The disciples had seen Jesus after His resurrection twice already. Now seven of them were likely in Cana of Galilee and Peter says, “I’m going fishing” and the other six follow (John 21:3). The Bible tells us that they went out all night and caught nothing. This is similar to the events of Luke 5:5 and we begin to question if Peter was a very good fisherman. On this occasion in John, as day breaks, there is a man on the shore asking about their catch. The disciples admit that they have nothing and this stranger advises them to let the net down on the right side of the boat, and they bring in a haul of 153 fish. It is at that moment that John says, “It is the Lord” and Peter swims to the shore (John 21:7). When they get there, Jesus has a fire going and He asks for fish to prepare breakfast. After they have eaten, Jesus speaks with Peter, “‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My lambs.’ He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Shepherd My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend My sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go…follow Me!’” (John 21:15-19).
Peter’s denial of Jesus was, as I imagine, the lowest point in his life and it was recorded in all four gospel accounts (Matt. 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; John 18:15-27; Luke 22:54-62). Here, on the shores of Galilee he is reminded again of that night, of the promise he had made to follow Jesus even to death, the words he said in denying Jesus and the look that he saw on Jesus’ face after he had denied Him. All of these things could be in Peter’s mind as he stands face to face with Jesus on the shore where his relationship with the Son of God had begun. A lot has been said about the Greek words used for love here and the words Jesus used for the sheep. With out any Greek knowledge, it is plain what is happening here. Jesus is calling Peter back. Peter is made to affirm his love for Jesus three times. Peter is not slow in understanding what is happening, “Lord you know I love you.” Peter needed this. Jesus called him back and gave him a work and it is no wonder that he became an elder (1 Pet. 5:1). The disciples needed to see this. Many of them had fled. They needed to see that they could be reconciled. We needed this, to know that even those who have denied Him can come back and serve.