John 21:9
When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread.
When they landed
This phrase marks the transition from the disciples' labor at sea to their encounter with the risen Christ on the shore. The Greek word for "landed" (ἀναβαίνω, anabainō) implies an ascent, suggesting a movement from the ordinary to the extraordinary. This moment signifies a shift from human effort to divine provision, as the disciples move from the sea, a place of uncertainty and toil, to the shore, a place of fellowship and revelation.

they saw
The Greek word for "saw" (βλέπω, blepō) indicates more than just physical sight; it implies perception and understanding. This moment of seeing is not just about recognizing physical objects but discerning the presence and provision of Jesus. It is a call to spiritual awareness, urging believers to recognize Christ's presence in the ordinary moments of life.

a charcoal fire
The term "charcoal fire" (ἀνθρακιά, anthrakia) is significant as it appears only twice in the New Testament, both in the Gospel of John. The first instance is during Peter's denial of Jesus (John 18:18). Here, it serves as a setting for Peter's restoration. The fire symbolizes warmth and purification, a place where past failures are acknowledged and transformed by Christ's forgiveness and love.

there with fish on it
The presence of fish on the fire is a reminder of Jesus' earlier miracle of feeding the multitude (John 6:1-14). Fish, in the early Christian symbol of the ichthys, represents Christ himself. This scene is a powerful reminder of Jesus' role as the provider and sustainer, who meets both physical and spiritual needs. It also foreshadows the disciples' mission to become "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19).

and some bread
Bread, in biblical symbolism, often represents life and sustenance. Jesus referred to Himself as the "bread of life" (John 6:35), indicating that He is the essential nourishment for spiritual life. The presence of bread in this scene reinforces the idea of Jesus as the source of all provision, both temporal and eternal. It also echoes the Last Supper, reminding the disciples of the new covenant and their ongoing relationship with Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The resurrected Christ who appears to His disciples by the Sea of Galilee, demonstrating His continued care and provision for them.

2. Disciples
Specifically, Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee (James and John), and two other disciples are present. They are returning from a night of fishing.

3. Sea of Galilee
The location where Jesus appears to His disciples after His resurrection, a familiar place of ministry and miracles.

4. Charcoal Fire
A specific detail that recalls Peter's denial of Jesus (John 18:18) and sets the stage for his restoration.

5. Fish and Bread
Symbolic of Jesus' provision and reminiscent of the feeding of the 5,000, highlighting His role as the provider.
Teaching Points
Jesus' Provision
Jesus provides for our needs, both physical and spiritual. Just as He prepared a meal for His disciples, He cares for us in our daily lives.

Restoration and Forgiveness
The setting of the charcoal fire is a reminder of Peter's denial, yet it becomes a place of restoration. Jesus offers forgiveness and restoration to all who repent.

Community and Fellowship
The shared meal signifies the importance of fellowship among believers. Gathering together strengthens our faith and encourages mutual support.

Symbolism of Bread and Fish
These elements remind us of Jesus' miracles and His identity as the Bread of Life. We are called to trust in His provision and share His abundance with others.

Obedience and Trust
The disciples' obedience in casting their nets as instructed by Jesus led to a miraculous catch. Trusting and obeying Jesus leads to fruitful outcomes in our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the setting of a charcoal fire in John 21:9 relate to Peter's earlier experiences, and what does this teach us about Jesus' approach to forgiveness and restoration?

2. In what ways does Jesus' provision of fish and bread in this passage connect to His previous miracles, and how can this encourage us in times of need?

3. How does the communal aspect of the meal in John 21:9 reflect the importance of fellowship in the Christian life, and how can we apply this in our own communities?

4. What lessons can we learn from the disciples' obedience to Jesus' instructions, and how can this influence our response to His guidance in our lives?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced Jesus' provision in your life. How can this passage encourage you to trust Him more fully in your current circumstances?
Connections to Other Scriptures
John 18:18
The charcoal fire is reminiscent of the fire where Peter denied Jesus, setting the stage for his restoration.

John 6:9-13
The fish and bread echo the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000, emphasizing Jesus' provision.

Luke 5:1-11
The miraculous catch of fish at the beginning of Jesus' ministry parallels this event, bookending His earthly ministry with acts of provision and calling.

Acts 10:41
Peter later testifies about eating and drinking with the risen Christ, affirming the reality of the resurrection.
A Night and a Morning by the Lake of GalileeO ,Stanford, D. D.John 21:1-14
The Appearance of Christ At the Sea of TiberiasBp. Ryle.John 21:1-14
The Relation of Christ to the Secular Rife of His DisciplD. Thomas, D. D.John 21:1-14
The Reward of FaithJ. McNeil.John 21:1-14
The Risen Christ and His DisciplesEdward N. Packard.John 21:1-14
The Risen Christ and His DisciplesHistory, Prophecy, and GospelJohn 21:1-14
The Sea of TiberiasJohn 21:1-14
The Second Miraculous Draught of FishesW. M. Taylor, D. D.John 21:1-14
The Second Miraculous Draught of FishesJ. Laidlaw, D. D.John 21:1-14
The Second Miraculous Draught of FishesJohn 21:1-14
The Seven Who Saw the Risen LordA. Maclaren, D. D.John 21:1-14
TiberiasDixon's "Holy Land."John 21:1-14
Christ Requires Human Co-OperationH. C. Trumbull, D. D.John 21:9-11
Materials for the BanquetS. S. TimesJohn 21:9-11
Pulling in the NetD. L. Moody.John 21:9-11
The Fire on the ShoreH. Melvill, B. D.John 21:9-11
The Two Fires -- a ContrastT. Whitelaw, D. D.John 21:9-11
People
Didymus, Jesus, John, Jonah, Jonas, Nathanael, Peter, Simon, Thomas, Zabdi, Zebedee
Places
Cana, Galilee, Sea of Tiberias
Topics
Already, Behold, Bread, Broiling, Burning, Charcoal, Close, Coals, Cooking, Fire, Fish, Got, Laid, Landed, Lying, Placed, Thereon
Dictionary of Bible Themes
John 21:9

     4318   coal
     4826   fire
     5222   baking

John 21:1-13

     4420   breakfast

Library
November 20. "The Disciple whom Jesus Loved Leaned on his Breast" (John xxi. 20).
"The disciple whom Jesus loved leaned on His breast" (John xxi. 20). An American gentleman once visited the saintly Albert Bengel. He was very desirous to hear him pray. So one night he lingered at his door, hoping to overhear his closing devotions. The rooms were adjoining and the doors ajar. The good man finished his studies, closed his books, knelt down for a moment and simply said: "Dear Lord Jesus, things are still the same between us," and then sweetly fell asleep. So close was his communion
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

'Lovest Thou Me?'
'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.'--JOHN xxi. 15. Peter had already seen the risen Lord. There had been that interview on Easter morning, on which the seal of sacred secrecy was impressed; when, alone, the denier poured out his heart to his Lord, and was taken to the heart that he had wounded. Then there had been two interviews on the two successive Sundays
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

An Eloquent Catalogue
'There 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.'--JOHN xxi. 2. This chapter, containing the infinitely significant and pathetic account of our Lord's appearance to these disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, is evidently an appendix to the Gospel of John. The design of that Gospel is complete with the previous chapter, and there is a formal close, as of the whole book, at the end thereof. But whilst
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

The Beach and the Sea
'When the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.'--JOHN xxi. 4. The incident recorded in this appendix to John's Gospel is separated from the other appearances of our risen Lord in respect of place, time, and purpose. They all occurred in and about Jerusalem; this took place in Galilee. The bulk of them happened on the day of the Resurrection, one of them a week after. This, of course, to allow time for the journey, must have been at a considerably
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

'It is the Lord!'
'Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.--JOHN xxi. 7. It seems a very strange thing that these disciples had not, at an earlier period of this incident, discovered the presence of Christ, inasmuch as the whole was so manifestly a repetition of that former event by which the commencement of their ministry had been signalised, when He called them to become 'fishers of men.' We are apt to suppose that when once again they embarked on the lake, and went back to their
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

Youth and Age, and the Command for Both
Annual Sermon to the Young '... 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.... And when He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow Me.'--JOHN xxi. 18, 19. The immediate reference of these words is, of course, to the martyrdom of the Apostle Peter. Our Lord contrasts the vigorous and somewhat self-willed youth and the mellowed
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

'They Also Serve who Only Stand and Wait'
'Peter, seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do! Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me.'--John xxi. 21, 22. We have seen in a former sermon that the charge of the risen Christ to Peter, which immediately precedes these verses, allotted to him service and suffering. The closing words of that charge 'Follow Me!' had a deep significance, as uniting both parts of his task in the one supreme command of imitation of his Master.
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

November the Thirteenth a Transformed Fisherman
"Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing." --JOHN xxi. 1-14. Simon Peter had often gone a fishing, but never had he gone as he went in the twilight of that most wonderful evening. He handled the ropes in a new style, with a new dignity born of the bigger capacity of his own soul. He turned to the familiar task, but with a quite unfamiliar spirit. He went a fishing, but the power of the resurrection went with him. This action of Simon Peter's is the only true test of the reality of any spiritual
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Love and Service.
TEXT: JOHN xxi. 16. "He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep." THERE is no more important charge than that which the Lord gave to His apostle in these words. He calls Himself the Shepherd of His flock; therefore what He here committed to the charge of the apostle was to do the Lord's own work in His name, and under His oversight and ruling direction as Chief Shepherd. But
Friedrich Schleiermacher—Selected Sermons of Schleiermacher

On the Same Words of the Gospel of John. xxi. 15, "Simon, Son of John, Lovest Thou Me More than These?" Etc.
1. Ye remember that the Apostle Peter, the first of all the Apostles, was disturbed at the Lord's Passion. Of his own self disturbed, but by Christ renewed. For he was first a bold presumer, and became afterwards a timid denier. He had promised that he would die for the Lord, when the Lord was first to die for him. When he said then, "I will be with Thee even unto death," and "I will lay down my life for Thee;" the Lord answered him, "Wilt thou lay down thy life for Me? Verily I say unto thee, Before
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On the Words of the Gospel, John. xxi. 16, "Simon, Son of John, Lovest Thou Me?" Etc.
1. Ye have observed, beloved, that in to-day's lesson it was said by the Lord to Peter in a question, "Lovest thou Me?" To whom he answered, "Thou knowest, Lord, that I love thee." This was done a second, and a third time; and at each several reply, the Lord said, "Feed My lambs." [4317] To Peter did Christ commend His lambs to be fed, who fed even Peter himself. For what could Peter do for the Lord, especially now that He had an Immortal Body, and was about to ascend into heaven? As though He had
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Lovest Thou Me?
Without preface, for we shall have but little time this morning--may God help us to make good use of it!--we shall mention three things: first a solemn question--"Lovest thou me?" secondly, a discreet answer, "Yes, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee;" and thirdly, a required demonstration of the fact, "He saith unto him, Feed my lambs;" or, again, "Feed my sheep." I. First, then, here was A SOLEMN QUESTION, which our Saviour put to Peter, not for his own information, for, as Peter said, "Thou knowest
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Christ among the Common Things of Life
William James Dawson, Congregational preacher and evangelist, was born in Towcester, Northamptonshire, in 1854. He was educated at Kingswood School, Bath, and Didsbury College, Manchester. He has long been known as an author of originality and pure literary style. In 1906 he received the pastorate of Highbury Quadrant Congregational Church, London, and accepted an invitation to do general evangelistic work under the auspices of the National Council of the Congregational churches of the United States.
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume 10

Erroneous Opinions Imputed to the Apostles.
A species of candour which is shown towards every other book is sometimes refused to the Scriptures: and that is, the placing of a distinction between judgment and testimony. We do not usually question the credit of a writer, by reason of an opinion he may have delivered upon subjects unconnected with his evidence: and even upon subjects connected with his account, or mixed with it in the same discourse or writing, we naturally separate facts from opinions, testimony from observation, narrative from
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

Of Avoiding of Curious Inquiry into the Life of Another
"My Son, be not curious, nor trouble thyself with vain cares. What is that to thee? Follow thou Me.(1) For what is it to thee whether a man be this or that, or say or do thus or thus? Thou hast no need to answer for others, but thou must give an answer for thyself. Why therefore dost thou entangle thyself? Behold, I know all men, and I behold all things which are done under the sun; and I know how it standeth with each one, what he thinketh, what he willeth, and to what end his thoughts reach.
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Instructions to Converts.
Text.--Feed my lambs.--John xxi. 15. YOU, who read your Bibles, recollect the connection in which these words are found, and by whom they were spoken. They were addressed by the Lord Jesus Christ to Peter, after he had denied his Lord, and had professed repentance. Probably one of the designs which Christ had in view, in suffering Peter to sin so awfully as to deny his master, was to produce a deeper work of grace in him, and thus fit him for the peculiar duty to which he intended to call him, in
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion

Synopsis. --Arbitrary Criticism of the Biblical Narratives of the Raising of the "Dead. " --Facts which it Ignores. --The Subject Related to the Phenomena of Trance
III SYNOPSIS.--Arbitrary criticism of the Biblical narratives of the raising of the "dead."--Facts which it ignores.--The subject related to the phenomena of trance, and records of premature burial.--The resuscitation in Elisha's tomb probably historical.--Jesus' raising of the ruler's daughter plainly a case of this kind.--His raising of the widow's son probably such.--The hypothesis that his raising of Lazarus may also have been such critically examined.--The record allows this supposition.--Further
James Morris Whiton—Miracles and Supernatural Religion

Seventh Appearance of Jesus.
(Sea of Galilee.) ^D John XXI. 1-25. ^d 1 After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and he manifested himself on this wise. 2 There was together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee [see p. 111], and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. [As usual, Peter was the leader.] They say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat;
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Harmony of the Gospels
36. The church early appreciated the value and the difficulty of having four different pictures of the life and teachings of the Lord. Irenaeus at the close of the second century felt it to be as essential that there should be four gospels as that there should be "four zones of the world, four principal winds, and four faces of the cherubim" (Against Heresies III. ii. 8). 37. Before Irenaeus, however, another had sought to obviate the difficulty of having four records which seem at some points to
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

Feeding the Lambs.
Some years ago when attending to the work to which the Lord had called me in one of the sunny Southern States it was my happy privilege to enjoy for a few days the kind hospitality of a generous Christian farmer. One balmy afternoon while walking over the pleasant fields of his large farm, with my heart in sweet communion with God, I came upon the most beautiful flock of sheep it had ever been my privilege to behold. They were quietly grazing in a rich green pasture, near by which silently flowed
Charles Ebert Orr—Food for the Lambs; or, Helps for Young Christians

The Fall of the Empire and of the Papacy
[Sidenote: Urban IV (1261-4).] The date of Alexander's death marks the beginning of a new episode in the history of the mediaval Papacy. His successor, Urban IV, was a Frenchman. With more vigour than his predecessor he pursued the policy of the destruction of the Hohenstaufen. Since the English prince had proved a useless tool and no more money could be wrung from the English people, he obtained the renunciation of the claims of Edmund to the Sicilian crown and turned to his native country for a
D. J. Medley—The Church and the Empire

Epistle xx. To Mauricius Augustus.
To Mauricius Augustus. Gregory to Mauricius, &c. Our most pious and God-appointed lord, among his other august cares and burdens, watches also in the uprightness of spiritual zeal over the preservation of peace among the priesthood, inasmuch as he piously and truly considers that no one can govern earthly things aright unless he knows how to deal with divine things, and that the peace of the republic hangs on the peace of the universal Church. For, most serene Lord, what human power, and what strength
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

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