John 21 is an epilogue, a section of a piece of writing that brings closure to the selection, book or writing. Chapter 21 was needed to bring closure to the Gospel of John. Jesus had already finished the redemptive work on the cross in John 19:30. In verse 30, he took his last breath and said, “It is finished.” Although the redemptive work was completed, the blueprint for believers walking out that redemption and restoration was part of the resurrection plan.
Peter became the central figure in that power of redemption and restoration in chapter 21. Peter and the other disciples were demoralized by the series of events in the crucifixion of Jesus. And Peter had denied Jesus three times!
John and the other gospels had depicted how Peter and the other disciples’ walked with Jesus. Jesus had even prophesied that Peter would be instrumental in building his church. Jesus saw the flawed Peter as instrumental in shepherding the lost sheep of the world.
Jesus’ first meeting with Peter was at Lake Gennesaret as he was teaching a crowd. He noticed two fishing boats—one was Peter’s and the other belonged to James and John, sons of Zebedee. The fishermen had been toiling all night without success. Jesus got into the boat that belonged to Peter and told them to let down their nets in deep water as he continued to teach the word of God to the people. The fishermen caught such a large number of fish that their nets filled up the boats.
Peter fell to his knees, recognizing, even then that Jesus was Lord. Jesus told him not to be afraid—that from now on he would fish for people. Those men—Peter, James and John— left all and followed Jesus. (Luke 5)
Another instance in Matthew 16:15-20, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus tells Peter that his revelation was not by flesh and blood, but from Father God in heaven. He tells Simon that he “is Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Jesus had declared Simon Peter, Petros, the Greek name for Peter. Petros means a small rock or stone. The rock upon which Jesus would build his church was Petra, a large rock. That large rock, Petra, was Jesus Christ himself. So, Jesus was saying to Peter that he “is Peter, Petros, a small rock and on this large rock, Petra, I will build my church. Jesus was speaking into Peter’s character a steady, rock-likeness and stability.
And then at the Last Supper in Luke 22:31-33, Jesus warned Peter that Satan had asked to sift him as wheat, but that he (Jesus) prayed that his faith would not fail. Jesus prayed that when Peter turned back (from denying him), he would strengthen his brothers. (Jesus’ warning was a premonition of the crisis in Peter’s faith.) Peter quickly asserts, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus then tells Peter that before the rooster crows today, “you will deny three times that you know me.” Peter’s denial is found in all the gospels. Even though the impetuous Peter cut off the servant’s ear when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus he still ended up denying Jesus three times!
After the death of Jesus on the cross, the dejected Peter is returned to what he had done before his encounter with Jesus! He, along with six other disciples, returned to their role as fishermen. You might say that he had reached rock bottom and returned to that for which he was familiar—his life as a fisherman! He and the other disciples went to the Sea of Galilee (Tiberius) to fish.
Many times when there is a crisis of faith—believers return to what they we were doing before they met Jesus. Jesus, sees the brokenness and the despair. He meets all believers who have fallen short by coming to their point of need— where each person is at that time of desperation.
That is what Jesus did for Peter (and the other disciples); he met Peter at his point of need! Jesus approached the disciples who were fishing, at the Sea of Galilee just as he had approached them while they were fishing at their first meeting at Lake Gennesaret. Jesus asked, again, if they had caught any fish and they answered, “No.” So, just as when he first met them, he tells them to throw out their net—this time, on the right side. They did and got a net full of fish—153 to be exact! As they came to the shore, they found Jesus preparing some fish for them to eat. He meets us where we are and brings comfort in our times of need!
At this point, Jesus brings redemption and restoration to a broken Peter and Peter becomes the example for restoration and redemption for believers! Jesus asks Peter three times if he loved him. He tells Peter to: one- feed my lambs; two—take care of my sheep; and three—feed my sheep. Peter answered the imperative each time, saying that he loved Jesus! The declaration of love three times for the three denials was key to Peter knowing that he had been completely forgiven.
Jesus also commissioned Peter to follow him and go forth in his name to the lost sheep. Jesus had already prophesied that Peter would lead his church in Matthew 16. From the beginning, Jesus had seen a bold church leader in the impetuous, fickle and impulsive Peter.
What a blueprint for believers! So, John 21 lets all believers know that the Lord sees each person as who he or she will be rather than as they are in their flawed times of despair! Each believer is redeemed and restored to the kingdom by the Blood of Jesus. So all must follow him as he brings light to a fallen world and Peter did just that!
Spiritual References:
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
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