This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in John 21:1-14, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Once, Jesus appeared to seven of his followers by the Sea of Tiberias. The followers were Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James and John (who were brothers), and two other friends. Simon Peter said to his friends, “I am going fishing.” His friends decided to go with him. They went out onto the boat, but they didn’t catch any fish that night.
When it was almost morning, they saw a man on the shore, but they didn’t know it was Jesus. The man asked them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They said, “No.” The man told them, “Put your net on the right side of the boat, and you will catch some fish.” They did what he said, and they caught so many fish that they couldn’t even pull the net back into the boat!
One of the friends said to Simon Peter, “That man on the shore is the Lord!” Simon Peter was so happy that he put his clothes back on, because he had taken them off to work, and he jumped into the water to swim to the shore. The other friends came to shore in the boat, dragging the big net full of fish behind them.
When they got to the shore, they saw a fire with fish and bread cooking on it. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went back to the boat and pulled the net ashore. There were 153 big fish in the net, but the net did not break! Jesus said, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the friends dared ask, “Who are you?” because they knew it was Jesus. Jesus gave them bread and fish to eat.
This was the third time that Jesus appeared to his followers after he was raised from the dead.
Biblical Lessons
- Jesus is always with us, even when we don’t realize it.
- Jesus can provide for us in miraculous ways.
- Jesus invites us to join him in fellowship and to share in his blessings.
- Jesus is the Lord and Savior who provides for our every need.
Related Stories
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
Must-Read Christian Books
Desiring God
Piper unpacks "Christian Hedonism": that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him, grounded in Scripture.
View on Amazon
Holiness
A rich, pastoral treatment of sin, sanctification, and the fight for holiness in the Christian life, deeply rooted in Scripture.
View on Amazon
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God
A robust, Scripture-saturated theology of prayer with practical guidance for deepening communion with God.
View on Amazon
Faith Alone
Defends justification by faith alone as the heart of the biblical gospel and Reformation.
View on Amazon
Knowing Scripture
Teaches how to interpret the Bible rightly, emphasizing its clarity and our responsibility to study it.
View on Amazon
The Gospel for Real Life
Shows how the finished work of Christ applies to everyday struggles and assurance.
View on Amazon
Let the Nations Be Glad!
Missions-focused theology showing that worship is the goal of evangelism to the nations.
View on Amazon
God's Big Picture
Traces the storyline of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation in a clear, Christ-centered way.
View on Amazon
The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination
Explains and defends the doctrines of grace and God's sovereign election from Scripture.
View on Amazon
Spiritual Leadership
Biblical principles for godly leadership in the church, home, and workplace.
View on Amazon
Spurgeon on the Christian Life
A portrait of Charles Spurgeon's Christ-centered theology and joyful piety.
View on Amazon
Delighting in the Trinity
A joyful, readable introduction to the triune God and why His tri-unity is good news.
View on Amazon
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
A Puritan classic on learning contentment in God in every circumstance.
View on Amazon
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness
Shows how the gospel frees us from self-obsession to live in joy and service.
View on Amazon
Christian Mission in the Modern World
Clarifies key biblical concepts like evangelism, mission, and social action.
View on Amazon
Family Worship
A short, practical guide to leading your home in daily worship of God.
View on Amazon
This Momentary Marriage
Shows how marriage is designed to display the covenant love of Christ and His church.
View on Amazon