John 21

The appearance in Galilee and the miracle of the catch of fish

After these things Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the lake of Tiberias. and he revealed himself in this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of Jesus were together.

21:2 The sons of Zebedee were James and John (Matt 10:2).⚜

3 Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing”. They said to him, “We will also go with you”. They went out and immediately got into a boat. And that night they caught nothing.

21:3 The bodily presence of the Lord Jesus was not always with them in those days. The disciples were poor men who had always worked for a living (Matt 4:18-22; Acts 3:6). Peter’s purpose may have been to earn some money for their expenses while they waited for the Lord to appear. There is no indication in these verses that any of them intended to abandon the Lord’s work. And there is nothing wrong with those who preach the gospel while having another job to earn a living (Acts 18:3; 20:34-35; 2 Thess 3:7-10).⚜

4 But when morning came, Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any food?” They answered him, “No”.

6 And he said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some”. So they cast it there, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the large number of fish.

21:6 For a similar miracle see Luke 5:4-10. The Lord Jesus knows the place of every fish in the sea and every star in the sky (Isa 40:26). There is a lesson here for “fishers of men” (Matt 4:19). If Christ does not direct and bless their efforts their labour is without result. He knows where all future believers are and how to reach them.⚜

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord”. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had removed it), and threw himself into the lake.

21:7 Peter’s attitude at this miracle was quite different than it was at the other (Luke 5:8). He had learned many things since then, both about himself and about the Lord Jesus.⚜

8 And the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about a hundred meters), dragging the net with fish.

9 As soon as they reached land, they saw a charcoal fire there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

21:9 The Lord from heaven was cooking breakfast for His disciples. Compare John 13:3-5; Matt 20:28. See also Luke 12:35-37. His heart, His love, His desire to help them were not changed.⚜

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught”.

11 Simon Peter went up to the boat, and dragged the net full of large fish to land. They totaled a hundred and fifty-three, but though there were so many, the net was not broken.

21:11 The disciples would have been able to sell these fish and have money for expenses. And the Lord even kept the net from being torn. Many times since then, in all generations and in miraculous ways, the Lord has provided for His servants. Matt 6:31-33 and Phil 4:19 give truth for all time.⚜

12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat”. And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.

21:12 Compare Rev 3:20. Here the disciples were surely filled with awe and wonder in the presence of the risen Son of God, and hardly knew what to say.⚜

13 Jesus then came, took the bread and gave it to them, and also the fish.

21:13 Not only did He cook the food, He served them as well. His resurrection did not remove His humility and His desire to serve men (Heb 13:8).⚜

14 This was now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead.

15 So when they had eaten, 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 Again he said to him the 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, “Take care of 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.

21:15-17 Peter had denied the Lord three times (John 18:17, 25, 27). How terribly he felt about it is indicated in Matt 26:75. Now three times the Lord questions him about his love. This must have brought to Peter’s mind his denials and his self-confidence which led to them. And it was good for him to face himself and recognize his weakness and folly and sin. It was especially Peter whom Satan “sifted” (Luke 22:31). So now it was especially Peter with whom the Lord dealt. But in dealing with Peter He was teaching the other disciples (and us) very important truth. Though the Lord did reawaken Peter’s grief, that was not His chief purpose – which was to restore and confirm his commission.⚜

18 Truly, truly I say to you, when you were young, you fastened your belt around you and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you get old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten your belt and take you where you will not want to go”.

19 He said this, indicating the kind of death by which he would glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he said to him, “Follow me”.

21:18-19 Here the Lord indicated that Peter would grow old and die. It is not easy to reconcile this with the teaching that Christ could have come back any moment during the lifetime of the apostles. After uttering this prophecy could the Lord have returned before Peter grew old and died?⚜

20 Then Peter, turning around, saw coming behind them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who also had leaned against his chest at supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays you?”

21:20 See John 13:23. The disciple whom Jesus loved was one of the seven who went fishing (vs 2,3). We know he was not Peter, and it is unlikely he was any of the others, except John himself.⚜

21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, and what will this man do?”

21:21 The meaning seems to be – “What is his future? Will he also grow old and be led where he does not want to go? If I am to die by violence, will my brother John go the same way?”⚜

22 Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me”.

21:22 There is a rebuke here that is a warning to every servant of God. The Lord reminded Peter that his chief concern should be his own present responsibility toward the Lord, not the future of someone else. Jesus is not teaching here that we should not have a loving concern for fellow believers (compare John 13:34; 1 Cor 12:25-26; Gal 6:2). But one may have an improper curiosity about Christ’s plans for others. And it is all too possible to be taken up with what others may do and neglect one’s own duty simply to follow the Lord.⚜

23 Then this statement went around among the brethren, that disciple would not die. But Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things. And we know that his testimony is true.

21:24 Here we learn the identity of the disciple whom Jesus loved (v 20). He was the author of this Gospel. There is evidence that this was the apostle John, and no evidence that it was any of the other disciples.⚜

25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did. If every one of them would be written down, I suppose even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.