Jesus Restores Peter
By the Sea of Galilee, the risen Jesus cooks breakfast for His disciples and asks Peter three times, 'Do you love me?'—restoring the disciple who had denied Him three times.
John 21:1-19
Take the John 21 Quiz
Test your knowledge of this chapter
Explore John Chapters
Study all chapters of John
The Story
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
'I'm going out to fish,' Simon Peter told them, and they said, 'We'll go with you.' So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize it was him.
He called out to them, 'Friends, haven't you any fish?'
'No,' they answered.
He said, 'Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.' When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' As soon as Simon Peter heard this, he jumped into the water.
When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.'
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?'
'Yes, Lord,' he said, 'you know that I love you.'
Jesus said, 'Feed my lambs.'
Again Jesus said, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?'
He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.'
Jesus said, 'Take care of my sheep.'
The third time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?'
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time. He said, 'Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.'
Jesus said, 'Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.' Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, 'Follow me!'
Breakfast with Jesus
Kids Version
Peter felt SO bad. He had told people THREE times that he didn't know Jesus. How could Jesus ever forgive him?
One night, Peter and some other disciples went fishing on the Sea of Galilee. They fished ALL night but caught NOTHING.
In the morning, someone called from the shore: 'Hey! Catch any fish?'
'No!' they shouted back.
'Throw your net on the other side of the boat!'
They did—and WHOOSH! So many fish filled the net they couldn't even pull it in!
John's eyes got big. 'It's the LORD!'
Peter was so excited he JUMPED into the water and swam to shore! The others brought the boat.
On the beach, Jesus had a fire going with fish cooking on it. 'Come have breakfast!' Jesus said.
Jesus served them bread and fish. It was SO good!
After breakfast, Jesus turned to Peter.
'Simon Peter, do you love me?'
'Yes, Lord! You know I love you!'
'Then feed my lambs.'
Again Jesus asked, 'Peter, do you love me?'
'Yes, Lord, you know I love you!'
'Take care of my sheep.'
A third time: 'Peter, do you love me?'
Peter felt sad—Jesus asked THREE times. But then he understood. He had denied Jesus three times. Now Jesus was giving him three chances to say he loved Him!
'Lord, you know everything! You know I love you!'
'Feed my sheep. Follow me.'
Jesus forgave Peter! Not only that—Jesus gave him an important job: take care of God's people!
When WE mess up, Jesus doesn't throw us away. He forgives us and gives us another chance. He still has plans for us!
Ready to test your knowledge?
See how well you know this story from John.
Characters in This Story
Settings & Locations
Scripture — John 21:1-19 (KJV)
1After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. Children: or, Sirs
6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17He 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.
18Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
Memory Verse
“After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.”
— John 21:1 (KJV)
Test Your Knowledge
How well do you know the story of “Jesus Restores Peter”? Take the quiz to find out.
More from Death & Resurrection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Jesus Restores Peter” in the Bible?
By the Sea of Galilee, the risen Jesus cooks breakfast for His disciples and asks Peter three times, 'Do you love me?'—restoring the disciple who had denied Him three times. This story is found in John 21:1-19.
Where is “Jesus Restores Peter” found in the Bible?
“Jesus Restores Peter” is found in John 21:1-19, in the book of John.
What can children learn from “Jesus Restores Peter”?
This story teaches children about Restoration, Forgiveness, Second chances, Calling. After Peter had denied Jesus three times, he felt terrible. But Jesus made him breakfast and asked three times, 'Do you love me?' Jesus forgave Peter and gave him an important job!