1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 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 are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. 15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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 again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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 Jonah, 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, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” 23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” 24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Commentary
Vs. 1-2 1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.
Having now appeared to all of the disciples, Jesus will once again show Himself to seven of them. Now these were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, (i.e. “doubting” Thomas), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee; the disciple whom Jesus said when he first saw him, “behold an Israelite in whom is no deceit” John 1:47, the sons of Zebedee, i.e. James and John and two other unnamed disciples.
Vs. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
It seems at this point Peter being a leader amongst the twelve had become discouraged, though they all had seen the Risen Lord, there seems a loss of direction for them, of what do we do now? And so here Peter reverts back to what he had always done, and that is go fishing, and so James and John also being previous partners with Peter in that adventure also come, and so does Thomas and Nathanael and the two other unnamed disciples. And so, they go out and spend all night on the Sea of Galilee, casting their nets here and there and yet they catch nothing. For as we will see God will not have them turn back to what He called them out of, rather He has plans for them all!
Vs. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Having then spent an entire night on the Sea, and yet having nothing to shore for their efforts, they now head back to shore. Now it is there where Jesus is waiting for them, standing on the shore as they approach it, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus, for they were even more discouraged than when they first set out.
Vs. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.”
Now as they got near shore and within speaking distance of Jesus, He said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” Clearly then by their one word answer they did not yet realize that it was Jesus who was speaking with them.
Vs. 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
And so to reveal Himself to them, Jesus tells them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, telling them that they will find some. And so, they cast their net and to their amazement they were not able to draw the net in because of the multitude of fish! This then harkens back to when the Lord Jesus Christ first called Peter and James and John revealed Himself to them through the same miracle (see Luke 5:1-11).
Vs. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
The disciple whom Jesus loved is John the writer of this Gospel referring to himself. And so, it was John who first recognized the Lord, when He had done this and so crying out, he said, “It is the Lord!” Now when John had said this Peter in his haste put on his outer garment and jump into the Sea making haste then towards the shore where Jesus was!
Vs. 8 “But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.”
However, the other disciples were still wrestling with the net full of fish, and so they came in a small boat and dragged it with the net of fish about two hundred cubits or approx. 300ft. to the shore which explains why they were not able to recognize Jesus when they first saw Him on the shore.
Vs. 9 “Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.”
Now as soon as they came to land, they saw there a fire of coals with fish laid on it and bread. Jesus then had already prepared a breakfast for them.
Vs. 10-11 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.
Now when they arrived at shore with the net Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” Now when Jesus said this, Peter immediately went up to net of fish and dragged the net full of fish to the shore. And even though the net was overflowing with fish, one hundred and fifty-three to be exact, yet the net did not break! Which itself is a nice metaphor for who many souls they would bring to the Lord Christ and that as with the fish none of them would be lost, for as the Lord ordained this catch of fish for them, so He would do the same in regards to their being fishers of men for Him. As Jesus Himself says, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” John 6:37 and “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.” John 6:39
Vs. 12 “Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord.”
Now when they all arrived at the shore, Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” The disciples then all come to Jesus and take seats around the fire where the fish and bread were that He had prepared for them. There is a solemnity and sense of mystery there as they all quietly sit around the fire, and so none of the disciples dare to ask the “mysterious” stranger who He was, for they all knew that it was Jesus. And so, in that moment they all knew they had once again let Him down by returning to what He had called them out of. And yet Jesus shows that He is neither upset nor disappointed with them, instead He is going to use this moment of having breakfast by the sea with them to now turn their focus back to what they must be doing.
Vs. 13 “Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.”
And so, as the disciples are seated and gazing into the fire, likely reflecting on the many things Jesus had said and done amongst them, Jesus now comes to them and taking some of the bread and fish He gives it to them, thus serving and feeding His disciples just as a parent would its own children.
Vs. 14 “This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.”
The Gospel of John now notes that this is the third time that Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. However, as we will see, it is at this time that Jesus will now address Peter personally and ask that he carry on His living example of caring for and service towards all of His disciples (consider Mark 10:45).
Vs. 15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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.”
Having then eaten their meal in silence, Jesus now breaks the silence by saying to Peter in presence of the others, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” To which Peter responds by saying, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” Here though Peter does not use the Greek word agape (Str. 25), rather he uses the word phileo (Str. 5368), which indicates a strong affection for, rather than an unconditional love for. Now Peter does this because he already knows that by his own three denials of Jesus before Christ’s Crucifixion, in trying to save himself from the same, he can no longer boldly claim to love the Lord in that way, as when he boldly said to Him that He would never deny Him. Jesus then having heard Peters response, now says to him, “Feed My Lambs.” Thus, Jesus in now restoring Peter before the others is only concerned that he put his lambs (i.e. His redeemed peoples) care first. And so “Feed My Lambs.” indicates both our spiritual care (i.e., our being fed with the Word of God) as well as our literal care (consider Ezekiel 34). Something which every Pastor has to have in their hearts if they too wish to faithfully follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
Vs. 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
Once again Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, saying to him, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” And so once again Peter responds in the same way saying, Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” And with that Jesus this time says to him, “Tend My sheep.” Now to Tend the Lord s sheep indicates ongoing care for them, for evangelism is one very important thing, but ongoing discipleship and mentoring and nurturing, and thus building church communities where disciples can grow and mature and thus learn to love and trust each other is also equally important. And so, neither aspect of the Gospel should be forsaken by us who wish to Feed and Tend Christ’s lambs.
Vs. 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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, “Feed My sheep.
This is now is the third time that Jesus will ask Peter if he loves Him. For Peter had denied Jesus three times, and so now Jesus is giving Peter the opportunity to confess his love for Him, three times in the presence of the others. However, when Jesus asked Peter this third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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.” Now when Peter said that, Jesus once again said to Him, “Feed My sheep. Thus, in doing so Jesus was reiterating that as a shepherd of His lambs he must always be about feeding His sheep. A Pastor then who is not focused on and committed to feeding the Lord Jesus Christ’s lambs then is not one of His pastors.
Vs. 18-19 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
Now in a rare move, the Lord Jesus having exhorted Peter to Feed and Tend His sheep. Now tells him that when he was young and strong physically, he was self willed, and so he girded himself and walked wherever he wished. However, Jesus now tells Peter that when he is old, and thus no longer reliant on his own physical strength, nor any longer self-willed, that he will stretch out his own hands (indicating his own death on the cross), but not by his own will, but by another’s who will also gird him and carry him where he does not wish. Having then told Peter how he will in his own death glorify God, Jesus now says to Him, “Follow Me.” Thus, Jesus is saying, never again let the fear of death or harm keep you from ever following Me.
Vs. 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
At this point Jesus must have begun to walk to indicate that when He said to Peter “follow Me”, He literally meant it. Thus, to follow Jesus in this life and for all eternity is every Christians point and purpose for being both created and redeemed by Him and for Him. Now as Peter began following Jesus, he also saw that John also began following Him, who had also leaned on Jesus’ breast at the supper, and who had also asked Him who would betray Him.
Vs. 21-22 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
Peter then in asking Jesus about John was wanting to know if John would also die a martyr as Jesus told Peter that he would. Now Jesus in responding to Peter’s question told him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
In other words Jesus is saying to Peter, don’t concern yourself about John what I have planned for him, rather concern yourself with following Me! For our concern and focus is not to be on Jesus’ plans and designs for other believers, rather we are to only concern ourselves with our own walk with Him, (i.e. our following Him).
Vs. 23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
Unfortunately Jesus Words did not immediately settle in on them, but instead the brethren initially took Jesus’ Words and thought that He was saying that John would not die, when all Jesus was trying to drive home was that He wanted them, and us all to focus only on our own discipleship with Him, rather than focus on what we think God’s plans are for someone else.
Vs. 24 “This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.”
John now certifies that his testimony is true, that he himself has been an eye witness too both the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ as well as His works recorded in this Gospel which bears his name, which he himself is the sole writer of.
Vs. 25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Now in declaring that he has seen these very works that Jesus did, John in closing also realizes that there are innumerable things that Jesus also did while on earth that not even world itself could contain all the books that would be required to record them. For when the Lord Jesus was here, He was still God, directing everything from the smallest matter in the Universe to everything and anything else that falls under God’s domain, which is everything! And so, when we read the Gospel and we read of Jesus’ healings and miracles and such we are only seeing the very tip of the iceberg as it were! For there are so many things that Jesus does and maintains every single moment of every day that our finite minds simply cannot comprehend it all. Thankfully though we need not be overwhelmed or concerned with all those things, rather He just wants us to keep our finite focus on Him and His Word given to us, amen.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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