John
© copyright 2008 Darroll Evans, all rights reserved

Chapter 21

John 21:1-14
1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2 There 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.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

After that Jesus confirmed His resurrection to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias (Galilean Sea)!

Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, and James and John were among those gathered there.

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going (Gr. hupagō-ὑπάγω) fishing!”

Keep in mind that he had seen the empty tomb!

He had seen the resurrected Christ!

But now, in his enthusiasm to spread the Gospel of the risen Christ, Peter was going fishing!

Peter said, “I go a fishing!”

He was not just telling the others that he was taking the day off to go fishing. Peter basically said, “This Apostle thing was nice while it lasted, but I am returning to the fishing business!” He was returning to fishing as his business!

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Am I missing something or did Jesus disqualify Peter?

First, let me point out that the New Covenant between the Father and the Son was already ratified in the resurrection and it was in force!

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Today, when any person is ordained by God to teach or preach the gospel, he may think he is leaving, but God will not leave him and he will, one way or another, teach and preach the gospel!

The gifts and calling of God under the New Covenant do not change!

The others, not to be left on shore said, “We are going with you!”

What a dedicated bunch!

But, when the others said, “We’ll go (Gr. erchomai-ἔρχομαι) with you,” a different Greek word was used for “go!”

They fished that night and caught nothing!

However, at dawn, Jesus stood on the shore!

But the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said, “Children, have you anything to eat?”

They answered, “No!”

Christ may have called them children to reflect their spiritual immaturity.

He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find (the catch).”

They cast the net on that side of the small boat, but they were not able to draw it in due to the multitude of fishes.

If you do as Christ tells you, you will be successful!

At that John told Peter, “It is the Lord!”

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his fisherman's coat and jumped into the sea.

The other disciples came in a little ship! They were about two hundred cubits,(about one hundred yards) from shore. They were dragging the net with the fish.

As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire there with fish frying on it.

Jesus asked them, “Bring some of the fish you caught.”

Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land.

There were about 153 fish!

There were a great number of fish and yet the net was not broken.

Of all those that Christ came to save, none shall be lost!

All shall be gathered in!

Jesus called to them, “Come and dine.”

None of the disciples dared to ask who He was, because they knew it was Christ!

Then Jesus took them some bread and fish.

This is the third time that Jesus had confirmed His resurrection to His disciples.

John 21:15-25
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19  This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
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 could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

As they had ate, Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love (Gr. agapaō-ἀγαπάω) Me more than these?”

What did Jesus mean by “these?

Peter had just spent all night doing what he had done for years as his vocation, he was catching fish. He loved to fish. So, Christ Jesus was asking, “Do you love Me more than you love fishing?” That may seem to be an odd question, but look at the facts. Peter had just seemingly given up serving the risen Lord to go fishing. He had just seen the risen Christ…and yet, all he could think to do was to go fishing. Jesus asked a valid question.

But, Peter politely answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love (Gr. phileō-φιλέω) You.

At that Jesus said, “Feed my lambs (Gr. arnion-ἀρνίον).”

That word translated “lambs” is only found here and in Revelation where it is used to describe the returning Christ Jesus, the King of Glory!

Again, Jesus asked Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love (Gr. agapaō-ἀγαπάω) Me?”

And again, Peter answered, Yes, Lord; You know that I love (Gr. phileō-φιλέω) You.

Jesus again responded, “Feed my sheep (Gr. probaton-πρόβατον).”

Finally, Jesus asked, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love (Gr. phileō-φιλέω) Me?”

Peter, being a bit upset at the questions, answered, “Lord, You know everything!

You know that I love (Gr. phileō-φιλέω) You.”

So Jesus told him, Feed my sheep (Gr. probaton-πρόβατον).”

Did you notice he differences in what Christ was asking and how Peter was answering!

Let me give you the Darroll Evans paraphrase edition!

Jesus asked Peter, “Peter, do you love me with all your heart?”

Peter answered, “Lord, You know I like You!”

Christ said, “Then feed My lambs of power.”

Again Christ asked, “Peter, do you love me with all your heart?”

And again, Peter responded, “Lord, You know that I really do like You!”

So, Jesus told him to feed His flock.

The third time, Jesus asked, “Well Peter, do you at least like Me?”

Becoming a bit exasperated, Peter said, “Lord, You know everything!

“You know that I like You!”

Peter refused to say that he love Christ with all his heart!---Three times!

What would you have said?

The third time, Christ just took what little Peter could offer!

Hr told Peter, “Feed my flock!”

Christ was more committed to Peter than peter was to Him!

Jesus continued, “Truthfully I tell you that when you were young, You dressed yourself, and went wherever you wanted.

“However, when you shall be old, you shall reach out and another shall dress you, and take you where you do not want to go!”

That was a prophecy that would have drastic consequences shortly in Peter’s life!

You may recall that in Acts 12 we find the story of the Church in deep supposed prayer at Rhoda’s house.

They were praying in total unbelief!

When the angel freed Peter from prison on the eve of his scheduled death, and went to her home, none inside believed it was Peter!

While in the prison waiting to be murdered for preaching Christ, Peter went sound asleep!

Men scheduled for execution stay awake all night!

They talk to anybody and everybody they can!

But, Peter sleeping so soundly that the angel had to kick him to awaken him!

That was due to the prophecy Christ has spoken!

As part of that prophecy, Christ had prophesied that Peter would become old!

At the time of that imprisonment, Peter was not an old man, and therefore could not die!

So, why worry---simply go to sleep and let God do what He alone can do?

Christ spoke the prophecy to signifying Peter’s death and time of death so that he should glorify God!

After the prophecy, Christ told Peter, “Follow me!”

Then Peter, looked at John and asked, “Lord, and what shall John do?”

Jesus replied, “How does that concern you?

“What if he stays till I return?

“follow Me!”

Christ’s last words to Peter personally were the same as His first words to him, “follow Me!”

Our only concern is to do as Christ has told us!

We are not to be concerned with what He has told others!

However, because Jesus said that the rumor spread that John would not die, but that is not what Jesus said!

At the last, John wrote that he personally witnessed all written in the gospel and he knows it to be true!

John closes with one of the more famous statements in the entire Bible!

“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 could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.”

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