John 21
- Miraculous
catch of fish
V1-3
- The bible says that they caught nothing; it was to show that whatever their reason was for returning to their fishing boats, by their own efforts it is futile.
V4-8
- The disciples did not realize that it was Jesus because he was quite far away from where the disciples were. (About 100 yards)
- Verse 5 talks about Jesus calling them “Children” or “Friends”. It shows the relationship with the disciples being full of affection. Or perhaps He was referring to their newly acquired relationship with God after receiving the Holy Spirit. Either way, we can be sure that Jesus was not yet through with these men, and had no intention of allowing them to return to their fishing business.
- Verse 7: Who shouted, “It is the Lord”?
John, the author of the book did. He also references himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved”.
- How do you think John knew that it was Jesus?
We can refer it back to Luke 5:4-10, when Jesus first asked them to be his disciples.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
- The disciples did not realize that it was Jesus because he was quite far away from where the disciples were. (About 100 yards)
- Verse 5 talks about Jesus calling them “Children” or “Friends”. It shows the relationship with the disciples being full of affection. Or perhaps He was referring to their newly acquired relationship with God after receiving the Holy Spirit. Either way, we can be sure that Jesus was not yet through with these men, and had no intention of allowing them to return to their fishing business.
- Verse 7: Who shouted, “It is the Lord”?
John, the author of the book did. He also references himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved”.
- How do you think John knew that it was Jesus?
We can refer it back to Luke 5:4-10, when Jesus first asked them to be his disciples.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
They
were out fishing all night and yet were not able to catch any fish, until Jesus
came to them and allowed them to catch an overwhelming amount of fish.
- Verse 7 shows Peter’s quick reaction when he heard it was Jesus. He was the first to jump into the water to swim towards Jesus.
- Verse 7 shows Peter’s quick reaction when he heard it was Jesus. He was the first to jump into the water to swim towards Jesus.
The last
time Peter was the focus of Jesus' attention, this is what had happened:
"Having
arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But
Peter followed at a distance. Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of
the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain
servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and
said, “This man was also with Him.” But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not
know Him.” And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of
them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” Then after about an hour had passed,
another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him,
for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are
saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the
Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord,
how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three
times.” So Peter went out and wept bitterly." (Luke
22:54-62)
Given how he
had failed, one would expect Peter to keep to himself and shy away from even
raising his eyes toward Jesus. Instead, he couldn't wait to come before his
Lord, and that holds a valuable lesson for Christians when we fail and sin. Our
pride and the enemy will try to tempt us to hide from God as Adam and Eve did
after sinning. Instead, we must heed Peter's example and come before the Lord
yet again, confess our sins to Him, believing "If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) and seek His help to repent from those
sin.
This scene connected the post-resurrected Jesus with the one they associated with for the last three years. He ate fish. He knew them in and out. Jesus not only arose but was meeting with them as before. But more than proof of a physical resurrection, we see Jesus’ commitment to fellowship with this group of faithless disciples and His desire to continue to work with them.
This scene connected the post-resurrected Jesus with the one they associated with for the last three years. He ate fish. He knew them in and out. Jesus not only arose but was meeting with them as before. But more than proof of a physical resurrection, we see Jesus’ commitment to fellowship with this group of faithless disciples and His desire to continue to work with them.
- Public
Restoration of Peter; Jesus Reinstates Peter
- Why was Peter called, “Simon, Son of
Jonah”?
What had made Simon into Peter, the rock, was his relationship with Jesus. Since that relationship had been compromised by Peter's denial of Jesus, Simon was being called Simon until that relationship could be re-established, which is what Jesus is doing in this passage.
What had made Simon into Peter, the rock, was his relationship with Jesus. Since that relationship had been compromised by Peter's denial of Jesus, Simon was being called Simon until that relationship could be re-established, which is what Jesus is doing in this passage.
Feeding My
Sheep
Jesus asked Peter the question 3 times.
Because Peter had denied Jesus 3 times previously. And Jesus wasn't asking because He didn't know the answer. Peter was correct in saying, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." (John 21:17) Jesus was doing it to have Peter confront his sins, which had to be addressed and removed before he could be commissioned to tend to the Lord's sheep.
Because Peter had denied Jesus 3 times previously. And Jesus wasn't asking because He didn't know the answer. Peter was correct in saying, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." (John 21:17) Jesus was doing it to have Peter confront his sins, which had to be addressed and removed before he could be commissioned to tend to the Lord's sheep.
Although Peter answers Jesus' question "do you love me" in the positive, three consecutive times, Jesus wanted answers that represented his true feelings and motives.
"Do you love me more than these:" The word for love here in Greek is: agape: a volitional, self-sacrificial love. Are you now willing to forsake all theses and go and preach my gospel to the nations of the earth? Jesus was referring to the statement Peter had made before His death, "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended" (Matt 26:33) KJV.
"you know that I love you:" Peter is no longer making claims to a love superior to his brethren. Still he knew to appeal to Jesus, the 'Searcher of the heart and say that He knew that he loved Him.
Although they read the same in English, they
are actually different in the original Greek. While English has only one word
for “love”, there are quite a few in Greek. There is eros for erotic
love (none of the Greek words in the New Testament translated "love"
in English is eros), philos for friendship, storge for
affection from familiarity among family members or others brought together not
my their choice, philostorgos, which combines philos and storge,
and philadelphia for brotherly love. And then there’s agape, the
self-sacrificing, unconditional love.
Jesus uses the verb form of agape in
the first two of His three questions and the verb form of philos in the
third, while Peter responds with the verb form of philos all three
times. What’s happening is this. Jesus firstly asks Peter if he loves Him
self-sacrificially "more than these." (John 21:15) Instead of
addressing the comparison, Peter answers by claiming his love for Jesus as a
friend.
After having betrayed Jesus, there was no way
that he could claim anything more than that. Jesus then drops the comparison
and asks Peter if he simply loves Him self-sacrificially. Peter sticks to his
claim of friendly love. With His third question, Jesus drops the level of love
down to Peter’s and there’s a match. Jesus will start working on us with
whatever level of love we have for Him, but He does demand humility, which is
what Peter displayed in John 21:15-17 in contrast to his prideful declaration
in Matthew 26:31-33.
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:”’ I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:”’ I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
In verse 17, what grieved Peter was the
three-time repetition, because it was a plain reminder of his previous
three-time denial.
What we can learn from this is:
- Jesus restores us by causing us to face squarely our point of failure, then challenging us to set our eyes on the work ahead.
- Jesus doesn't ask "are you sorry?" nor "will you promise never to do that again?" "Jesus Christ asks each one of us, not for obedience primarily, not for repentance, not for vows, not for conduct, but for a heart; and that being given, all the rest will follow. "
What we can learn from this is:
- Jesus restores us by causing us to face squarely our point of failure, then challenging us to set our eyes on the work ahead.
- Jesus doesn't ask "are you sorry?" nor "will you promise never to do that again?" "Jesus Christ asks each one of us, not for obedience primarily, not for repentance, not for vows, not for conduct, but for a heart; and that being given, all the rest will follow. "
Verse 18-19: Peter was told that he was going
to die for the Lord. It’s truly a wonderful piece of prophecy. Jesus was
telling Peter that he was going to have great faith to be the kind of men he
thought himself to be.
Matt 26:35 - But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Matt 26:35 - But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
He didn’t die
with Jesus, but he knew that he was going to have another chance to LIVE for
him and eventually die FOR Jesus.
As we all know, He became one of the greatest apostles
and servants of Christ that has ever lived. He was given the “keys to the
kingdom” (Matt. 16:18-19) and allowed to preach the first gospel sermon to both
the Jews (Acts 2) and the Gentiles (Acts 10).
What does this mean for you and me? It means that, even though we may have failed the Lord miserably, it is not too late. We may have failed the Lord in the past, but we have another chance to prove to the Lord, and to ourselves, what kind of Christians we really are.
Done by: Alicia
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