Breakfast on the beach · the risen Jesus restores Peter
A Bible story to tell as a family · John 21:1–19 · ages 5–12 · 10 min
The story
Jesus had died on the cross and risen again! The disciples had already seen him alive. Now they were back in Galilee, by the Sea of Tiberias. But Peter was carrying a weight in his heart: on the night Jesus was arrested, he had denied knowing him three times, near a fire. One day, Peter told his friends: “I am going fishing.” And six of them went along.
They got into the boat and spent the whole night casting the net. Splash... nothing. Splash... nothing. Not a single little fish! As day began to dawn, a man was standing on the shore. The disciples didn’t know it was Jesus. The man called out: “Children, do you have any fish?” And they answered, discouraged: “No.”
The man told them to cast the net on the right side of the boat. It seemed like a silly tip, but they did it. And suddenly... the net was so full they couldn’t haul it in! Did that remind them of something? Years before, Jesus had done a very similar miracle on the day he called Peter to follow him. The disciple whom Jesus loved understood first and said to Peter: “It is the Lord!”
Peter didn’t wait for the boat to reach shore. He put on his outer garment and, splash!, jumped into the sea and went to the beach. The others came in the little boat, dragging the full net. When they stepped onto the sand, they smelled something good: there was a charcoal fire, with fish cooking and bread. The risen Lord was making breakfast for his friends!
Jesus asked them to bring some of the fish. Peter hauled in the net: one hundred and fifty-three large fish, and the net didn’t tear! Then Jesus said: “Come, have breakfast.” He took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. No one dared ask him who he was. They all knew: it was the Lord.
After they had eaten, Jesus looked at Peter. A charcoal fire again, just like that night. And Jesus asked: “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” Peter said yes. Jesus asked again. And he asked a third time. Many Bible readers notice an echo here: three questions, like the three times Peter said he didn’t know him. Peter was hurt and answered: “Lord, You know all things.” And then: “You know I love You.”
With each answer, Jesus gave him a mission: “Feed My lambs.” Take care of my sheep. Jesus didn’t throw in Peter’s face what he had done. He didn’t say: you failed, you’re out. He welcomed him back, trusted him again and gave him the job of caring for the people he loved. And he ended with an invitation: “Follow Me.”
1Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples. He made Himself known in this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they said. So they went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night. 4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus. 5So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it) and jumped into the sea. 8The other disciples came ashore in the boat. They dragged in the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards. 9When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread. 10Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many, the net was not torn. 12“Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said to them. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and He did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead. 15When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” 16Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked 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.” 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.”
What the Bible says
- v. 6: following Jesus’ word, the disciples cast the net and can’t haul it in because of so many fish.
- v. 12: Jesus invites them: “Come, have breakfast.”
- v. 17: at the third question, Peter answers: “Lord, You know all things.” And: “You know I love You.”
What we learn
The risen Jesus is not a distant ghost: he lights the fire, cooks the fish, serves the bread and calls his friends to the table. Peter had failed badly, but Jesus did not throw him away. With three questions and three missions, he restored him, that is, set him back on his feet. That is how Jesus treats those who fall: with truth and with tenderness, and then he says again: follow me. No failure is greater than the love of the Lord who conquered death.
Questions to talk about
For little ones
- What did Jesus make for his friends on the beach?
- How many times did Jesus ask Peter if he loved him?
For kids
- Peter had said he didn’t know Jesus. Why do you think Jesus asked three questions?
- Jesus welcomed Peter back and gave him a mission. Is there someone you need to forgive or ask for forgiveness?
For teens
- Peter jumped into the sea to get to Jesus quickly, even after he had failed. What keeps you from running back to Jesus when you mess up?
For adults
- Jesus restored Peter with questions, not accusations. What would it look like to talk that way at home after someone makes a mistake?
Activity
Beach breakfast: make a simple breakfast together (bread, toast, fruit, whatever you have at home) and eat it sitting on the floor on a towel, as if on a beach. In the middle, build a pretend campfire with toilet paper rolls and red or yellow paper. During breakfast, each person finishes the sentence: Jesus, I love you because... and receives a small caring mission for the day, like pouring the juice, helping tidy up or giving someone a hug.
To memorize: John 21:17
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you that you are alive and set the table for us. When we fail, help us run to you, like Peter. You know all things; you know that we love you. Teach us to care for your sheep. In Jesus’ name, amen.