John Ch.21

Hebrews 1

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Matthew 28:10

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. 

2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 

3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

The disciples have returned home, to Galilee, in accordance with the instructions of Jesus (see Matthew 28:10)…and Peter has the returned to fishing. Even after seeing the resurrected Lord, back in Jerusalem, and his promise that they will see him again in Galilee, it seems that Peter and the other disciples are not expectant of any official “call back”. However, a call back there will be; the Lord has promised this to them. 

Peter is resolved to return to fishing…because there is something still weighing on his conscience; Peter still has some unresolved issues with the Lord. 

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 

Again, they have toiled all night, with no results: But Day is coming: - a New Day. And with it, for the Disciples, the realization that, from this moment on, appart from Jesus, they can do nothing…

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

Clue number 1: He calls them “children”.

And clue number 2 will immediately follow:

6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.

See Luke Ch.5

4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 

Which brings us back full circle.

7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 

8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

Here we find them having come full circle. One of the first miracles Jesus performed for his disciples, he now performs again. For all of them, this must have opened the floodgates…the memories  - and the emotions that came with them - must have come flooding back. And for Peter, it will not stop here:

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 

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

11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153* of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.

12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 

The memories must now be flooding back. Initial shock is gradually being replaced with relief, realization, gladness, and finally peace. 

“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
    my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
    too great and too marvelous for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
    like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child is my soul within me. King David, Psalm 131:1-2

Here, in this place, is where we now find the Apostles

*The practice of numerology (the reading and interpretation of numbers) stems from the occult (where certain grouping of numbers are interpreted as omens). It is nowhere condoned in the New Testament, and should not exist within the Church today. (It is almost certain that some of the Grecians Paul converted, were practicing this particular “art”. Add Ephesians 2:20 and Revelation 13 We follow and adhere to the precedent laid down by Christ and his Apostles: The written Word of the New Testament is our boundary line and safety net: In other words: If we don’t read of them during it - we don’t do it!

However, when we see recorded, a specific number like this, it is cause us to take some notice.

14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 

Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. See Ch.18:18

For Peter especially, sitting around this charcoal fire, eating and fellowshipping with the One that just a few days earlier, he had denied, three times, while warming himself by another charcoal fire.

this is a bitter sweet moment of pain and also healing: But now is te time for redemption:

Luke 5:8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. 

Jesus and Peter

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, 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 a second time, “Simon, son of John, 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 John, 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 

19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Luke 5:10(b) And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”[a] 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Jesus and the Beloved Apostle

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 

21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 

22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 

23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

The same disciple who testifies the following:

Revelation 21:6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.