At the end of the book of John, we find Peter and several of Christ’s disciples fishing. They were fishermen by trade, before they met Jesus, and they were apparently returning to their work. Peter was likely discouraged because of the way he denied Jesus three times and since he was a leader, he likely convinced the others to join him in this endeavor, again.

We find that Christ didn’t want them to return to their old careers, but He wanted them to be witnesses for Him. The first century church was being established and there could be no better leaders than the ones who walked with Jesus Christ while He was performing His earthly ministry. While fishing or any other career could possibly be fruitful, it wasn’t God’s will for them.

In order to help direct them back to God’s plan for them, they first caught no fish. Perhaps this was causing them to rethink their career choice. It’s interesting to see that Jesus allowed them to fail in an earthly pursuit before they turned back to Him and their pastoral careers. This is often what God does, today. He reveals His will for us and if we do not obey it, He will let us do what we want. However, if our pursuits are not in line with His will, we should hope that they would fail too, so we could seek Him and obey His will instead of ours.

After the men were humbled, Jesus told them to cast their net on the right side of the ship and they obeyed Him. At this point, Jesus allowed the fish to fill their nets! The total amount of fish numbered one hundred and fifty three. It was at this point that they realized the man giving them instructions was Jesus Christ.

After the men exited their boats, Peter had a conversation with Jesus. First, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him more than “these”. Jesus used the word “agapao”, the word that designates the highest kind of love. Peter replied by telling Jesus that he loved Him, but he used the word “phileo”, meaning brotherly love.

Jesus asked him another question, but changed it a little. This time He asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Jesus did not phrase his question in a way where He would be compared to anyone or anything. Peter replied with a similar answer, using the word “phileo”, again.

Finally, Jesus asked Peter a third question about his love. This time, Jesus used Peter’s word for love and asked him if he had “phileo” for him. Peter replied in the affirmative, but he was broken. In so few words, he had indicated to Jesus that he loved Him, but was unable to love Him as much as Jesus loved him. This was an honest statement and one that Jesus did not despise. He took what Peter could give Him at this point, restored him, and pointed Peter in the right direction.

After each question and answer, Jesus gave Peter instructions. He told Peter to feed His lambs, to feed His sheep, and essentially, to lead His sheep. Even though Peter had denied Him, Jesus forgave him and gave him a leadership position. Peter’s three denials can be contrasted with these three confessions. After Christ’s ascension, Peter didn’t have to let his mind dwell on his denials, but he could now remember his restoration and his three confessions to the resurrected Christ.

Peter’s conversation with Jesus continues and he asks Jesus about John’s destiny. Perhaps Peter figured that since Jesus revealed His plans for him to him, He would also reveal His plans for John to him. However, Jesus did nothing of the sort. In fact, He said to Peter, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?“ Jesus didn’t think Peter needed to know intimate information about John; at least at this point. Unfortunately, this statement by Jesus was taken out of context and the scriptures tell us that a rumor began. Some started saying that John would not die. However, if they would have either recalled or read His words correctly, they would have realized that Jesus made no such claim.

Some have attacked the credibility of the scriptures by saying that they are not eyewitness accounts, but fabrications that were written much after the time of Christ. In John 21:24, John dispels this accusation by admitting that he was an eyewitness to the events contained in the book of John and that his testimony was credible and true. Logically, the book contains so many intimate details that correspond perfectly with the other gospels, that it had to have been written by an eyewitness. Furthermore, if someone wants to believe that John’s gospel is a distortion, intended by John to deceive, then why would he suffer the rest of his life, exiled on Patmos for something he knew was a lie? Surely, a liar would have confessed and lived a happy life with his friends and family.

John concludes his gospel with an awesome and mysterious verse. While the reader is standing in awe of Jesus’ birth, His teachings and miracles, His atoning sacrifice on the cross, and His amazing resurrection and ascension to Heaven, John says, “there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.” Amen! One of the blessings of Heaven will be learning what these things are.