JOHN 21

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

21 Afterward, Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.[Greek Tiberias] It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus [Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin. ]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[Or about 90 meters] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus Reinstates Peter

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” [Here, Peter is acknowledging Jesus is Lord and God who "knows" everything and nothing can be hidden from him]

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
[The Apostle John witnessed this event as he followed Jesus and Peter from behind them. If the author of the Gospel is John himself, he would have just said "Peter turned and saw me following them"]

22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. [Here the author seems to be not John himself as he wrote this gospel on the writings and testimony of John the Apostle. It's possible that John used a scribe to write for him, the same way as the other Apostles because they were just ordinary fishermen and in their time according to history only 10% of the population can read and write.]

25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

NOTES:

1. The Gospel of John may have been written down for him by a scribe, a follower who knows how to read and write or even a member of the Church who has taken it upon himself to put into one book the testimonies of John either in oral or in written form for the use of the Church this is what we can deduce from verse 24 since the writer or author of the book refer to John in 3rd person. "He could have just said I testify to these things and write them down" but he used a third person.

2. Verses 15, 16, and 17 are a testament that Peter is to lead the Church. Jesus commissioned him to "Feed my Lamb", "Take care of my sheep" and "Feed my sheep". Jesus only said this to Peter not to other Apostles. He may have in fact told it to all the rest of the Apostles and the Disciples except that it is not recorded but has been handed down by tradition. This is evident at at the role of Peter in the first 12 Chapters of the Acts where he is clearly pictured as the leader. What is the difference between the Lamb and the sheep since Jesus separated them? The lamb and sheep are the same except for the age. The Lamb can be likened to a baby and children to whom Jesus said the Kingdom of God is for. It is clear here in terms of metaphor that the sheep and lamb are those that will follow Jesus Christ and become members of his Church. The Assembly of those called and become believers and followers of Jesus Christ are likened to a herd of sheep and lamb. Thus in saying "Feed my lamb" Jesus is referring to the children from infants to children. They are to be fed meaning to be included in the Sacraments of the Church not excluded in the same way as the sheep who in the metaphor refers to the Older members of the Church. Both should be taken care of by Peter. Therefore, he was designated to head the Church. It is an affirmation of his role in building the church.

3. In verse 4 it is clear that Jesus's physical appearance has changed after the Ressurection. In many instances of his appearances to the Disciples, they could hardly recognize him except when he does the usual things they did and except when he introduces himself as the Lord. He is at this point in his glorified physical body. One that is perfect can pass through a closed door and disappear in a blink of an eye yet it is not a spirit but a physical body.

4. So verse 4 reminds us that we will be like Jesus Glorified body at the resurrection, we cannot be recognized just like Jesus in his glorious body just as Philippians 3:20-21 says "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."

NOTES:

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