John Ch.21

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 his original livelihood: 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: 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

It will be as the Lord has promised them. 

Peter is resolved to return to fishing…because there is something still weighing on his conscience; Peter still has an unresolved issue 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 here is the dawn of a New Day - And, from this moment on, for these Apostles, this New Day will bring with it the realization that, apart 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”.

See Ch.13:13

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.5:4-7

And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 

And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 

And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 

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. 

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 all come flooding back. And for Peter, it will not stop here:

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. 

Peter’s denial of Jesus is likely still weighing heavily upon him; but he now knows, that in Jesus, is the express image of the God who is Love: It is out of this knowledge, that Peter - not content to wait - will dive into the water, to get to his Lord. Seeing his resurrected Lord, has already brought about a massive change in him: He is no longer the shivering Peter at the charcoal fire in the courtyard; guilt-stricken and hiding; but he is now bold, confident and secure in Jesus’s love for him…his actions show us this.

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.

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.

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

What is this final, beautiful illustration showing us? Here is my thought: The Lord will bring in the harvest (the souls): We must be willing and obedient, to go out into the deep, and cast out our nets.

For John, to record a specific number like this, adds further weight to the fact that his account, is an authentic one, as an actual eye witness. 

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: From the five loaves and two fish, that fed 5000 on a hillside…to the breaking of bread at the last supper:“Take and eat, for this is my body, broken for you.” 

Initial shock is gradually being replaced with relief, realization, gladness, and finally peace; the perfect Shalom completeness that Jesus promised them, at that last Passover gathering.

“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.

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, this is a bitter sweet moment of pain and also healing: Here he is, 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: But here is the dawn of the New Covenant…the New Day: Now is the time for redemption:

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

*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; there is nowhere that New Testament believers are encouraged in the interpretation of numbers - except one place: Revelation 13:18. 

There is no end to the allegorical interpretations that come from a scripture like John 21:11. But we are instructed not to get embroiled in speculation, mysticism and allegorical interpretation. We follow and adhere to the precedent laid down by Christ and his Apostles: (It is almost certain that some of the Grecians Paul converted, were practicing this particular “art”.) 

For us, the written Word of the New Testament is our boundary line and safety net: In other words: If we don’t read of Jesus and the Apostles doing it - we don’t do it!

“Simon, Son of John” Part 1

Read Luke 5:8-11

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 

and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. 

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 

And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

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.” 

“Simon, son of John…” Jesus is taking Simon back to the beginning…before he became “Peter the rock” - and fell drastically short of this title. Peter has come through this great sifting:           “…afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2Corinthians 4:8-9)

He is now broken…penitent…childlike: 

“…do you love me more than these?” Here is Peter alone with Jesus: and the unresolved issue weighing on Peter’s conscience is about to be thoroughly and completely resolved:

Jesus asks Peter; “do you love me more than you love anyone or anything else?” And here is Peter’s chance to make things right - not so much with Jesus (Jesus already knows Peter’s heart - as fully and completely as he knows each of ours) -  but this is Peter’s chance to make right this issue, within his own conscience: “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Not once will he say this - but three times: The same number of times that Peter denied Jesus, he will now confess his love and devotion towards him.This is how Jesus wipes the slate clean.

1John 1:8-9

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. 

“Feed” Greek - boskó: meaning to herd, pasture, feed.

“Lambs” Greek - arnion: a little lamb. (A new believer)

“Tend” Greek - poimainó: to shepherd, rule, care for. 

“Sheep” Greek - probation: (little) sheep (mature believers)

This bears the all the hallmarks of a shepherd (more commonly known today as a pastor). With Peter’s restoration, will come his commission…a commission, which is after the character and heart of the Lord himself: to shepherd his flock. 

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (See Ch.10:11)

Peter will do this to the utmost…following in the footsteps of his Lord and Savior…to eventually lay down his own life; because the one who has been forgiven much, loves much. (Luke 7:47)

“Simon, Son of John” Part 2

“Simon son of John do you love me?

Feed my lambs…tend my sheep…feed my sheep: (Ref. back to vs.15-17) - It is as if Jesus is saying to Simon: “Love my Church, as you love Me.”

And this lesson of Love will not end here: 

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.”

With Jesus’s outstretched arms empaled on the cross, still fresh in his mind, Peter’s martyrdom was a certainty: And for Peter, there is no other way…Peter wants no other way: Such as the heart of one, whom (like Peter) has been forgiven so much! (See Ch.6:68)

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (See Ch.15:12-13)

“Follow Me!” 

Peter - like Jesus Christ before him - will also stretch forth his hands, in total surrender to the One who has bought him back from the jaws of Death - obediently following, all the way to death.

Here is Peter’s “high calling” from God…and Church history shows us: He will embrace it fully: Considering himself unworthy to die the same death as his Lord, Peter - “the Rock”…upon whose confession of faith, Jesus now builds his Church - under the tyrannical reign of the Emperor Nero, before the eyes of all of Rome…

This Peter will be crucified “with his head downward…” (in other words, upside down)

 Compare this to the occurrence of Matthew 16:22-25

And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 

But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Here is total transformation…a slate wiped clean! Peter will run the race and finish it well! He will not hold on to his life…he will hold on to his Lord! He will not treasure up the things of this world…but set his sights upon the Treasure of the next! And he will bring - and is still bringing - multitudes with him in this conviction. {Please keep this in mind today, whenever anyone puts the title “apostle” before his name. Do not be led astray Church.} Here is the Life of a true Apostle of Christ…and like all true Apostles, his words (through the canon of Scripture)…his actions…his life…still speaks powerfully to us today. See 1&2 Peter - He is not only their Apostle…he is also ours.👇

“Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 

I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 

since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 

And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.” Peter, Apostle of Christ Jesus.

2Peter vs.12-15

There are many who are “sent” through the foundation already laid; but it is these - the original Apostles - who, in laying down their own lives, laid this Foundation.

{Merciful Father, thank you so much for your written Word - the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets - and for this present freedom that we have, to be able to read them.}

The End of the Matter…

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?” 

Again, this is a name John gives himself, because this is his revelation…and his relationship with the Lord: “I am loved by Him” I pray we could all see ourselves like that…

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

Remembering back to Jesus’s words of a few moments ago. “…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…Follow Me.”Vs.18-19

Peter’s course is set: He now not only knows who Christ Jesus is; but he has an understanding of  what will be his own calling in the Lord - and also of what will be his own ending: Honesty, this must have been incredibly sobering; which could explain Peter’s attempt to deflect some of the weight of this calling onto another nearby disciple: “What about him? Is he going to stretch out his hands and die too?”

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?”

Still the sting of death is lingering for Peter: I believe it would be the same for all of us. 

But…it is as if Jesus is saying: “What does it matter who lives and who dies Peter..? And how..? And when..?” 

“If it is my will that he remain alive…even until I return, what does that matter to you?” (Paraphrased)

After all, what is life…or death; when you are following the One who is Eternal Life…who has conquered Death. If Peter is momentarily concerned about his death, Jesus swiftly and lovingly turns his attention back towards the One who is the Resurrection and the Life: “You…Peter…follow Me.” 

As for John, it is true that this “Beloved Apostle” will not die, as in martyrdom, like the other disciples: After witnessing the early martyrdom of his own brother, this second “son of thunder” will be imprisoned, plunged into boiling oil (according to the theologian Tertilian)…and eventually enslaved on a rock called Patmos, where he will continue onwards, to write the End of this story (The Book of Revelation) -  but he will not die in the way of the other Apostles. 

All of this he will endure, while proclaiming the testimony of Jesus - and because of it! 

All of this he will endure, with great courage and perfect love - because John, although the last of the Apostles to remain alive - will have died to this world and the things of it, long ago. (Galatians 2:20 & 6:14)

Here again, is a transformed  life: From “son of thunder” to Apostle of Love, John will follow the footsteps of his fellow Apostles, embracing the Cross of Christ, all the way to death (whether alive in the body or not), and will set the example for all of us to do the same. Because those whose lives are surrendered to the service of the Lord, will live out all the days He (their Master) has ordained for them; whether few - like James, or many - like his brother John.

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.

There must no longer be any doubt. Lord Holy Spirit, open the eyes of every reader to the Truth…

…And “what is truth”? (Ch.18:38)

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus Christ. Ch.14:6

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

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.

For forty days before his ascension, the resurrected Jesus will continue to appear to his disciples: to fellowship, encourage , instruct, reaffirm and make firm their foundation. But in saying this, John implies that whether it was forty days - or forty years - it would never be enough…

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! Romans 11:33

All we know for sure is that, in Christ we know the Way; and that in Christ, is the Way - for us to know the One who is unfathomable…immortal, invisible the only wise God…(1Timothy 1:17)

This is the miracle of Salvation: That we can call him our Father: No fear of death..no fear of Hell; only the Promise of Life eternal; in the Presence of the LORD: Oh death where is your sting…Oh Grave where is your victory..? 1Corinthians 15:55