PREPARE
This final chapter in John is the account of Jesus’ 3rd appearance to the disciples after He was raised from the dead. The scene begins with a miracle that mirrors the way He called the first disciples; Simon (Peter), James, and John. (Luke 5:1-11) Then we move to a gathering around a fire and a conversation with Peter that feels a similar to another recent time Peter sat at a fire (John 18:15-27). We end the book with an intimate conversation between Peter and Jesus alongside John’s final summary of all he has told us.
Be encouraged with us by Jesus’ personal, specific, and restorative action and conversation with His closest friends. Prepare for this week’s message by reading John 21:1-25 with Luke 5:1-11 & John 18:15-27.
LISTEN
Verses: John 21:1-25
Main Point: Our salvation is a story of failure, forgiveness, and redemption as we are transformed by God’s love for God’s glory.
1. The Miraculous Catch: (John 21:1-14)
2. The Reinstatement: (John 21:15-19)
3. The Focus: (John 21:20-25)
REFLECT
1. What impacted you most from this week’s message? What challenged you or encouraged you?
2. How is your own faith journey similar or dissimilar to Peter’s? Is it hard for you to accept the forgiveness of God? In your own words, what does it mean to follow God? What does following God look like in your life?
3. Read John 21:1-14. Why do you think that Peter went back to fishing? How did this demonstrate “active waiting”?
4. How did Jesus make Himself known to the Disciples? How was this similar to Jesus’ initial calling of Peter? (See Luke 5:2-11.) What was Peter’s response to Jesus in the passage in Luke? What was Peter’s response to Jesus in this section of John 21?
5. What was the significance of the fire that Jesus was cooking over? In what other situation was this particular kind of fire mentioned by John? (See John 18:18.)
6. Read John 21:15-23. Why did Jesus ask Peter three time if Peter loved Him? What were the differences in the word “Love” used by Jesus and Peter? What did Jesus charge Peter to do for His people? (His “lambs” and “sheep”)
7. What did Jesus reveal about the kind of death that Peter would die? In verse 19, what did Jesus command Peter to do? What is the significance of this command for every Christian?
8. Why did Peter ask Jesus about John’s death? What was Jesus’ response to Peter’s question?
9. Read John 21:24-25. Why did John conclude his Gospel with these sentences? Why did John choose to include the events he did in this Gospel? (See John 20:30-31.)
ACT
- What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
- How can you deepen your relationship with God and follow Him more closely this week?
- Who is someone you can share what you learned with?