John 21

21:1  After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and he manifested [himself] on this wise.

SEVENTH APPEARANCE OF JESUS. (Sea of Galilee.) John 21:1-25

21:2  There was together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus¹, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee², and the [sons] of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

1. Thomas called Didymus. See Mark 3:18.

2. Nathanael of Cana in Galilee. See John 1:45.

21:3  Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing¹. They say unto him, We also come with thee². They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing.

1. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. As usual, Peter was the leader.

2. They say unto him, We also come with thee. These apostles, thinking that their apostleship had terminated, had returned to their old likeas fishermen.*

   *NOTE.--We cannot agree in this. Jesus had said too many thingsindicating his future need of the apostles for them to think that hewas through with them ( Matthew 16:19 ; Matthew 24:9-13 ; Luke 22:32 ; John 15:16 John 15:20 John 15:27 John 16:1-3 ). He had told the apostles to go to Galilee, and that hewould appear to them there; they had done this and were waiting for hisappearance. Peter, because of his denials, may have wavered in hisloyalty, but the others surely did not. By going a-fishing they did notmean to abandon their apostleship; they were merely putting in thetime, while they waited for developments; but by thus returning totheir old occupation they were subjecting themselves to strongtemptation ( Luke 9:62 ).--Philip Y. Pendleton

21:5  Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat¹? They answered him, No².

1. Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? Jesus does not use the affectionate Greek word "teknia" ("children"),but the familiar and colloquial "paidia" ("boys"). His question waslike that of a stranger, or neighbor, who wished to buy fish.

2. They answered him, No. Their brevity bespeaks their disappointment at having a purchaser, but nothing to sell him.

21:6  And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find¹. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes².

1. Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. The movements of large bodies of fish in the waters of Galilee arefrequently visible to one standing on the shore.

2. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Supposing that the stranger thus saw fish uponthe right side of the boat, the disciples readily obeyed his command,without suspecting who it was that gave it.

21:7  That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved¹ saith unto Peter, It is the Lord². So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his coat about him (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea³.

1. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved. John.

2. Saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Even the wonderful draught of fishes did not at once arouse all the disciples to realize that amiracle had been wrought, and that Christ stood upon the shore. ButJohn, having believed in the resurrection of Jesus even before he hadseen the risen Lord, may rightly be presumed to have had a livelierexpectation of meeting him in Galilee, and this expectation made himmore alert for signs of the Lord's presence. During the night he hadprobably thought much of that other night when they took nothing, andof the day which followed and on which the Lord filled their nets forthem. At any rate, the similarity of the two occasions now flashedthrough John's mind, and he recognized that it was Christ who had butnow bade them cast the net.

3. So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his coat about him (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea. Thearduous task of fishing had caused Peter to lay aside his uppergarment; but as he prepares to meet the Lord he puts it on, moved byreverence and respect for the Master, though it encumbered him greatlyin his efforts to swim.

21:8  But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off)², dragging the net [full] of fishes.

1. But the other disciples came in the little boat . . . dragging the net [full] of fishes. The other disciples restrained their emotions,and attended to the duties of the hour.

2. (For they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off). They were about a hundred yards from the land.

21:9  So when they got out upon the land, they see a fire of coals there¹, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

1. So when they got out upon the land, they see a fire of coals there,
2. and fish laid thereon, and bread. The sight gave a new meaning to the Lord's question at John 21:5 . He had not come to buy, but to supply.

21:11  Simon Peter therefore went up, and drew the net to land¹, full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three²: and for all there were so many, the net was not rent³.

1. Simon Peter therefore went up, and drew the net to land. Peter, already wet, could lend material assistance in bringing the net toshore.

2. Full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three. John tells us the exact number of the fishes to show the magnitude of the miracle,both as to the catch and as to the unbroken nets.

3. And for all there were so many, the net was not rent. This forms a sharp contrast to the broken nets of Luke 5:6 . Possibly when the hourapproached when they would become fishers of men, Jesus meant to showthem that a greater and fuller miraculous power would attend and blesstheir efforts.

21:12  Jesus saith unto them, Come [and] break your fast. And none of the disciples durst inquire of him, Who art thou¹? knowing that it was the Lord.

1. And none of the disciples durst inquire of him, Who art thou?
2. knowing that it was the Lord. It was not, as some suppose, because they stood in a new and special awe of him, that they durst notquestion him, but it was the nature of the question itself. They feareda mild rebuke like that once administered to Philip ( John 14:9 ).

21:13  Jesus cometh, and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and the fish likewise.

1. Jesus then cometh, and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. Thus he gave to them when he fed the multitude and thus itmay be hundreds of times he had given to them when they sat at meattogether ( Luke 22:17-20 ; John 13:26 ).

21:14  This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after that he was risen from the dead¹.

1. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. It was his seventhappearance, but his third appearance to a "group" of disciples, and thethird appearance witnessed by John. John counts as follows: (1) Anappearance to the apostles without Thomas ( John 20:19 ); (2) anappearance to them with Thomas ( John 20:26 ); (3) this appearance.

21:15  So when they had broken their fast¹, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of John, lovest thou me more than these²? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs³.

1. So when they had broken their fast. After the eating of a meal together had calmed and quieted the excitement of the disciples, andmade them susceptible of teaching.

2. Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of John, lovest thou me more than these? Jesus here means: Do you love me more than thesefishes and this fishing business?* See John 21:17.

3. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. See John 21:17.

   *NOTE.--Here again we dissent. See Hengstenberg, Alford, Meyer, etc.and especially Godet. Peter had boasted of a love toward Jesus superiorto that of any of the other disciples ( Matthew 26:33 ; Mark 14:29 ; John 13:37 ),and by refusing to have Jesus wash his feet, by being the first to drawa sword in his Master's defense, and even by now conspicuouslydeserting the others to swim to meet Jesus, he had endeavored to provehis boast. Jesus therefore asks him if it is indeed true that his loveis greater than that of his fellow-disciples--"Do you love me more thanthese love me"?--Philip Y. Pendleton.

21:16  He saith to him again a second time, Simon, [son] of John, lovest thou me¹? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep².

1. Simon, [son] of John, lovest thou me? See John 21:17.

2. Tend my sheep. For if you love me better than fishing, you are a fisherman no longer, but a shepherd.* See John 21:17.

   *NOTE.--Rather, "If you love me better than the others do, take theplace which I have assigned you as chief servant of the flock"( Matthew 16:18 Matthew 16:19 ; Luke 22:26 )--Philip Y. Pendleton.

21:17  He saith unto him the third time, Lovest thou me¹? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee². Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep³.

1. He saith unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? The Greek here has subtle shades of meaning which the English does not express. In thefirst two questions addressed to Peter ( John 21:15 John 21:16 ), our Lord usesthe strong verb "agapan", and Peter replies by the weaker verb"philein". See John 11:5. In his third question, Jesus drops the"agapan" and takes Peter's own word "philein", as if he said, "Peter,are you even sure that you have a high regard for me"?

2. And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Peter, as we have seen, had professed the mostunparalleled devotion for the Master, but when the Lord now asks him ifhe has that devotion, he humbly describes his love as of a far weakerorder--a more instinctive affection or strong attachment, but nothingapproaching adoration. It grieved Peter to have the Lord thusapparently doubt that he had even a tender regard for him, and heappealed to Christ himself as a searcher of hearts to bear witnessthat, poor and meager as his love was, it was at least as intense as hehad represented it to be.

3. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. In response to each of Peter's professions of love Jesus lay a command on him, as if he had said, "Ifyou love me as you say, prove it thus". These three commands alsocontain subtle linguistic distinctions which, however, are fairlyrepresented by the English. Lambs and sheep are to be fed, and sheepare to be tended. The former means that young and old in the church areto be provided for, and, since the word "tends" mean to be shepherdunto, the latter may mean that Peter is to play the shepherd to thewandering and the erring, bringing them into the fold. Before leavingthis scene, we should note that it has close relationship to otherincidents in the life of Peter: (1) Jesus here calls him by the name bywhich he had first called him, noting the more honorable name which hehad given him. (2) Jesus recalls Peter under circumstances verysimilar to his first call. Compare John 21:1-14 ; Luke 5:1-11 . (3) Ina group around a fire of coals Peter here thrice professes his love forChrist, thus revoking the threefold denial which he had made undersimilar circumstances ( Luke 14:54 ).

21:18  Verily, verily¹, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest²: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not³.

1. Verily, verily. See John 1:51.

2. When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest. Peter had just shows this freedom by girding himselfand plunging into the sea ( John 21:7 ).

3. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. Thusour Lord, by delicate but unmistakable suggestion, shows Peter that thefreedom which he now enjoyed would be taken from him, and that he wouldlift his hands to permit others to bind him at they might lead him tomartyrdom to which his flesh (though not his spirit) would gounwillingly.

21:19  Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God¹. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me².

1. Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. John, who wrote after Peter's death, tells us what thewords of Christ meant. His words show that tradition is true in sayingthat Peter suffered martyrdom, but it is no voucher that tradition istrue as to the time (about thirty-four years after this), place (Rome),or manner (crucified head downward) of Peter's death. There iscertainly no trustworthy evidence that Peter was ever at Rome.

2. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. This saying bore the usual double sense in which Jesus employed it. Peterwas to follow him now (and he did arise and follow), and he was also tofollow Jesus to a violent death and a glorious immortality.

21:20  Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved¹ following; who also leaned back on his breast at the supper, and said, Lord², who is he that betrayeth thee?

1. The disciple whom Jesus loved. John.

2. Who also leaned back on his breast at the supper, and said, Lord,
3. who is he that betrayeth thee? See John 13:25 .

21:21  Peter therefore seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do¹?

1. Lord, and what shall this man do? Peter and John were near friends ( Acts 3:1 ), and understanding that the Lord had prophesied a violentdeath for himself, Peter was naturally interested in the fate of hisdear companion.

21:22  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? Follow thou me.

1. If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? follow thou me. It was none of Peter's business whether John's earthly lotwas easier or harder than his own; his business was to be faithful inthe pathway whither the Lord led him.

21:23  This saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die¹: yet Jesus said not unto him, that he should not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee?

1. This saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. Our Lord's words were a puzzle when Johnwrote his Gospel, and to many they are a puzzle still. For an abletreatment of the various interpretations of this difficult passage, seeW. Johnson's Commentary on John. There is no question that Johndied. The site of his grave at Ephesus was well known to earlyChristians. The coming of the Lord for which he tarried was that in theisle of Patmos, of which he tells us in the Book of Revelation. Thispassage, therefore, shows that John wrote his Gospel before his exilein Patmos.

21:24  This is the disciple that beareth witness of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his witness is true¹.

John 21:24 John 21:25
1. And we know that his witness is true. Since the "we know" differs from the "he knoweth" of John 19:35 , most of the critics hold that thisverse was added by the elders at Ephesus to whom John committed hisGospel, and that it is the attestation of the church there to the truthand authenticity of the Gospel. But the first person singular, "Isuppose", of John 21:25 is hard to account for such an hypothesis.Besides, none of the elders at Ephesus could suppose any such thing.Only an eyewitness who saw the fullness of the Lord's ministry would beled to pen these words. We find in the Epistle of John a condition ofaffairs similar to these two verses. The first chapter opens with andcontinues to use the editorial plural, while the second chapter dropsin the first person singular. We think, then, that John finished hisown book.

21:25  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written¹.

1. Even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written. Considering the wilderness of literature which has accumulatedaround the sayings and doings of our Lord contained in the briefGospels, it is little wonder that John thought a full record of theLord's life would fill the world with books.