John 21:1… “Follow Me—Again”

John chapter 20 ends in triumph and purpose. Jesus is alive. He steps into a room filled with fear and uncertainty, stands among His disciples, and speaks peace where anxiety once was. He shows them His wounds—not as reminders of pain, but as proof of love. He breathes the Holy Spirit upon them and sends them out, awakening faith where doubt once was. Even Thomas, once hesitant and unsure, is gently drawn from disbelief into deep devotion.

Then John chapter 21 begins—not with a crowd, a sermon, or a miracle that shakes the world—but quietly. Almost unexpectedly. The disciples had returned to what is familiar. They go back to fishing. And it is there, in the ordinary and the unfinished, that Jesus comes to meet them again. Not to shame them. Not to undo their calling. But to restore them, to deepen their faith, and to remind them that He is not done.

As we turn to verse 1 of chapter 21 of John, we discover how deeply Jesus cares about those who follow Him—even when they feel uncertain, fearful, or are simply waiting for clarity. This verse reminds us that Jesus continues to come to us, meeting us where we are, and lovingly calling us forward once more: Follow Me…again

Allow me to share what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me through this single verse.

Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

21 “After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.”

Now let us slow down and look closely at what John tells us in verse one. As we know, Jesus meets His people right where they are and gently reveals Himself. Some translations say He “appeared again,” others say He “revealed Himself again.” The disciples did not discover Jesus—He chose to make Himself known. Just like when it comes to reading the Bible or seeking the spiritual truth, the revelation begins with Jesus, not us.

Jesus had already appeared to His disciples before—after they had received the Holy Spirit. Yet He comes again. He continues to come back for His disciples even when they are confused, unsure, or weighed down by past regret—like Peter. His grace is ongoing. He does not stop showing up after one encounter.

Think back to the moment you first encountered the Holy Spirit. How liberating it felt. And yet, somewhere between then and now, faith may have felt scattered, heavy, or uncertain. Still—He showed up. He was there even before you recognized Him. He has shown up every time, always on time. Jesus continues coming back for His people—the people whom He loves. He does not turn away. He comes again—patient, gentle, and full of grace.

This verse tells us Jesus met His disciples by the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. This sea was named after a Roman ruler, Tiberius. Rome renamed places to assert control, power, and identity. But Jesus shows up here and quietly reveals a deeper truth: earthly powers may name the waters, but Jesus commands the sea. His authority is not built on fear, titles, armies, or dominance. His authority is revealed through presence, provision, and restoration rooted in love.

There is even more significance to this location. The disciples returned to fishing—their former life. In their uncertainty, they went backward to what felt familiar. Does that sound familiar to you? This was where many of the disciples had since worked as fishermen. It was a familiar territory to them. After the resurrection, the disciples are not preaching, traveling, or leading. They are fishing- the very work Jesus first called them out of.  They have seen and known about the resurrection, but they were living from their

past. 

Why?

 There are three possible reasons:

1. Uncertainty: They knew Jesus was alive but were unsure what that meant for their future.

2. Fear: Rome still ruled. Danger still existed.

3. They were waiting for clarity: When purpose feels paused, people return to what sustained them for comfort.

   
   

How many times have we allowed fear, uncertainty or the need for validation to hold us back from fulfilling our purpose?He has called us to move forward- so why do we move backwards?

We are not called to move backwards into what is familiar, but forward into what God has spoken. Luke 9:62 says “No one who puts his hand to the plow & looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

What does this mean?: It means when you look back to your old life, it divides the heart. God’s calling requires forward focus.

Let me tell you about fear. Fear convinces us that waiting is safer than obedience. It whispers that we must feel ready, qualified, or affirmed before we move. But God says in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power & love & self-control.”

Fear does not come from God!!! He commands us—again and again—“Do not be afraid.” It is not advice; it is a command. And when we do not listen to His command, we are being disobedient by saying our own thought and wisdom is higher than His. 

Now let me tell you about uncertainty. Uncertainty tempts us to return to what we can control— our comfort. But faith is not built by certainty or comfort. Faith is built on trust even if we cannot see the full picture ahead. We need to trust Him & have faith in Him when we feel uncertain. Proverbs 3:5 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, & do not lean on your own understanding.”

Even when the path is unclear, He calls us to move forward by Faith. The apostle Paul understood this when he wrote Philippians 3:13-14, it says “ Forgetting what lies  behind & straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal.” 

What is the goal?

To fulfill our purpose—to worship and glorify the Father through our actions, our words, and the way we share the gospel of Jesus.

Do not wait for the validation of others; it delays obedience. When we seek approval from people, we risk missing the timing of God. Ask yourself this from Galatians 1:10- “Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God”

I am guilty of doing all of this. I have allowed fear, uncertainty, & the need of validation hold me back from fully stepping into my purpose. 

If this is you, I want you to know this:

God does not call us to move backwards. He calls us to move forward. Even when we pause. Even when we hesitate. Jesus meets us - but never leaves us where we are. He meets us every time and says, “Follow Me—again.” Not because we deserve it, but because His love is relentless. Not because we are ready, but because He is always faithful. Every “again" is an opportunity, an invitation to step forward, to trust, to obey, and to grow into the purpose He has always had placed in our hearts. Jesus does not call us to linger in the past or settle for the familiar. He calls us into the new—into life, mission, and joy prepared for us. He is calling you.. Hes telling you, “ Follow me–again”. Will you respond to His calling?

This moment by the sea is not isolated- it echoes a story we’ve seen before. Did you know that John 21:1  also connects with Genesis 3? Allow me to explain: In Genesis 3, the chapter begins with the serpent tempting Eve to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God had commanded Adam and Eve not to eat. The serpent deceives her, saying she will not die but will gain knowledge like God. Eve eats the fruit and gives some to Adam, who also eats.

After eating, they realize they are naked, feeling shame for the first time. They hide from God, who comes to them in the garden. God, knowing well where they are still called for them. God called out to Adam and Eve in the garden—“Where are you?”—He still calls us today, inviting us to respond and to come into His presence. He is waiting for us to respond and say “Here I am Lord”

Even when you feel unworthy, even when your mistakes feel too big and your shame feels too heavy, God still calls your name—just as He called Adam and Eve in the garden: “Where are you?” He is not asking to condemn you, but to meet you where you are. He sees the pain, the fear, the hiding, and yet His love reaches further than your failures. He invites you to step out of the shadows of guilt and into His presence, to be restored, to be held, to be forgiven. You do not have to earn His love—He is calling you because He already loves you. No matter how far you’ve strayed, His hand is still outstretched. He is waiting for you.

 He has never left you. Even if you feel He is far away, He has not moved. It doesn’t matter how sinful you feel, whether you go to church or not, or whether you think you are worthy or deserving—He is calling you and waiting for you to respond.

Follow Him again— and He will appear or reveal Himself again and again. Walk forward with assurance. He is with you in fear, in uncertainty, and in the waiting. Walk forward in faith. Walk forward in trust.

Maybe you’re standing in a season that feels unclear. Maybe you’ve gone back to what feels safe because you’re tired of waiting. But hear this: Jesus has not stopped coming for you. He meets you again—not with disappointment, but with love. And He is still calling your name, still inviting your heart, still saying, “Follow Me—again.” This time, don’t look back. Step forward. He is waiting for you. He knows where you are and He is calling out to you…“Where are you?" He is waiting for a response. Will you answer? Will you Follow Him –again? Will you surrender it all and yourself to Him?