CHAPTER 21

(A.D. 33)

JESUS

¹After these things Jesus showed himself again to the Disciples (proclaims the fact that Jesus only appeared, it seems, to those who were His Followers; Believers in Him were those alone who could see His Spiritual Body) at the Sea of Tiberias (Sea of Galilee); and on this wise showed He Himself (represents the fourth appearance of the Lord, at least in the context of His great victories over various life problems).

²There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His Disciples.

³Simon Peter said unto them, I go a fishing (even though the Scripture is not clear, it seems this fishing expedition was not for pleasure, but rather the necessity of making a living for their families; however, a Ministry which originates in the energy of the carnal will is fruitless; but when under the Governance of the Head of the Church, it brings forth rich fruit). They say unto him, We also go with you (represents the other six Disciples present; we arent told where the remaining four were at this time). They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately (probably referred to one of the vessels formerly used by Peter and the sons of Zebedee in their former fishing business); and that night they caught nothing (points to the fact that they were doing this for income, not for pleasure).

THE MIRACLE

⁴But when the morning was now come (they had fished all night, but without success), Jesus stood on the shore (presents the beginning of a most valuable lesson): but the Disciples knew not that it was Jesus (once again portrays the same experience as had by others).

⁵Then Jesus said unto them, Children, have you any meat? (This question was meant to draw them out, because their concern at the time was making a living for their families.)They answered Him, No (showed their lack of success for a nights work).

⁶And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find (what must have been their thoughts concerning the admonition of this stranger!). They cast therefore (seems to suggest that John may have suspected this was the Lord), and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes (this appearance of Christ addressed the life problem of care).

⁷Therefore that Disciple whom Jesus loved (John) said unto Peter, It is the Lord (without a doubt, it would be one of the greatest moments of their lives). Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girded his fishers coat unto him, (for he was naked,) (does not refer to a total lack of clothing, but rather that he had laid aside his outer garment in order that it not be soiled), and did cast himself into the sea (presents such being done not to attend the overburdened net, but rather to come quickly to Jesus).

⁸And the other Disciples came in a little ship (different than the main vessel); (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) (approximately one hundred yards) dragging the net with fish (represents a tremendous catch which took only a few minutes, versus their night-long efforts which had produced only an empty net; such is the effort with Christ, and such is the effort without Christ!).

⁹As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread (where did Jesus get these provisions? I personally believe He miraculously supplied them).

¹⁰Jesus said unto them, Bring of the fish which you have now caught (this portrays the fact that the fish Jesus had cooked didnt come from this particular supply).

¹¹Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fish (insinuating that each fish was larger than normal), an hundred and fifty and three (the exact number is given by the Holy Spirit for purpose and reason; the Disciples were to be fishers of men, not of fish per se; consequently, the number given of the fish portrays the fact that each soul is precious in the sight of God, and numbered accordingly): and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken (presents a contrast with the miraculous catch given in Lk. 5:6, where the net did break; symbolically speaking, the net broke then because the Holy Spirit had not yet come; with the Holy Spirit, the net wont break).

¹²Jesus said unto them, Come and dine (presents Him functioning as a Servant as usual, even in His Glorified State). And none of the Disciples did ask Him, Who are You? knowing that it was the Lord (regrettably, many today are asking, concerning certain religious phenomenon, Who are You?; meaning that the earmarks of the True Gospel are little present).

¹³Jesus then comes, and takes bread, and gives them, and fish likewise (the bread was symbolic of Himself, with the fish, i.e., meat, being symbolic of His Word).

¹⁴This is now the third time that Jesus showed Himself to His Disciples, after that He was risen from the dead (third time to His Disciples; there is some discrepancy as to how many times He appeared, but the fact is He did appear to many after His Resurrection, before His Ascension).

THE COMMISSION

¹⁵So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these? (This question is referring to Peters boasts immediately before the Crucifixion that He loved Jesus more than the other Disciples [Mat. 26:31-35; Mk. 14:29].) He said unto him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love You (Jesus used the Greek verb Agapao for Love, which means Ardent, Supreme, and Perfect, while Peter used the Greek verb Phileo, which means to be fond of, to feel friendship for another). He said unto him, Feed My Lambs (refers to the newest converts, which need special attention, and who will be entrusted to Peter).

¹⁶He said to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? (The question presents Jesus leaving off the words, more than these; however, He does continue to use the strong Greek word Agapao for Love; by leaving off these words, Jesus will draw Peter away from a boastful attitude.) He said unto him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love You (presents Peter continuing to use the same Greek verb Phileo for Love as He did the first time; this is not a negative, but rather a positive; he is finally seeing that he cannot trust the flesh). He said unto him, Feed My Sheep (by Christ using the word Sheep, He now is speaking of strong, mature Believers).

¹⁷He said unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, Do you love Me? (Jesus now uses the weaker word Phileo for Love, as Peter had used.) Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Do you Love Me? (Peter very well understands that Jesus has Himself now used the lesser word for Love, which says something to the Apostle.)And he said unto Him, Lord, You know all things (the Apostle now knows that Jesus knows all things about him that which he did, thought, and felt; he also knows that the Lord has wounded his heart in order to train and fit him for the high honor of shepherding that which was most precious to Himself, i.e., the Sheep of Jn., Chpt. 10); You know that I love You (and Jesus, of course, did know). Jesus said unto him, Feed My Sheep (expresses total and complete confidence).

PROPHECY

¹⁸Verily, verily, I say unto you, When you were young, you girded yourself, and walked where you would (refers to his prime of life): but when you shall be old, you shall stretch forth your hands, and another shall gird you (predicted Peters faithfulness unto death, which undoubtedly comforted and strengthened his pierced heart and, as well, prevented the other Disciples from scornfully reminding him of his former cowardice), and carry you where you would not (refers to the time and distant day when Peter would die).

¹⁹This spoke He, signifying by what death he should glorify God (Tertullain and Eusebius said that the Apostle, upon facing death, preferred Crucifixion with his head downwards on the plea that to be Crucified as His Master was too great an honor for one who had denied his Lord). And when He had spoken this, He said unto him (said to Peter), Follow Me (with one word, the Lord now corrects every one of Peters failings, and institutes him into His sublime Mission).

JOHN

²⁰Then Peter, turning about, seeing the Disciple whom Jesus loved following (spoke of John, and once more, even this soon, presents Peters extraordinary characteristic to guide rather than to follow; old habits die hard!); which also leaned on His breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he who betrays You? (This question presents John speaking of himself, and taking us back to the Last Supper.)

²¹Peter seeing Him said to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? (This presents Peter asking something for which He will be rebuked.)

²²Jesus said unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you? (In effect, Jesus is proclaiming to Peter that it is none of his business as to what the Will of God is for John.) You follow Me (the pronoun you is emphatic; the lesson we should learn from this is not the glory of any Church, but the Personal Glory of the Lord Jesus; we are to follow Him, which means we follow nothing else; that alone will keep us occupied to the extent that, if done properly, we will not try to attend to the business of others).

²³Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that Disciple should not die (proclaims the manner in which Scripture can be misinterpreted): yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die (refers to John setting the record straight as to what Jesus had actually said to him); but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you? (This presents Jesus in the words, If I will, as the absolute disposer of human life and, as well, reveals His Godhead. Jesus did come to him on the Isle of Patmos and gave him the great Revelation, which closed out the Canon of Scripture.)

TESTIMONY

²⁴This is the Disciple which testifies of these things (presents John as an eye-witness of all he relates), and wrote these things (verifies John as the author of this Gospel): and we know that his testimony is true (verifies the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit upon these accounts in that which we refer to as The Gospel according to John).

²⁵And there are also many other things which Jesus did (speaks, no doubt, of the many Miracles He performed, some which are not recorded in any of the four Gospels), the which, if they should be written every one (lends credence to the idea that there were far more Miracles performed by Jesus and not recorded, than those which were recorded), I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen (Christ is infinite, the Earth finite; hence, the supposition of the Verse is most reasonable).