John 21
John 21 Focus: (The last chapter) The Resurrected Jesus appears by the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee).
PLEASE NOTE: Welcome! The showing of the Gospel of John movie is Thursday and Friday (1.28-29.21) at 6:30 safely spaced apart at tables in our Fellowship Hall. OR…you can watch it at home anytime on YouTube. Just put in “The Gospel of John movie” in the search bar. It is about 2 hours 50 minutes long.
NOTE: A slight changes of plans….now that we have finished the Gospel of John…we will take a little break…I will continue with a mini-study through the three short epistles of 1st, 2nd and 3rd John in February.
JOHN 21: Insights, Highlights and Points to Ponder:
It is SIGNIFICANT to NOTE that God’s Word says OVER 500 people witnessed our living Lord, the Resurrected Jesus, during the 40 days before He ascended back to Heaven. These witnesses include the numerous women who came to Christ’s empty tomb, the 11 disciples (MINUS Judas), and a BIG group of post-Resurrection eyewitnesses mentioned by Paul in I Corinthians 15:
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
It is the same Paul God directs to write this who as Saul was confronted by the Risen Christ on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9). Our living Lord transformed Saul by grace through faith to become the great Apostle Paul.
John 21 records and provides the details of the third appearance of the risen Lord to His disciples.
One big difference between John 20 and 21 is about 120 miles! The events of John 20 happened in southern Israel around Jerusalem. John 21 begins with Jesus and seven of His disciples “up north” at the Sea of Tiberius (aka as See of Galilee). The journey of faith and life of the disciples continues moving forward according to God’s plan. The same can be said of us (see Jeremiah 29:11).
We now read: John 21 (interspersed with commentary and insights)
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.
Reflect on the POST-Resurrection daily lives of Christ’s Disciples. Their lives have been completely changed, yet much in life remains the same. The Disciples were totally transformed by their crucified and risen Lord. They continue living in the joy and Good News of Christ’s Resurrection victory. They ALSO continue to live out the duties and callings of their daily lives. These fisherman disciples continue fishing. They still had to eat and earn a living. The Resurrected Jesus demonstrates in John 21 that He IS with His Disciples (and us) and provides surprising blessings for them (and us).
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 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. 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. 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.
NOTE: John 21 is an incredible FISH STORY with ZERO exaggeration that is completely TRUE! It is remarkable to note the detail recorded by eyewitness John that the miraculous catch directed by Jesus from shore ends up numbering 153 fish!
Notice the obvious fact that even after Easter the Disciples need to eat--it is breakfast time prepared by Jesus, Who gives them fish and bread (sound famliar? See John 6). Jesus blesses us and provides for our daily needs of body, mind, and spirit.
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. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
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.” 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. 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.”
NOTE: This is an emotional exchange between Jesus and Peter which takes us back to Peter’s earlier three denials of Jesus. Jesus now restores Peter with a three part exchange that communicates His love (agape) for Peter. Jesus also charges Peter to “tend” (care for) his “sheep” and “Feed my sheep,” which is the Church. In verse 18-19 Jesus predicts the type of death Peter would experience. Church tradition maintains that Peter was crucified upside down during the persecution of Emperor Nero. The restoration of Peter is complete when Jesus invites Peter again to “Follow Me.”
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?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 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[b] 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?”
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.
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.
NOTE: In the final verses of this final chapter of John’s Gospel we again hear John verify (without using his name) that he is the author and that what he has written is God-directed and Divine Truth.
Personal Application: The Good News of our living Lord still transforms hearts and minds today. With whom can we share this Good News of our crucified and living Lord?
Thank You: for joining this January journey through John’s Gospel. I hope it has been a blessing and that God’s Word has fed and strengthened your faith in the Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the Great “I Am,” the One Who is one with the Father--even Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
+ PRAYER + Thank You, God for giving us the Gospel of John! Thank You for sending the perfect Lamb Jesus Who takes away our sins. Continue to feed and strengthen our faith through Your Holy Word. Empower us by Your Spirit to remain faithful to You and joyfully share the Good News of Jesus with others in our daily lives. In the loving, saving, powerful Name of our living Lord and Savior Jesus we pray. Amen.
Pastor Scott Schmieding
