John 21:3 I’m going out to fish, Simon Peter told them, and they said, We will go with you.
As long as Peter was following Jesus, Jesus took care of Peter’s needs. It wasn’t always first class, but there was always enough. But after the resurrection, Jesus was harder to follow, and Peter was low on cash. So he went back to fishing and the others said, We will go with you.
They fished all night, without any luck, until a stranger on the shore gave them some advice. Throw your net on the right side of the boat (John 21:6), he said. Then they caught so many fish, they could hardly get them back to shore. Jesus was teaching his disciples that he could still provide for their needs.
John 21:9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Ever since our fall into sin, God has been bringing us back to his table. Moses, Aaron, and others went up a mountain where they saw God, and they ate and drank (Exodus 24:11). Likewise, the Israelites ate in the presence of the Lord (Deuteronomy 12:7) at the temple. And, now, the disciples were having breakfast on the shore with Jesus as their cook. Eating with God is a sign of our intimate fellowship with him.
So the night before his death, Jesus sat at table with his disciples. They broke bread, drank wine, and Jesus said, do this in remembrance of me (1 Corinthians 11:24). Whenever we receive the Lord’s Supper we’re having table fellowship with God.
And when Christ returns, he will dress himself to serve, will have [us] recline at the table and will come and wait on [us] (Luke 12:37), said Jesus. Imagine sitting down for dinner in the kingdom of God, with Jesus as your waiter. He cooked for the disciples on the shore, and will be our waiter in the age to come. He’s made us children of God, and we’ll eat at his table forever. This will be better than the Garden of Eden by far.
John 21:17 Simon son of John, do you love me? . . . He said, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my sheep.
Shortly before the crucifixion, Peter denied Jesus three times with a curse (John 18:15-27, Matthew 26:69-75), and Jesus wanted to clear that up. He had big plans for Peter and, in the eyes of the others, he may’ve lost some credibility. So Jesus used the opportunity to re-commission Peter, in front of the other apostles, so they’d know he was still in good standing.
A pastor fell behind in his work and, instead of preparing a sermon, he stole one from the internet. Unfortunately, it was by a pastor who was famous, and someone in the congregation recognized the sermon. Since the Bible is against stealing (Exodus 20:15), there was some question whether this man was fit to be the pastor. In fact, they decided to let him go. But was this the right decision?
Every situation is unique, but there are examples in the Bible of spiritual leaders who fell. Aaron would become the high priest of Israel, but he made a golden calf and led the nation into idolatry (Exodus 32:1-4). You’d expect God to find someone else, but Aaron served as high priest for the rest of his life.
King David stumbled badly when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed (2 Samuel 11). You’d expect God to find someone else, but David was also allowed to continue as king for rest of his life.
This is not to say that Christian leaders should get away with murder, adultery, idolatry or disavowing Jesus Christ. But God’s handling of Peter, Aaron and David suggest a gentle approach. Church discipline isn’t for everyone who sins, but for those who won’t repent—in order to help them repent. Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently (Galatians 6:1), wrote Paul.
John 21:18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where 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.
To stretch out your hands was a euphemism for crucifixion, and there’s reason to believe that Peter was crucified under Caesar Nero, around AD 65. Whether we die a martyrs death, or something less dramatic, Jesus taught that the purpose of death is to glorify God (John 21:19). That’s what Jesus did when he prayed, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46). And, while Stephen was being stoned, he also prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit (Acts 7:59). These are good words to rehearse, so we’ll know what to say when death comes for us.
John 21:22 If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.
Jesus and Peter were walking, and John was following behind. When Peter saw him, he asked, Lord, what about him? (John 21:21). Jesus told Peter to mind his own business, and to simply follow him. Since Jesus is the only way to heaven it’s no surprise the words follow me are found on his lips no fewer than twenty times throughout the gospels. The most important thing we can ever do is to simply follow Jesus Christ.
Reflection and Review
Why will Jesus serve us dinner in the age to come?
What is the purpose of church discipline?
How can we glorify God in our death?
As long as Peter was following Jesus, Jesus took care of Peter’s needs. It wasn’t always first class, but there was always enough. But after the resurrection, Jesus was harder to follow, and Peter was low on cash. So he went back to fishing and the others said, We will go with you.
They fished all night, without any luck, until a stranger on the shore gave them some advice. Throw your net on the right side of the boat (John 21:6), he said. Then they caught so many fish, they could hardly get them back to shore. Jesus was teaching his disciples that he could still provide for their needs.
John 21:9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Ever since our fall into sin, God has been bringing us back to his table. Moses, Aaron, and others went up a mountain where they saw God, and they ate and drank (Exodus 24:11). Likewise, the Israelites ate in the presence of the Lord (Deuteronomy 12:7) at the temple. And, now, the disciples were having breakfast on the shore with Jesus as their cook. Eating with God is a sign of our intimate fellowship with him.
So the night before his death, Jesus sat at table with his disciples. They broke bread, drank wine, and Jesus said, do this in remembrance of me (1 Corinthians 11:24). Whenever we receive the Lord’s Supper we’re having table fellowship with God.
And when Christ returns, he will dress himself to serve, will have [us] recline at the table and will come and wait on [us] (Luke 12:37), said Jesus. Imagine sitting down for dinner in the kingdom of God, with Jesus as your waiter. He cooked for the disciples on the shore, and will be our waiter in the age to come. He’s made us children of God, and we’ll eat at his table forever. This will be better than the Garden of Eden by far.
John 21:17 Simon son of John, do you love me? . . . He said, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my sheep.
Shortly before the crucifixion, Peter denied Jesus three times with a curse (John 18:15-27, Matthew 26:69-75), and Jesus wanted to clear that up. He had big plans for Peter and, in the eyes of the others, he may’ve lost some credibility. So Jesus used the opportunity to re-commission Peter, in front of the other apostles, so they’d know he was still in good standing.
A pastor fell behind in his work and, instead of preparing a sermon, he stole one from the internet. Unfortunately, it was by a pastor who was famous, and someone in the congregation recognized the sermon. Since the Bible is against stealing (Exodus 20:15), there was some question whether this man was fit to be the pastor. In fact, they decided to let him go. But was this the right decision?
Every situation is unique, but there are examples in the Bible of spiritual leaders who fell. Aaron would become the high priest of Israel, but he made a golden calf and led the nation into idolatry (Exodus 32:1-4). You’d expect God to find someone else, but Aaron served as high priest for the rest of his life.
King David stumbled badly when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed (2 Samuel 11). You’d expect God to find someone else, but David was also allowed to continue as king for rest of his life.
This is not to say that Christian leaders should get away with murder, adultery, idolatry or disavowing Jesus Christ. But God’s handling of Peter, Aaron and David suggest a gentle approach. Church discipline isn’t for everyone who sins, but for those who won’t repent—in order to help them repent. Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently (Galatians 6:1), wrote Paul.
John 21:18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where 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.
To stretch out your hands was a euphemism for crucifixion, and there’s reason to believe that Peter was crucified under Caesar Nero, around AD 65. Whether we die a martyrs death, or something less dramatic, Jesus taught that the purpose of death is to glorify God (John 21:19). That’s what Jesus did when he prayed, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46). And, while Stephen was being stoned, he also prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit (Acts 7:59). These are good words to rehearse, so we’ll know what to say when death comes for us.
John 21:22 If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.
Jesus and Peter were walking, and John was following behind. When Peter saw him, he asked, Lord, what about him? (John 21:21). Jesus told Peter to mind his own business, and to simply follow him. Since Jesus is the only way to heaven it’s no surprise the words follow me are found on his lips no fewer than twenty times throughout the gospels. The most important thing we can ever do is to simply follow Jesus Christ.
Reflection and Review
Why will Jesus serve us dinner in the age to come?
What is the purpose of church discipline?
How can we glorify God in our death?