John 20:1-19
JESUS told His disciples to go far away into the country, and He said, ‘I will come and see you again.’
So the disciples went away from Jerusalem, and they went into the country. They came to the place where they had once lived beside the sea. They had some ships on the water. They used them when they were fishing.
One night Peter said to the disciples, ‘I shall go and fish’. The other disciples said, ‘We will go with you.’ So they got into a ship, and all night long they tried to catch fish, but they could not catch any. So in the morning they were tired and hungry.
They looked up and saw a man standing on the shore. They did not know who the man was. The man called out to them and said, ‘Children, have you anything to eat?’
The poor disciples said, ‘No.’ They had caught no fish all night.
The man said, ‘let down your net on the right side of the ship and you shall find some fish.’
They did as the man told them, and they caught so many fish in the net that they could hardly lift it out of the water.
Now John found out who the man was. He said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’ Peter was very glad, and he jumped into the water, and swam first to Jesus. The other disciples came soon afterward in their little ship, with their nets and their fish.
Jesus knew that they were tired and hungry. By the shore there was a fire, and some fish on the fire and some bread. How kind it was of Jesus to give food to His poor hungry disciples!
Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fishes that you have caught.’ So Peter went and took up the net and found it full of big fish one hundred and fifty three. This was one of Jesus’ great miracles.
Then said Jesus to the disciples, ‘Come and dine.’ So they all sat down to dine together. Then Jesus took the bread, and gave some to each of them. He took the fish and gave some of it to them too.
Now the disciples were quite sure that it was Jesus who was feeding them. This was the way they used to dine together before Jesus had died. Now He was alive again, and they dined together once more. But they knew He was not going to stay long with them.
When they had all finished eating, Jesus said to Peter, ‘Do you love Me?’
Peter said, ‘Yes, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee.’
Then Jesus said, ‘Feed My lambs,’ (that is, ‘Teach other people more about Me’).
Peter did love Jesus, and Jesus knew he did. Yet Jesus said again, ‘Do you love Me?’
Peter said again, ‘Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee.’
Then Jesus said, ‘Feed My sheep.’
Jesus asked Peter the same thing once more: ‘Do you love Me?’
Peter was afraid Jesus did not believe him, and this made him sorry. He said, ‘Lord, Thou knowest everything. Thou knowest that I love Thee.’
Jesus said again, ‘Feed My sheep.’
If Peter loved Jesus, he would do what Jesus told him, and go and teach people.
Do you love Jesus, children? What would you answer if Jesus said to you, ‘Do you love Me?’ Could you say to Jesus, ‘Look into My heart, and Thou wilt see that I love Thee?’ If you do really love Him, you will hate lies and a bad temper, and you will try to be kind and gentle, and to please Jesus all the day.
Why did Jesus ask Peter so often whether he loved Him? Why did He ask him three times over?
Peter had said three times over that he did not know Jesus. So Jesus wanted to hear him say he loved Him three times over.
Then Jesus told Peter what would happen to him when he was old. Jesus said to Peter, ‘When you were young, you walked about where you liked; but when you are old, some men will take you, and stretch out your hands and carry you where you do not want to go.’
Jesus meant that Peter would be crucified. Men would stretch out his hands on a cross, and nail him, as they had done to Jesus. Wicked people would crucify Peter because he loved Jesus, but Peter would never say again that he did not know Jesus.
Peter was not proud now, as he used to be. And Peter would pray to God to keep him from sin.
Death has not changed the Savior’s heart.
Behold those pierced hands give out
The food they have prepared;
While seven disciples sit around,
Joying that they the Friend have found
For whom they fondly cared,
Found Him as ready to forgive
As when with them He used to live
Before His cruel death;
For they had fled when He was tried,
And Peter had His Lord denied
With most unfaithful breath.
The Lord well knew that love inspired
His bosom, yet three times inquired,
‘Simon, dost thou love Me?’
And Peter said, ‘O Thou alone,
To whom all things are fully known,
Thou knowest that I love Thee.’
And by what sign his faithful love
Shall Peter to his Savior prove?
‘O feed My lambs and sheep!’
And gladly this will Peter do,
That others may be pardoned too,
And taught from sin to keep.
O happy they who truly can
Entreat the Lord their heart to scan
And see their faithful love!
And happy they who still obey
His sweet commands, and what they say
By faithful actions prove.
Questions
Did the disciples stay in Jerusalem, or did they go into the country?
Why did they go out in boats one night?
Could they catch any fish?
Who spoke to them in the morning?
What did He tell them to do?
Which of the disciples knew first that it was Jesus speaking to them?
Which of them jumped into the water and swam to Jesus?
What did the disciples find ready for them when they were come to Jesus?
Had they caught any fish in the net?
What question did Jesus ask Peter three times?
What did Jesus want Peter to do, if he really loved Him?
How can children show that they really love Jesus?
What did Jesus tell Peter that wicked men would do to him one day?
Who loves Christ, and who does not:
A verse from the Bible for you to learn:
If a man love Me, he will keep My words.... He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings. John 14:23, 24.