Day 47 – Restoration

John 21

Afterwards, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself like this. Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus, “the twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two more of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.”

They said to him, “We’ll come with you.” They went out and got into the boat. That night, they caught nothing. But as daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore; although the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, “Hey kids, have you got any fish?”

They answered him, “No.”

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 weren’t able to haul it in because of the huge numbers of fish. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!”

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his coat (for he only had his underwear on), and launched himself straight into the sea. But as they weren’t too far from land, about 100 metres away, the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. So when they got out onto the land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish cooking on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

Simon Peter went up, and hauled the net in to land, full of 153 great fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast!”

None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.

Then Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples after he had risen from the dead. So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me selflessly, more than these?”

He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you like a friend.”

He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He asked him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me selflessly?”

He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you like a friend.”

He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me like a friend?”

Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you love me like a friend?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you like a friend.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself, tied your belt and walked wherever you wanted. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will tie your belt and carry you where you don’t want to go.”

Now he said this to show by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”

Then Peter, turning around, saw a disciple following. It was the one Jesus loved, the one who had also leaned into Jesus at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray you?” Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”

Jesus said to him, “If I want him to stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” So word spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus didn’t say to him that he would not die, but, “If I want him to stay until I come, what is that to you?”

This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things Jesus did which, if they were all written down, I suppose that not even the whole world or the universe itself would have space for the books to be written.

For reflection

How does it feel to be with Jesus today? What do you hope he can do with you?