THE GOSPEL OF JOHN CHAPTER 21

•INTRODUCTION 

•Although it would appear that the gospel of John ended with chapter 20 we find chapter 21.  Perhaps an addendum to the book added some time later. Before going into our study of John 21 lets Read Luke 24 beginning with verse 13.

•1 After these things (a) Jesus manifested  (b) Him self again  to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way ((a) Mk16:12)); ((b)John 20:19 ))

–The time frame between the two visits is indefinite unlike John 20:26

–Tiberias was also called the sea of Galilee

•Why did the disciples return to the sea of Galilee after being commissioned in John 21-23

•They had not yet been empowered by the Holy Spirit

–They lacked to tools and guidance they would receive from the Holy spirit

•2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and (b) Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together  ((b) John 1:45 )

–Who were the other two disciples?

•John does not tell us, however Andrew and Philip were mentioned in John 6:7&8 and John 12:22

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

–Now Peter was a fisherman by trade; was he going to once again fish for a living?

•It may have been Peter who wanted to return to his comfort zone while he waited for Jesus to return

•Perhaps he felt the need to get some cash for his mission.

•They caught no fish on their own.

•4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

–Why didn’t they recognize Jesus?

•It was dawn (light was dim) and they were about 100 yards out in the sea and distinguishing facial feature would have been unlikely

–Now Jesus just appeared at the shore, no mention is given on how He got there or how He knew His disciples would be in the boat.

•Peter earlier acknowledged that Jesus knows all things

•5 So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?”  They answered Him, “No”

–Notice here the use of the word children, a term not used by Jesus until after He breathed the Spirit of life on them

•The word children is translated from paidion pahee-dee

–Which simple means an immature Christian

–It was not Jesus’ intention to ridicule the disciples but rather to demonstrate to them and us the need to rely on Jesus for our daily needs

•6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.

•Telling them to cast their net on the right side of the boat demonstrated Jesus’ supernatural all knowing powers

–Not only were there fish in the net but more than enough fish.

»Jesus always gives to those who ask abundantly

•7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord. So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put is outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.

–John new it was Jesus because of the supernatural way the net was filled.

–Here we again see the impetuous Peter not hesitating, jumping into the water

•Peter had taken his outer garment off although  he was not naked and was a loincloth or other garment unsuitable to greet Jesus 

•8  But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish

–Now the boat was about two hundred cubits (approximately 18”) from land

•The equivalent  would be 100 yards or 92.4 meters 

•9 So when they got out on the land, *they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread

–We can safely assume that Jesus manifested the bread and fish which was reminiscent of the miracle fish and 5 loaves of bread

–It takes a considerable amount of time for wood to be reduced to charcoal; another miracle?

–This begs the question why would Jesus prepare food?

•Jesus in His glorified body could eat but did not need food to nourish His body

–I believe this shows us the extent at which Jesus goes to provide for us.

•10 Jesus *said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.”

–Jesus could have provided all the fish and bread for them to eat

•He chose instead to allow them to share in fish He had provided by His instruction

–One can easily see that we are to share that which is given to us by God

•We don’t know how much bread Jesus provided however we can assume it was more the sufficient.

•11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

–John clearly points out two points to consider in this verse

1.John gave an exact count of 153 large fish

–We are not told whether or not John took the time to count the fish

2.The size of the catch should have broken the net

–There is much speculation as to these two points

»I believe this event demonstrates Jesus’ ability and willingness to provide abundantly our needs

•JESUS PROVIDES

•12 Jesus *said to them, “come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.

–How did John, while in the boat, recognized Jesus

•However it must have been a spiritual recognition because the dim light and distance he from the shore

•Jesus’ resurrected body was different enough to make visual identification more difficult (JN 20:15 )

•13 Jesus *came *and took the bread * and gave it to them, and the fish likewise.

–This is reminiscent of the last supper in John 6:11.

•Although Jesus could eat; John makes no mention of Him eating here

–Jesus had no need for organic nourishment, for His body was and is eternal

•14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

– First appearance John 20:19

–Second appearance John 20:26-29

–The third time on the beach, in this verse

•THE LOVE MOTIVATION

•15 So 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 “Tend my lambs”

–What does “these” refer to?

•Perhaps Jesus was talking about the things Peter has

–The boat, the net and other earthly possessions

•An equally valid answer would be:

–Peter do you love Me more than the other disciples?

•Also important to note the use of the metaphor “lambs” (a baby sheep)

–Now a healthy flock is comprised of the very young (babies) Yearlings (teenagers) and adult sheep.

•This also holds true for a healthy church

–Everyone falls into one of these categories and as such has specific responsibilities

NOTE:   The references to baby, teen, and adult refer to the persons growth as a Christian, not their chronological age necessary.

•In this verse Jesus is referring to the new Christian (baby Christian)

–Baby Christians

  –Who needs constant attention  mentoring

  –They must be willing to listen

  –They must be ready to devote time to study, prayer, and gathering with other Christians

  –There eyes must be made ready by the holy Spirit to see the truths

–The teen age Christian is one who has a good understanding of the basic concepts leading to salvation.

»The teen Christian also needs mentoring

»The teen must also be will to spend time in study

»The teen should be eager to attend any church service with a heart eager to learn more about his Lord

»The teen should befriend a baby Christian and help them with their studies, and thereby lean more themselves

»The teen Christian should be a living testimony of the Lord Jesus in all they say and do.

•Lastly the adult Christian plays a key roll in their church and community

–The adult Christian bears all the responsibilities of the baby Christian and the teen Christian

–The adult Christian is well versed in scripture

–The adult Christian never stops learning

–The adult Christian seeks out baby and teen Christians to mentor

–The adult Christian is active in all church activities within their limits

– The adult Christian response to the call for prayer 1TIM 1

–The adult Christian is a good steward of all that God has given

–The adult Christian strives to maintain a testimonial life  

•16*He said to him again 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,  “Shepherd My sheep.”

–In this verse Jesus is referring to those who were Jesus’ disciples Those who Follow Him)

•Peter (meaning the rock) was Jesus’ choice to build His church

•Shepherding  involves

–caring for the needs of the sheep both physically and spiritually (referring to  the teen Christian)

»Guarding and protecting, and caring for his sheep

»Leading the sheep to greener pastures

•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 all things; You know that I love you.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

–Speaking now about the remaining 10 disciples (the adult Christian) and of the attention adult Christians need

•I see this as a watchful eye

•Direction was given as the leader of the newly formed church of Jesus

•OUR TIME IS IN HIS HANDS

•18 “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you whished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.”

–There are two possible revealing truths in this verse:

1. We begin life helpless and must depend on others, likewise when we become old we also depend on others.

–Known as the cycle of life

2. The second view

– this as a picture of the crucifixion.

•The girding may refer to Jesus being dressed with a robe and then bound to the cross member of the cross

•Some believe the outstretched hands actually point to is a picture of the nailing of the hands to the cross

•Jesus was led by the soldiers to the caring His own cross beam (patibulum)

–I will leave up to you to decide which of these two explanations best suit verse 18

•19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.  And when He had spoken this, *He said to him, “Follow Me!”

–Jesus is telling Peter how he would die

•Peter was to die a martyr by crucifixion

–The parallels in this verse with John 12:33; 18:32 are worth looking at closer

»These verses describe Jesus’ death

•The words “follow me” Jesus spoke in verse 18 tells, us Peter would follow Jesus by the same means of death (crucifixion)

•20 Peter, turning around, *saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”

–We have Identified this to be John the writer of this gospel•

•21So Peter seeing *him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?”

–It would natural for Peter to ask about the fate of the others

•Not only is he showing concern for his brothers and sisters but also as an appointed leader it would be important for him to know

•22Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

– No mystery here Jesus is telling Peter what happens to them is nun of his business

•Concern yourself with your future and your relationship to Him and or the Father

–Hearing the remark found in the beginning of this verse

•The disciples may have jumped to the conclusion they were not to die until Jesus returned (V23)

•23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

–John is stating that even though this was not what Jesus meant; He had power over death and could keep them alive until His return if that suited His purpose

•24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 

–On the surface it sounds like this last chapter was written by someone else

•There are several points to ponder here” [commentary bible.org]:

1.“If this statement of attestation were added by a later writer we would expect it to stand at the very end of the Fourth Gospel, but in fact it is followed by verse 25, which resorts to the first person singular (oimai) again

2.  Manuscript evidence for treating both verses 24 and 25 as a later addition to the Gospel is so slim as to be virtually nonexistent (verse 25 was omitted by the original copyist of , but the same copyist then added it as a correction; there is no manuscript evidence of any kind for the omission of verse 24);

–3.  Jesus in 3:11 uses a plural verb where it is clear in context that only he is speaking;

•    4. 1 John 1:1 uses plural verbs in the same way, in a context where authentication of testimony is concerned; and•

•                  5. The author of 3 John, who elsewhere uses the            first person singular, uses a plural verb and                    pronoun to refer to himself in verse 12 in a                      context where authentication of testimony is                 concerned: kaiV hJmei'" deV marturou'men, kaiV             oida" o{ti hJ marturiva hJmw'n ajlhqhv" ejstin. In           light of all this it seems probable that the                       Evangelist himself is the author of 21:24.”

•25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if *they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself *would not contain the books *that would be written.

ACKNOWLEGEMENTS

I have drawn many ideas and quotes from the following sources:

Scofield Study Bible

Ryrie Study Bible

Cross Wire on line Bible

Matthew Henry's commentaries

LINKS

OSIS Bible Tools Bible verses copied

Bible.org  quoted commentaries