God's Blessing

John 21 Explained – Verse by Verse Commentary

1 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.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
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.
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.
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.” Jesus 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.”
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 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.

Disciples-Peter-and-John-prepare-breakfast-with-resurrected-Jesus-on-serene-shore-at-dawn_rttr

The True Meaning of John 21

This passage from the Gospel of John provides a poignant conclusion to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. The author, John, was one of the twelve disciples who walked closely with the Lord and witnessed his teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection. The disciples in this chapter grapple with the aftermath of Jesus’ crucifixion and the uncertainty of the future. A miraculous catch of fish and a tender restoration with the risen Christ will remind them of their true calling as they return to their former lives as fishermen. The events that unfold foreshadow the church’s mission to spread the good news of salvation to the world.

We will see Jesus tenderly restore the disciple Peter, who had denied him, and commission him to “feed my sheep.” This interaction echoes Jesus’ earlier words in John 10, where he describes himself as the good shepherd. The chapter closes with a mysterious prediction about Peter’s own fate, pointing to the cost of discipleship.

John 21:1-14

Jesus appears to His disciples for the third time after His resurrection in a beautiful and profound account found in John 21:1-14. The passage begins with Peter deciding to go fishing along with a few other disciples. It’s important to note that this fishing trip takes place after Jesus had already appeared to the disciples twice before. The fact that Peter, who was called by Jesus to be a fisher of men (Matthew 4:19), chose to go back to his former profession of fishing reflects a sense of returning to the familiar in a moment of uncertainty and perhaps disappointment. This can be relatable to times in our own lives when we may revert to what we know when faced with challenges or waiting for direction. The disciples catch nothing all night while fishing, mirroring a similar situation in Luke 5:1-11 when Jesus first called Peter, James, and John to follow Him, and they caught a miraculous amount of fish after an unsuccessful night of fishing. Jesus appears on the shore just as dawn is breaking, but the disciples do not recognize Him immediately. This parallel to the past event may serve as a reminder that Jesus is consistently present and interceding for His followers, even when they are unaware of His presence.

When Jesus instructs the disciples to cast their net on the right side of the boat, they catch such a large number of fish that they are unable to haul the net in. This miraculous catch of fish prompts John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, to recognize Jesus and tells Peter, who immediately jumps into the water to swim to shore to meet the Lord. This reaction reveals Peter’s impulsive nature, seen throughout the Gospels, and his deep love and eagerness to be near Jesus.

Upon reaching the shore, the disciples find Jesus prepared a charcoal fire with fish and bread. Jesus’s actions here are reminiscent of the Last Supper (Luke 22:7-38) when He broke bread and shared it with His disciples, symbolizing His sacrifice and the communion shared among believers. Jesus demonstrates His care and provision for His disciples in this intimate setting by providing food for them, both physically and spiritually. Jesus addresses Peter in a significant moment as the disciples eat breakfast with him. Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, to which Peter responds affirmatively each time. This interaction is symbolic as it parallels Peter’s three denials of Jesus before the crucifixion (John 18:15-27). Jesus not only forgives Peter but also commissions him to take care of His sheep, emphasizing Peter’s future role in shepherding the early Church by giving Peter the opportunity to reaffirm his love for Him three times. John 21:1-14 beautifully captures the essence of Jesus’s love, restoration, and commissioning of His disciples, particularly Peter. It serves as a powerful reminder of Jesus’s faithfulness, provision, forgiveness, and call for His followers to continue His work in the world. The passage conveys the timeless message of grace, redemption, and the transformation that occurs when individuals encounter the living Christ and respond to His call with love and obedience.

John 21:15-19

A profound conversation between Jesus and Peter in John 21:15-19 carries immense significance in the context of their relationship and Peter’s role within the early Christian community. The passage reads:

“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.’ 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.’ 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.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’”

This exchange is loaded with symbolism and significance. Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him, paralleling Peter’s earlier three denials of Jesus before His crucifixion. Each time Peter responds in the affirmative, affirming his love for Jesus. The repetition of this questioning not only serves to reinstate Peter’s commitment to Jesus but also demonstrates Jesus’ forgiveness and restoration of Peter despite his previous denials. Jesus’ instructions to Peter to “Feed my lambs,” “Take care of my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep” can commission Peter to be a shepherd and leader within the Christian community. This echoes Jesus’ earlier declaration in Matthew 16:18 when He proclaimed Peter as the rock on which He would build His church. Jesus affirms Peter’s importance in spreading His teachings and guiding the early believers by entrusting him with the responsibility to care for His followers.

This passage also highlights the core principle of love as the foundation of Christian discipleship. Jesus emphasizes the connection between love for Him and the responsibility to care for His followers. This underscores the vital role of love and service in the lives of believers, illustrating that genuine love for Christ should manifest in actions that reflect His teachings and care for others. John 21:15-19 serves as a poignant moment of reconciliation, reaffirmation, and commissioning for Peter overall. It showcases Jesus’ grace, forgiveness, and unwavering love for His disciples, even in the face of their shortcomings. This passage reminds us of the transformative power of Christ’s love and the call for believers to demonstrate their love for Him through service and care for others.

John 21:20-25

Several important sections in John 21:20-25 should be unpacked to gain a deeper understanding of the passage. Let’s break it down:

  1. “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?’)” – This verse sets the stage by highlighting the bond between John (referred to as the disciple whom Jesus loved) and Jesus. John was a close and beloved disciple of Jesus who had a unique relationship with Him. This reference also reminds the readers of the Last Supper where John leaned back against Jesus, emphasizing his intimacy with the Lord.

  2. “When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’” – Here, Peter, always curious and perhaps a bit competitive as seen in other parts of the Gospels, is asking Jesus about the fate of John. Peter’s focus seems to shift from himself to comparing his destiny to that of John’s, indicating a human tendency to compare our paths with those of others, even in the presence of Jesus.

  3. “Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’” – Jesus’s response to Peter’s question is a gentle rebuke and a call to focus on one’s own journey rather than comparing it to others. Jesus is reminding Peter (and us) that each person’s path and calling are unique and that our primary focus should be on following Him faithfully, not on speculating about others’ journeys.

  4. “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?’” – This verse highlights how misunderstandings and rumors can easily arise, even among believers, when Jesus’s words are taken out of context or not fully understood. It serves as a cautionary tale to always seek clarity and understanding when interpreting God’s Word.

  5. “This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.” – The passage concludes by affirming John as a reliable witness who recorded these events accurately. John’s Gospel is a powerful testimony to Jesus’s life, ministry, death, and resurrection, and his account has stood the test of time as a credible and truthful narrative. The passage in John 21:20-25 serves as a reminder to focus on our individual relationship with Christ, rather than comparing ourselves to others. It also underscores the importance of accurately understanding and interpreting God’s Word to avoid misunderstandings and false rumors. Additionally, it highlights the credibility of John as a faithful disciple and witness of Jesus’s teachings and miracles. This passage, like many others in the Bible, offers timeless lessons and insights for believers today to deepen their faith and walk with Christ.

After John 21

Jesus and his disciples have a powerful encounter by the Sea of Galilee in this chapter. Despite their doubts and fears, Jesus reaffirms his love for them and calls them to continue his work. Through a miraculous catch of fish and a shared meal, the disciples are reminded of their purpose and commission to spread the good news. Jesus meets us where we are, in the midst of our doubts and failures, as we reflect on this chapter. Just as he restored Peter and the other disciples, he offers us forgiveness and a renewed sense of mission. His call to follow him wholeheartedly, trusting in his guidance and provision, should be heeded by us. Let us open ourselves to the ways in which Jesus may call us to step out in faith and continue his work in the world as we turn the page to the next chapter.