John 21

Chapter Introduction

Some scholars don’t accept this chapter as being original to the text. This is primarily based on the end of chapter 20, which is a summation of the purpose of the gospel. Other scholars accept this chapter as original but added later by the original author.

There is nothing inconsistent about Chapter 21. It is an epilogue to the events of the Passion Week. The first two appearances of Jesus before His disciples were in Jerusalem. The epilogue includes the third appearance, this time in Galilee.

At the end of chapter twenty, one might get the sense that the story of Jesus had been told and was finished. John isn’t just tying up loose ends in chapter 21 and showing us it was just the beginning. A new phase of ministry was beginning.

First, we saw Peter deny the Lord, so John wants to show us the reinstatement of Peter. He also wants to address a rumor that had circulated among the church. Finally, John leaves us with the certification of his testimony as the last living apostle.

Jesus had appeared to Mary in the garden. He appeared to two men on the road to Emmaus. He then appeared to the disciples that same day. He later appeared to them again when Thomas was present. The Ascension was to be his final appearance until He came again.

In Matthew 28:7, the disciples were told to go to Galilee. Chapter 21 of John would fit into this time in Galilee. Matthew records the commissioning of the Apostles.

They later returned to Jerusalem where they went to the Mount of Olives to see Jesus ascend to the Father. Then, Acts records, they were commanded not to depart from Jerusalem after His ascension but to wait for the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 21:1-3

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples who were in Galilee at the Sea of Galilee. There were seven disciples. Peter had three denials on his record. Thomas had doubted Jesus. Nathanael displayed some unbelief at the very beginning of his walk. James and John were there with two other unnamed followers. Is this number seven significant? John doesn’t mention it. Maybe it was symbolic of all those who would follow; all who would doubt, wonder, question their faith, feel lost at times, all searching for answers. Jesus appeared, and they had breakfast with Him. I imagine all were edified and consoled. All the questions were answered.

Peter is shown returning to his previous trade of his old life. All the others joined him. They went out into the night and caught nothing. I imagine a night of reminiscence and story-telling. It might have been a collective gut check to encourage each other to press on. No fish were caught.

This may be the same place where the fishermen were originally called to follow Jesus. He was going to make them fishers of men. They did not feel like fishers of anything at the time.

***

There was likely a private battle going on in the mind of Peter. Imagine the shame he felt. He had proudly proclaimed to Jesus that he would never leave Him. He told Jesus he would follow him even unto death. He said that he loved Jesus more than the others. Yet, John hadn’t denied Jesus. They all ran away for a bit, and even though Thomas was a doubter, no one else outright denied Jesus. Peter may have felt like there was no hope for him or that the Lord would even find a place in His kingdom for such a man as him.

The Lord had appeared to all of them as Peter was among them. But Peter, without a doubt, did not feel like he belonged.

Chapter 21:4-6

Fishing during the night was not uncommon. Some say there was better success. Others believed the night fisherman was first to the market the next morning. Every fisherman is his own expert and while they like to talk fish, each one secretly thinks he is a better fisherman, knows the right lures, and the secret spot to catch the biggest fish. I can't imagine Peter and these others were any different. Yet, this particular night, they caught nothing. This was probably unusual. Maybe this conveys the idea that there was no returning to the old life, as well as, “I can do nothing apart from Christ.”

These fishermen then hear a stranger call. They have to confess they’d caught nothing. Then he told them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. I can imagine grumbling and some eye rolls. After all, these guys were fisherman, they knew how to catch fish. They didn't know the advice came from the Creator of the fish, the waters, and the air they breathed.

The difference in their success or failure that morning appeared to be the boat's width when in reality, it was Jesus. When they cast their nets where Jesus directed, the nets were full. The disciples struggled to pull the net in. Jesus enjoyed blessing, surprising, and providing for them.

This is the last miracle in the gospels.

John 21:7-11

John was the first to wonder about the guy on shore. He realized it was Jesus and told Peter. Peter put his outer garment on before jumping into the water and making his way to shore. The KJV said Peter was naked while most translations say he was without his outer garment. This Greek word could mean naked or without almost naked. Peter had probably worked up a sweat and removed his outer garment. This would be like men removing their shirt and working in shorts. This wasn’t done in public, but these were a bunch of fishermen on the water. It would have been normal to remove the outer garment while working in the boat. But when the work was done, the garment went back on, even if you were jumping in the water.

Some scholars portray Peter’s fishing as a sign of apostacy, having walked away from Jesus. However, his actions don’t appear as one who has fallen. He was excited to see Jesus, to the point of leaving the boat, the other disciples, and the fish.

As Peter stepped out of the boat, I wonder if he remembered another day when he stepped out in faith to walk on water. This long night on the water was probably full of thought; to think of his shortcomings and failures and consider what he could have or should have done. So much had happened in a few short days after a few quick years. Everything had risen and fallen quickly, particularly at his denial of the Lord.

The other disciples came by a small boat. They were about a hundred yards from shore. They came dragging the net full of fish. On the shore, they found Jesus, with a fish already broiling on the charcoal fire, and bread (fish sandwich for breakfast). Jesus invited them to add their fish (even though provided by Him) to His provision.

It was another charcoal fire that Peter had stood around when He denied Jesus (18:15-27).

John 21:12-14

It’s fascinating that John tells us that Peter dragged the net to shore. The fish were large, and there were 153 of them. It’s a miracle the net wasn’t torn. But why 153 fish? If you believe every word of scripture is there for a purpose, this passage baffles us. If it wasn’t important, why is it listed?

This is the kind of detail a fisherman would include in a historical account. It would be normal for the fishermen to count and divide the fish among the others.
It displays God’s abundant provision, reminiscent of the feeding of thousands with loaves and fish.
Jerome claimed that it was one of each species of fish based on an ancient zoologist. This was proven wrong.
Some have played with the Hebrew words with a value of 153 to attempt to find some hidden meaning.
To cast the net where Jesus instructed brought more fish than they thought possible and none got away. Maybe this is a lesson for the fishers of men. They needed to cast their net where Jesus instructed and none would escape.

This is an interesting picture. This is seven men, none of them special or remarkable at all in the world's eyes. They are gathered around Jesus, sharing a meal. None of them had to ask who this was because they knew it was the Lord. They had already seen Him a few times, yet, it was probably still hard to believe it was Him.

Maybe it's starting to look like a church. The gathering of the unremarkable saints, sharing a meal, fellowship. This is the closest thing to heaven we'll know in these bodies in this fallen world.

John 21:15-17

First Question

This seems like a private discussion between Peter and the Lord, yet it may have been with the others nearby. Jesus asked the first question.

Do you love Me more than these?

Jesus used the word “agape” for love. This word speaks of an unconditional, sacrificial, selfless love. It is the kind of love Peter had professed for Jesus. A love that made Peter say He would follow Jesus to death if necessary. This love caused Peter to draw his sword before the soldiers in the garden of Gethsemane.

What was Jesus referring to as these? Was He pointing to the other disciples? Peter had implied he loved Jesus more than any of the others. Was Jesus pointing to the fish? Was He asking Peter if He loved fishing more than He loved following Jesus?

Maybe Peter simply commented on breakfast, "What a great breakfast. I love fish more than anything in the world?" Jesus, "Simon, do you love Me more than these?"

In Luke, Jesus taught the disciples about counting the cost.

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:26-27)

We can only speculate, but it really doesn't matter was 'these' are. Do we love the Lord more than anything? Do we love the Lord more than whatever the 'these' in your life is?

Peter affirmed his love for Jesus using a different word for love. These different words for love are often seen as synonyms, but the different meanings are important here. Peter uses “phileo” love to respond. This is brotherly love, loyalty, and affection.

Jesus commands Peter to feed His lambs. The Lord established Peter as a shepherd of His sheep.

Second Question

The second question was similar to the first. Jesus asked if Peter had agape love for Him.

Peter answered in the same as he had at the first question. Jesus asked if he had sacrificial, loyal, and selfless love for Him. Peter responded that he loved him with great affection and loyalty. It’s not quite the same.

After Peter’s answer, the Lord commissions him to tend His sheep. They were Jesus’ sheep but Peter was to act as a shepherd for them. He was not just to feed them but care for them and guide them.

Third Question

Jesus asked a third time, but this time asking Peter if he had “phileo” love for Him. It was as though Jesus asked Him if that was as far as he would go. Brotherly love had boundaries or limits, whereas agape love was complete surrender, the limit being all that could be provided up to and including my life.

Peter's grief was likely at the realization that the three questions paralleled the three denials Jesus had predicted. Each question picked at the scab of the denials, the wound still fresh in Peter’s mind. Jesus wasn’t scolding Peter but giving him a chance to heal. This was a chance for Peter to affirm His relationship with the Lord after he had denied it three times on the night of the trial.

It may be the other six were not aware of the denials until that moment.

Within Peter's answer is the acknowledgment that Jesus is Lord and God. He acknowledged that the Lord knew all things. The Lord knew Peter's heart. He again affirmed “phileo” love for Jesus. Peter didn’t trust himself to commit to agape love. He wasn’t sure he could live up to that.

Jesus once again told Peter to feed His sheep.

Peter acknowledged his love 3 times. Jesus restored and commissioned him.

Keep on feeding my lambs
Keep taking care of my sheep
Keep on feeding my sheep (more mature sheep than the 1st reply).

John 21:18-19

The “Most assuredly” is “amen, amen,” we’ve seen numerous times in this gospel. It is another confirmation that John wrote this epilogue.

As Jesus had predicted Peter’s denial, He now gives him a prediction of the life yet to be lived. Peter would live a life as a shepherd and die for his faith in Jesus. Peter would not get to decide what he wore when he was taken away for execution. The phrase 'stretch out your hands' was a common phrase used for crucifixion. Tradition says that Peter was crucified upside down because he did not feel worthy to die the same way Jesus did. He would glorify God in life and death approximately thirty years after Jesus' ministry. When John wrote this, Peter would have been dead for many years (around 20).

Jesus closed out this commissioning and post-denial restoration with the command to follow Him. This appears to have a dual meaning. This is the same command given at the beginning of the disciple's calling. It now had a new meaning. Jesus had died and risen again, giving His life for others. Peter was to lead others, sacrificing his life for the love of others in Christ-like ministry.

What a blessing to see the Lord restore Peter. It brings us hope when we see that nothing escapes the nets of the Lord.

John 21:20-23

This restoration of Peter now appears to have been a walk with Jesus on the shoreline. The others followed as Jesus spoke to Peter. The one following behind was the one whom Jesus loved. He also leaned back on Jesus' breast to ask who the betrayer was at the Last Supper. This is further evidence that John is referring to himself.

Peter and John were buddies and had been through a lot and experienced a lot together. When Peter saw John following, he asked Jesus what John’s future was. Jesus' response essentially told Peter it was none of his business. Peter was not to indulge in future telling of other’s lives.

The answer Jesus gave was misunderstood. It became a tradition in the early church that John wouldn’t die until Jesus returned. John is setting the record straight that, even though he is the last living apostle, that wasn’t what Jesus said. Jesus offered a hypothetical scenario to make a point to Peter.

John gave testimony of what Jesus said. This should put to rest the rumor. John was there and heard and knew that Jesus didn't say He was coming back before John's death.

John 21:24

This line, or something close to it, was a common line used to certify testimony. John saw them and wrote them. The “we” of the last part of the sentence is what bothers scholars. Scholars think its possible that John’s followers added this after he was gone. The “we” were all those who heard John’s first-hand account of these events. They understood them to be true.

Part of the testimony is that all Jesus did would fill volumes of books. I wish John had filled some more volumes of what Jesus did. I'd love to hear them. Maybe those are stories we’ll get to hear when we are with Him.

***

This week I ran across the story of a lady (Margaret Clarkson) who lived at least part of her life lonely and secluded. She was godly but seemingly lost in this world, trying to find her place. She began to write hymns in her loneliness, and her words struck a chord in me because they reminded me of the contrast we see in Peter.

So send I you to labor unrewarded,
To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown,
To bear rebuke, to suffer scorn and scoffing,
So send I you to toil for me alone.

So send I you - to loneliness and longing,
With heart a-hungering for the loved and known;
Forsaking home and kindred, friend and dear one,
So send I you - to know my love alone.

So send I you - to leave your life’s ambitions,
To die to dear desire, self-will resign,
To labor long and love where men revile you,
So send I you - to lose your life in mine.

While her words are certainly true, they seem cold and lonely. The words seem like she was on a lonely journey on her own. Later in her life, Margaret said she saw the "one-sidedness" of this hymn and composed a newer version that reflected her growth in Christ.

I do not know tomorrow’s way, If dark or bright its hours may be;
But I know Christ, and come what may, I know that he abides with me.

I do not know what may befall Of grief or gladness, peace or pain;
But I know Christ, and through it all I know his presence will sustain.

So send I you—by grace made strong; To triumph o’er hosts of hell,
O’er darkness, death and sin; My name to bear, and in that name to conquer
So send I you, my victory to win

Amen

John