Daily Dose of Hope

November 14, 2025

Scripture – John 21

Prayer: Holy and Merciful God, Thank you for a new day and thank you that your mercies are new every morning. Help us, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts and focus on you and your Word. In these next few moments of silence, help us be still and know that you are God...In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. Happy Friday! As most of you know, we have been walking through the Gospels and will soon walk through Acts. Today, we walk through John 21 and conclude the Gospel of John.

In today's passage, the resurrected Lord appears to the disciples who are out fishing. At first they don't know it's Jesus, but when they recognize him, they rush to the shore. Peter jumps in and swims to get there faster. It's a happy reunion. After another miracle of abundance (an amazing catch of fish and no net ripping), the disciples find Jesus on the shore ready to cook some breakfast. One note here - Jesus' resurrection was a spiritual and physical resurrection. If you recall, he could enter locked rooms without going through the door but he also ate food and needed nourishment. Jesus did not appear to them as a ghost but as a real human being.

This is the narrative in which Jesus and Peter reconcile. It's my guess that Jesus has already forgiven Peter for his denial but we can assume Peter has all kinds of pain and mixed feelings associated with his betrayal. It's time to address these inward feelings of shame and brokenness. Jesus has big plans for Peter so this healing needs to happen now. And it does, but in a way that only Jesus can do it.

In a series of three questions, possibly correlating to Peter's three denials, Jesus arranges a miracle in the heart in Peter. Three times, Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" Peter then has to say out loud, "You know I do, Lord." With each cycle of questioning, we can begin to see Peter's shame lift. Jesus didn't doubt Peter's love but maybe Peter did after his failure before the crucifixion. An unspoken forgiveness takes place and Jesus reinstates Peter to do what Jesus has called him to do – shepherd the people of God.

But at the same time, Jesus is still calling Peter to do something very, very hard. In verse 18, Jesus makes it clear that continuing Jesus' mission and leading his people will eventually lead Peter to his own death. In verse 19, Jesus refers to how Peter will lay down his life. Jesus knows this won't be easy for Peter and he says that Peter will have to go where he doesn't wish to go. Jesus is reinstating Peter here but he is also vouching for his integrity. He is telling the others that Peter does, in fact, have what it takes to lead the flock.

This final chapter in John brought to mind several questions for me:

-Is there someone with whom you need to reconcile? Pray about how to handle that situation.

-Is there someone in your life that needs forgiving?

-Is Jesus calling you to do something hard? Are you avoiding it? Why?

-What has been your biggest takeaway from the Gospel of John? How has it been different for you from the other Gospels?

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki