Afterward Peter went fishing on the Sea of Galilee. Thomas the twin, Nathaniel of Cana, the brothers James and John, and two other disciples were with him fishing. They had caught nothing all night. A man called out to them from the shore and asked if they had any food. They replied no. The man told them to cast their net out on the right side of the boat and they would catch some. So they cast the net on the right side of the boat and their nets were so full of fish they couldn’t even pull the net in.
John told Peter that the man who spoke to them was the Lord. Peter put on a garment and jumped into the water and headed for Jesus on the shore. The others followed in a boat and struggled to bring the fish in. As soon as they all got to the shore, they saw a fire of coals there with some fish cooking on it and some bread. Jesus told them to bring some more fish to cook. They had breakfast together. None of them dared ask if this man was Jesus as they knew it was.
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. (John 21:15-17)
Why did Jesus ask Peter three times if he loved Him? Although it was very hard and hurtful for Peter to have Jesus ask him three times if Peter loved Him, it was necessary for Peter to go through this process. Peter had denied the Lord three times and affirming his love for Jesus three times would help him forgive himself for his denial. Jesus then explained to Peter how he would die for his faith in Christ.