“Who Is That on the Shore?” – May 9, 2025

Read: John 21:1-14

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
John 21:4

“Who Is That on the Shore?”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Megan loved getting her hair cut. But not for the reasons you might think. It wasn’t because she liked the shampoo or having fun with her mom. Megan loved getting her hair cut because of a silly game her dad played with her. After her hair was cut, he would pretend not to recognize her. Even if she only had an inch or two trimmed off, he would act surprised and ask who her mom had brought home! Megan and her dad both knew the game was silly, but it always made them laugh.

It might sound just as funny that the disciples didn’t recognize Jesus in today’s Bible reading. They had been with Jesus for three years! They had heard him teach, seen him perform miracles, and had lots of personal conversations with him. But when they saw him on the shore after his resurrection, they didn’t recognize him right away. Maybe he looked different, or maybe they just didn’t expect to see Jesus that day.

But what’s really important is how they recognized Jesus. He told them to throw their fishing net off the right side of the boat, and when they did, they caught so many fish that they couldn’t pull the net back in!

How did Peter recognize Jesus? He remembered something that had happened before. Peter had caught a big haul of fish once when Jesus told him to do the same thing. That’s when Peter realized, “This is Jesus!” Peter recognized Jesus because he was familiar with what Jesus had said and done.

And you can recognize Jesus too! That’s why it’s so important for you to go to church, listen to Bible stories, and have family devotions. It’s also why memorizing Bible verses is so helpful—even though some can be tricky! The more you learn about Jesus, the more you will recognize him in your life. And when you recognize Jesus, you’ll be able to tell others about him!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for giving us the Bible so we can read about your words and actions. Help me always be excited to learn more about you, so I can recognize you better and share you with others. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What funny game did Megan’s dad play with her after her haircut?
• Why do you think the disciples didn’t know it was Jesus at first?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How did Peter recognize Jesus?
• How does learning about Jesus help us see the ways he works in our lives?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Can you think of a time when you’ve seen Jesus working in your life? How did you recognize it?
• How can you share with others the ways you’ve recognized Jesus working in your life?