A.C.T.S. reflection

John 21

¹After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. ²Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. ³Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. ⁴Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” ⁶He 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 were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. ⁷That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. ⁸The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. ⁹When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. ¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” ¹¹So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. ¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. ¹⁴This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. ¹⁵When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” ¹⁷He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” ²⁰Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” ²¹When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” ²²Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” ²³So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” ²⁴This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. ²⁵Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Adoration

Jesus is the risen Lord, powerful enough to fill empty nets and gentle enough to prepare breakfast for weary friends. We can adore Him for the way His greatness and tenderness belong together.

After a night when the disciples “caught nothing,” Jesus directs them to cast their net again, and the catch becomes too large to haul into the boat. The beloved disciple’s response, “It is the Lord!”, turns our attention from the gift to the One Who provides it. Yet this mighty Lord also says, “Come and have breakfast,” welcoming His friends to a meal He has prepared. Verse 14 identifies this as an appearance after Jesus was raised from the dead, so the One serving breakfast is the victorious, risen Savior. Together, these details invite worship of Jesus for both His authority and His personal care.

Confession

This chapter invites us to bring Jesus our imperfect love and our tendency to compare our lives with others. We do not need to hide what He already knows; we can come honestly and receive His call to faithful obedience.

Jesus asks Peter about His love three times, and the text says that “Peter was grieved” at the third question. In the wider Gospel story, this repeated questioning recalls Peter’s earlier threefold denial and makes this encounter especially tender. Jesus does not treat Peter’s love as an abstract matter, but connects it with responsibility for His flock. Later, Peter asks, “Lord, what about this man?”, shifting attention toward another disciple’s future. Jesus redirects Peter toward His own calling, inviting us to confess both failures of love and the comparisons that distract us from obedience.

Thanksgiving

We can thank Jesus for meeting His disciples with food, fellowship, and renewed purpose. His care reaches both ordinary needs and the wounded places where we need restoration.

The disciples arrive ashore to find “a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.” Before the conversation about Peter’s responsibility begins, Jesus offers the simple kindness of a meal. His invitation, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught,” also welcomes their participation in what His provision has made possible. After breakfast, Jesus entrusts Peter with the care of His flock, showing that Peter’s past failure has not ended His calling. We can give thanks for this generous care, which nourishes weary bodies and opens a way forward after failure.

Supplication

Ask Jesus to deepen your love for Him and teach you to care for the people He entrusts to you. Ask for courage to follow Him when the way is costly, without measuring your path against someone else’s.

Jesus gives Peter the commands to “Feed” and “Tend,” showing that love for Him must take shape in care for others. These words invite us to ask for patient, practical love rather than merely good intentions. Jesus also tells Peter that He will be carried “where you do not want to go,” and verse 19 explains that this points to the death by which Peter would glorify God. Following Jesus therefore calls for courage and trust, not an expectation of an easy life. When Jesus challenges Peter’s concern about the other disciple with “what is that to you?”, we are invited to ask for freedom from comparison and faithfulness to our own calling.

Prayer prompt

In your own words, praise Jesus for His power and tenderness, and tell Him honestly where your love needs renewing. Thank Him for His care, then ask Him to help you follow faithfully and care for others today.

Make this reflection your own

Reflect on John 21

Reflections on this page are generated with AI to guide your own prayer — always read the passage yourself first. Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.