The Miracles of Jesus: Why the Final Miracle Changes Everything (John 21:1-25)

The Miracles of Jesus End With a Personal Invitation

The Final Miracle Was Never About Fish

Throughout John 21, John records the final miracle of Jesus in his Gospel. Yet this chapter is about far more than a miraculous catch of fish. John 21 also reveals how Jesus reinstates Peter and prepares His disciples for the work that lies ahead.

Why?

Because this miracle is about far more than overflowing fishing nets.

It is about restoring broken disciples, renewing their calling, and reminding every believer that the risen Christ still directs His people today.

The final miracle of Jesus teaches us that His greatest work was never simply changing circumstances. It was transforming lives.

The Final Miracle of Jesus Begins With Empty Nets (John 21:1-6)

Bible Study Guide

(Verses 1-4) The miracles of Jesus were numerous. John records that they were so numerous they were beyond counting. The last two chapters of John’s gospel rightfully places strong emphasis on Jesus’ miracles

John states at the end of chapter 20 the large number of miracles performed by Jesus. He also explains why these miracles were performed.

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31)

As we’ll see in a moment, John will place greater emphasis on the number of Jesus’ miracles. They’re so great, that they can’t be counted or held by all the books in the world.

John spent 3 years of his life following and listening to his Messiah. It stands to reason that the miracles John witnessed Jesus perform, outnumbered what he recorded in this gospel.

History supports this. It’s recorded that some days, Jesus spent a greater part of the day healing lines of people with physical and demonic ailments. It would make sense that John would carefully choose, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the most impactful miracles to record in his gospel.

Jesus Turns a Miracle Into a Teaching Moment

The scene opens up with seven of the twelve disciples fishing on the Sea of Galilee. It seems reasonable to question the actions of the disciples at this point. With all that’s happened to Jesus, one would think they probably wouldn’t be found back home where Jesus originally found them.

The disciples were still young Christians. They still had many questions and didn’t quite understand what the road ahead looked like. So they returned to what they knew best.

Jesus was about to change all of that while sitting and eating a breakfast of fresh fish and bread on the shore of Galilee.

(Verse 5-6) Here at Bible Study Simply, we use the NIV (New International Version) Bible translation. Whenever we’re stuck on an interpretation, we rely on other parts of scripture to find the meaning of God’s inspired Word. If that isn’t enough, we sometimes have to go back closer to the original text to find the correct meaning of the original authors intent.

In order to draw out the full meaning of this passage, we needed to look closer at the original text of Jesus speaking in verse 5.

Looking at the NIV, Jesus asks the question, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” This is a fairly direct questions requiring a “yes” or “no” answer.

In the original text, Jesus asks the question, “You do not have any fish, do you?” the structure of the question changes the intent of the question.

Jesus Teaches His Disciples

In this case, Jesus is trying to teach them something very important. The disciples had gone off on their own to do their own thing. It was the one thing they knew how to do and they could fall back on.

This was not a question that needed a reply. It was a question that insinuated Jesus knew they had no fish. Because they had not relied on Jesus for instructions as to what they should be doing. They went back to their old ways.

Therefore, Jesus tells them, I know you don’t have any fish because you went off to do something you were not asked to do and you went ahead and did it without me.

Jesus is going to build upon this teaching in the last few moments He has with His disciples. They need to learn what their true assignment is going to be in Jesus’ absence.

Many Christians today, who may have just come to faith and accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, probably ask themselves the same questions the disciples asked. What do we do now?

That question is about to be answered when Jesus reinstates Peter in his commissioning.

It’s important to remember, the disciples are learning as they go. They will continue to learn through the close guidance of the Holy Spirit after Christ ascends to the Father.

Do You Long to Be With Jesus?

(Verses 7-9) The moment John recognized Jesus standing on the shore, everything changed.

Peter didn’t stop to count the fish. He didn’t wait for the boat to reach land andhHe didn’t think about the work still left to do.

He threw on his outer garment and plunged into the water because nothing mattered more than getting to Jesus as quickly as possible.

What a beautiful picture of the heart every believer should desire.

Do we long for Christ with that same urgency? Do we eagerly anticipate the day we will see Him face to face? Or have the distractions of this world dulled our longing for His presence?

As these last days grow darker and the return of Christ draws nearer, our desire to be with the Lord should grow stronger, not weaker. Like Peter, our hearts should cry out, I must get to Jesus.

One day soon our faith will become sight. The One we have trusted, loved, and followed will stand before us. Until that glorious day, may we live with the same eager expectation that caused Peter to leap into the sea, longing above all else to be with his Savior.

The Miracles of Jesus Reveal His Unlimited Provision (John 21:6-14)

(Verses 10-14) The miracles of Jesus always served as a teaching moment. It taught those who were impacted by His miracles and those who stood by in amazement to watch. While people were being physically healed, many were being spiritually healed and coming to believe in Christ, as the son of God.

In this moment, the disciples didn’t quite know who the man was on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Interestingly, they conversed with Him and then followed His instruction. Notice how everything changed.

They listened to Him, they obeyed His command and they were blessed with a miracle. Jesus wanted to teach them to follow Him, listen to His voice and commands, and obey His words. This is exactly how they were going to live their lives moving forward while sharing the gospel.

Jesus Reinstates Peter: The Greatest Miracle Is a Restored Heart (John 21:15-17)

(Verses 15-17) Before Jesus reinstates Peter, He first reminds the disciples that every miracle points them back to Himself. The miraculous catch prepares the way for one of the most tender conversations in all of John 21.

Simon Peter being reinstated by Jesus could certainly be looked at as a miracle of Jesus. Peter was not quite where Christ wanted him to be. That was all about to change in this exchange between the two.

Simon Peter was as impulsive as we was bold. Many of his interactions with his Messiah demonstrated his devotion and loyalty, even to the point of death. There’s no doubt that Peter meant what he said when he told Jesus he would die for Him.

Unfortunately, Peter would become consumed with fear and weakness at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion. God had purposely emptied Peter of himself. It’s exactly where He wanted Peter to be. It’s exactly where Christ wants all of us to be. He wants us to be an empty vessel, so that He can build us back up in His image filled with the presence of His Holy Spirit.

Simon Peter was a young Christian. He was empty of himself and ready to be fully renewed in fellowship with his Master and Savior.

Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love Me?” This matched the three denials of Christ by Simon Peter before Jesus’ death. It was as if Christ was erasing the three denials with three questions of, “Do you love Me?” Then with three commands to feed His sheep (share the gospel).

Jesus was teaching Peter and the others also to be disciples of Christ. He was commanding them to go out and share the gospel. This was necessary in order for the Word of God to be proclaimed throughout the world.

The moment Jesus reinstates Peter is one of the clearest demonstrations of God’s grace in Scripture. Instead of condemning Peter for his failures, Jesus lovingly restores him and recommissions him for future ministry.

Jesus Points to Peter’s Death (John 21:18-19)

With these three questions, Jesus reinstates Peter into close fellowship with Him. Peter has been restored and strengthened. He has been made into what Christ intended. He was to be named Peter (meaning “rock”).

It had to happen this way in order for Peter to become the strong leader and preacher He wanted him to become. Peter once said that he would die for Christ. His words would eventually come true.

(Verses 18-19) Jesus indicates the kind of death Peter would face. In ancient times, the phrase “stretch out your hands” was synonymous with death by crucifixion. The Bible doesn’t record how Peter died but a third century historian wrote this.

“Peter preached…and having come to Rome, he was crucified, head downward, for so he himself had asked to suffer.” ~Eusebius

A second century early Christian author and theologian also wrote this.

“At Rome, Nero was the first who stained with blood this rising faith. Then is Peter girth by another when he was made fast by the cross.” ~Tertullian

We learn from these historical accounts that’s it’s likely that Peter was crucified upside down, suffered and then died.

They Will Now Perform the Miracles of Jesus (John 21:20-21)

(Verses 20-21) The miracles that Jesus performed throughout His ministry were not going to end because of His death. The apostles of Christ would carry the power of miracles with them through the Holy Spirit.

The apostles would carry this power of performing Jesus’ miracles as long as they kept to the teachings that he just laid out for them. But there was one more thing they needed to learn and be reminded of.

Peter’s Focus Is Corrected By Jesus (John 21:22-23)

As Peter is walking with Jesus, he notices John following them. Peter turns his conversation with Christ to the other disciple. Jesus quickly turns the attention to Himself.

Peter’s concerns with John are not important. Jesus reminds Peter of the only thing that matters. He must follow Christ. Don’t worry about other people or their position. Jesus says, “You must follow me.” These are among the last words that Jesus spoke to Peter.

Notice carefully how Peter’s time following Jesus began and ended. It began on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus said to Simon Peter and Andrew, “Come follow me.” Fast forward three years after. The scene takes place where it all began for Peter. Jesus reminds him of what must be at the core of apostleship. “You must follow me.”

The teaching, reminding, and directive to “follow Jesus” were the bookends to Peter’s life following Christ.

We live in a world filled with distractions. Many things rob our attention and turn our mind and heart away from Christ. We must constantly remind ourselves of the four simple words from Jesus, “You must follow me.” It’s the only thing that matters, especially now!

(Verses 22-23) This is an interesting point that Jesus brings up. Perhaps, Jesus is referring to the fact that John would be the last disciple to die. Also, He may have been pointing to when Jesus would appear to John on the Island of Patmos. This would be the event where Jesus would reveal to John all the things that would take place in the last days: the seven year period of the Tribulation.

Jesus Reinstates Simon Into Peter

I have to point out how John records Simon Peter’s name throughout his gospel. We’ve learned that Simon was not quite the “rock” (Peter) that Jesus wanted him to be. But he became that rock when Jesus reinstated him. Except for on one occasion, John calls him Simon Peter.

Even when Jesus reinstates Peter, He calls him Simon. Once Peter is reinstated by Jesus, John then calls him Peter. He’s no longer referred to as Simon Peter. This is to signify that Peter had been commissioned and reinstated into close fellowship with Christ. He would now go on to become the “rock” of the Christian church.

The Miracles of Jesus Cannot Be Counted (John 21:24-25)

(Verses 24-25) As John 21 comes to a close, John testifies to being a witness of the miracles of Jesus. He also testifies to the enormity of the number of miracles performed.

He does this so the those who read, can believe that Jesus is who He claims to be. John repeats his testimony in his first letter.

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.” (1 John 1:1-2)

Do you believe so that you can have eternal life in Christ?

The risen Christ restores Peter and commissions His disciples for future ministry. This final chapter completes the story explored in our Book of John Bible study covering chapters 11–21.

Closing Reflection: The Greatest Miracle Can Happen Today

Friends, the greatest of all the miracles of Jesus is not calming a storm or filling empty fishing nets.

It is bringing spiritually dead people to eternal life.

If you have never trusted Christ, there is no better time than today. He is still calling people to follow Him, still restoring broken lives, and still offering forgiveness through His death and resurrection.

Don’t wait until tomorrow. Come to Jesus today, place your faith in Him, and begin following the risen Savior while there is still time.

Learn how to follow Jesus today.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for showing us through Peter what it means to long for Your presence. Stir within us a deeper love for Jesus that is greater than our love for this world. As we watch for His soon return, keep our hearts faithful, our hands busy in Your work, and our eyes fixed on our Savior. Strengthen us to follow Christ with joyful obedience until the day our faith becomes sight and we stand before Him face to face.

In the precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

← Previous Bible Passage Study