John 21:1-14 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Pat Barrett – Canvas and Clay (Radio Version) [Lyric Video]
• Rest On Us Lyrics – Maverick City Music x UPPERROOM
• Same God – Elevation Worship ft. Jonsal Barrientes (Lyrics)

Resources for Family Worship (with Children)

• “Breakfast with Jesus” | Bible Lessons for Kids
• Rend Co. Kids – My Lighthouse (Hand Motions) (Official Music Video) – Song for Kids
• My God Is So Big | Bible Adventure Worship | LifeKids – Song for Kids
• Every Move I Make | Hillsong Kids | Kingdom Kids Worship with Motions – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

Because John 20:30–31 clearly appears to serve as the conclusion to the whole Gospel of John, scholars generally regard the content of chapter 21 as a later addition. It is not clear whether it was added by John himself or by someone else later. The fact that chapter 21 was added does not make it any less trustworthy.

After meeting the risen Lord, the disciples leave Jerusalem and return to Galilee. They still have not fully understood or accepted what has happened to Jesus.

“The Sea of Tiberias” (v. 1) refers to the Sea of Galilee. Like saying “the sea off Busan,” it refers to the lake near Tiberias. Simon Peter and several of the disciples go out to the lake to catch fish (v. 2). Although they had met the risen Lord, it seems they still did not know what to do next.

They toil all night long in vain (v. 3). At daybreak, the risen Jesus comes to them. Something like this had happened before during his public ministry (6:16–21). Once again, they do not recognize Jesus (v. 4). Jesus addresses them as “Children.” The Greek word paidia is a warm expression that an adult uses when speaking affectionately to children. The question “Have you caught anything?” (v. 5) is more accurately translated as “You have not caught anything, have you?” because, in the Greek text, it is phrased as a question expecting a negative answer. Jesus already knew that they had caught nothing all night.

Jesus says to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some” (v. 6). Not knowing that it is Jesus, they do as he says and throw the net into the sea. After some time, they feel that the net is full of fish. While they are all amazed at this, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (v. 7) realizes who he is, because something similar had happened before. When that disciple says to Peter, “It is the Lord,” Peter jumps into the sea and rushes to Jesus. The other disciples row the boat to shore, dragging the net full of fish behind them (v. 8).

When they arrive at the shore, Jesus has already made a charcoal fire and is cooking fish and bread over it (v. 9). Filled with joy, they leave the boat and the net and run to Jesus. Jesus tells them to bring some of the fish they have just caught (v. 10), and the disciples return to the boat and pull up the net. Inside the net, there are 153 large fish. Many interpretations have been proposed for the number 153, but one view holds that it is related to the belief at the time that there were 153 kinds of fish in the world. It may point to the gospel being proclaimed to all the nations of the world. Even with so many fish, the net is not torn (v. 11).

After they bring some of the fish, Jesus says to them, “Come and have breakfast” (v. 12). They are again filled with a sense of mystery. They know that he is Jesus, yet what is happening is so wondrous. Jesus hands bread and fish to each disciple personally (v. 13). Through this breakfast, their cold hearts must have been warmed. The author John tells us that this was the third time Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after his resurrection (v. 14).

Meditation:

Even after meeting the risen Lord, Peter and the other disciples do not yet experience a dramatic change in their lives. Because “resurrection” was such an unfamiliar reality, their spiritual eyes were not opened all at once after meeting the risen Lord. Even Thomas, who confessed to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” had not yet come to a changed life.

As the joy of meeting the risen Lord begins to fade, they return to Galilee. As the angel at the empty tomb had told the women, they may have been waiting for the risen Lord to begin something new in Galilee. But after several days, nothing happened. Then one day Peter says, “I am going fishing” (v. 3). This likely meant, “I might as well go fishing.” The other disciples follow him.

They work all night long but catch nothing. At dawn, when exhaustion is setting in, the risen Lord comes to them. He already knows their whole situation. In fact, he may even have allowed it to happen that way. He tells them to lower the net on the right side, and when they obey, it fills with fish. Jesus calls them to the shore and personally cooks bread and fish for them. Worn out from laboring all night in the cold, they must have received new strength as they ate the warm food Jesus gave them.

Because of this meeting, they likely realized that the Lord had not risen and gone off to some distant world but was still at work in the real world where they lived. Though they could not see him with their eyes, he was watching over them and would appear when needed.

It is no coincidence that the disciples, who went out to fish with emptiness in their hearts while waiting for the risen Lord, and who labored all night without catching anything, resemble our own lives today. The risen Lord watches over us and desires always to be with us, but we forget his presence and struggle to do everything in our own strength. When our eyes are opened to his presence, and we walk with him, the Lord transforms the black-and-white film of our daily lives into a full-color, panoramic cinematic scope.

Key Verse: Verse 12

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.

Prayer:

The risen Lord is not present only in a place of worship. He is also with us at the breakfast table, in the workplace, and in the playground. He goes before us, prepares everything, and welcomes us. It is only that our eyes are dim, and so we fail to recognize him. Lord, please guide us so that our eyes may always be washed clear. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Jesus meets us in our everyday lives—even when we feel tired, confused, or unsuccessful—and invites us to trust him and walk with him.

• For Preschool-Elementary:
  • Have you ever tried really hard at something, and it didn’t work? How did you feel?
  • What did Jesus give the disciples when they were tired and hungry?
  • Where can you remember that Jesus is with you (home, school, playground)?
• Youth:
  • Why do you think the disciples went back to fishing after seeing the risen Jesus? What does that say about their faith?
  • In what areas of your life do you feel like you are “working all night but catching nothing”?
  • What does it look like practically to recognize Jesus’ presence in your daily routine (school, friendships, future decisions)?