betrayals; or, because of our love for Him, do we confess our betrayals and repent of them; persistently following that same pattern as we painstakingly increase and deepen our commitment to Him?

After they finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of John, do you love me more than these [others love me]? Jn. 21:15a

Then Jesus said to them, 'All of you will be made to stumble because of me this night, for it is written: I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. ³²But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.' ³³Peter answered and said to him, 'Even if all are caused to stumble because of you, I will never be caused to stumble.' Matt. 26:31-33

After they finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of John, do you love me more than these [others love me]? He replied, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, Feed my lambs. ¹⁶[Jesus] asked him again a second time, Simon, [son] of John, do you love me? He replied, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, Take care of my sheep. ¹⁷[Jesus] asked him the third time, Do you love me? And [Peter] said to him, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. Jn. 21:15-17

5. What does Jesus reveal to Peter (cf. Jn. 21:18-19a); what does He then call Peter to do (cf. Jn. 21:19b)? When Peter inquires as to what plans Jesus has for John (vs. 21), how does Jesus reply (cf. Jn. 21:22)? Does Jesus give any different command to you or to any other one of His disciples?

I tell you the truth, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked wherever 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. ¹⁹Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After saying this, [Jesus] said to him, Follow me. Jn. 21:18-19

Peter asked Jesus, Lord, what about this man? ²²Jesus answered him, If I want him to remain [alive] until I come [back], what is that to you? Follow me. Jn. 21:21-22