John 21 — Lovest Thou Me? Feed My Sheep
After this Jesus shewed Himself again at the sea of Tiberias. Peter — I go a fishing. That night they caught nothing. In the morning a figure on the shore — Children, have ye any meat? Cast the net on the right side. They were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. It is the Lord. Peter casts himself into the sea. Bread and fish on a fire of coals. Come and dine. After they had dined, three times — Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Feed my sheep. Follow me. If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. This is the disciple which testifieth of these things.
“He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
— John 21:17
- v.1-14 The morning catch and breakfast
- v.15-19 Lovest thou me?
- v.20-25 Follow thou me
Fire of coals. Last time Peter stood at a fire of coals he denied Christ (18:18). The Lord prepares the same setting for restoration. He returns Peter to the scene of failure and asks him for love.
Breakfast prepared by the risen Lord. He cooks for fishermen at dawn. The grace is breath-taking.
Three denials answered by three confessions of love. The restoration is full and public. Peter is reinstated in the presence of the other disciples.
Feed my sheep. The pastoral assignment. Love for Christ is proved in care for His people. The two cannot be separated.
Follow thou me. The personal call. Peter's curiosity about John's future is gently rebuked; the disciple's assignment is his own walking.
A counsel against comparison. What the Lord does with another believer is not your business. Follow thou me — your own road, with the same Master.
Verse 22 is the cure for a comparing soul. What is that to thee? follow thou me. You are not assigned to live another believer's life. The Lord's call to you is yours; His call to another is theirs. Stop measuring; start following.
John 21 is the Gospel's tender close. The risen Lord prepares breakfast, restores Peter, calls him to feed the sheep, and gently rebukes comparing curiosity. The book that opened In the beginning was the Word ends with the same Word cooking fish on a shore for tired fishermen, calling Peter to follow Him to the end. The Word made flesh remains pastorally present to His own.
An echo of Luke 5. The night of empty toil becomes the morning of overflowing nets at His word.
The right side. The same water; a different word. Some failures are corrected only by the Lord's redirection. Try once more — at His word.