John 21

John 21

I. Expository Look at John 21

A. Introduction

1. Many believe that this chapter was added after the fact. The final couple of verses read like Chapter 20 but this is man’s speculation. No real reason to question its authenticity.

2. Jesus makes 10 appearances after His resurrection.

a. This was His 7th overall

b. According to vs 14 this is His 3rd appearance to the Apostles as a group.

c. It doesn’t seem that Christ was with the Apostles 24/7 after His resurrection.

d. Do you think this was confusing to the Apostles?

e. I could see where it could be since they had spent the last three years with Him constantly.

3. There 50 days between the Passover and the Feast of the Harvest. There were 50 days between Jesus’ resurrection and the New Testament Day of Pentecost.

a. Matt. 28:10 – shortly after the resurrection Jesus meets Mary Magdalene and the other Mary who had rushed to the tomb, and he tells them to tell his brothers to go to Galilee and there He would meet them.

b. About 75 miles from Jerusalem, they went back home. Matt. 4:18-22,

Mk. 1:14-20, and Luke 5:1-11 confirm this was their home.

4. Sea of Tiberias

a. Also called Sea of Galilee, Sea of Kinnereth, Lake Gennesaret

b. 21 miles long and 13 miles wide, technically it was/is a lake.

c. Scene of miracles and teaching on several occasions.

i. Where Jesus recruited Peter, Andrew, James, and John

ii. Peter walked on water and sank

iii. Jesus fed the 5,000 on its bank

iv. Like they go back to where it all began to begin again

5. John is the only writer that records this event.

B. They fish all night to no avail. John 21: 1-3

1. Was this just a happenstance or was it providential?

2. They were told to wait for Jesus by Jesus Himself through the women.

3. Could the fishing have been a distraction?

a. How often do we revert to our old ways in times of distress? The apostles were mentally distressed because the Savior was no longer ever present with them.

b. A great haul that night could have lured them back to fishing for fish and blurred their focus on Christ and His mission for them.

4. A few scholars say that this was because they disobeyed Jesus’ command in Acts 1:4. It appears to me that the Apostles returned to Jerusalem after this encounter in our text. Refer to Matt. 28:10.

C. Have you aught to eat? John 21: 4-6

1. Jesus stands on the shore and calls to them from 100 yards away.

a. A long-distance conversation because they couldn’t make out Who Jesus was.

b. We’ll see in vs 7 that they quickly recognize Jesus for His works or miracle.

2. Some believe Jesus was showing a concern for their physical needs because he addresses them as children (KJV), friend (NIV). A term of affection.

3. I believe Jesus asked this to emphasize that fact that they were unsuccessful.

a. Jewish Complete Bible translates this as a rhetorical/pretentious question. Jesus says, “You don’t have any fish, do you?” Bro. Coffman in his writings leans toward this thinking.

b. Everything happens (or does not) for a reason.

4. Jesus takes this opportunity to, once again, perform a miracle and show His love and care for the Apostles. This was a two-fold miracle with fish and bread.

a. Jesus told them exactly where to drop the nets and they caught so many fish it probably would’ve swamped the boat. The catch was too heavy to pull in the boat. It must’ve been some pretty big fish, only 153.

b. The nets did not break.

D. John recognizes Jesus and Peter abandons ship.

1. Again, I want to emphasize that the Apostles were no closer at the time, so it had to be the miracle that confirmed in John’s mind that it was Jesus.

a. Do we recognize God’s hand in our affairs today without physically seeing Him?

b. We can know it is Him without physically seeing Him just like Peter.

c. I am reminded of the Footprints in the Sand poem.

2. Nothing mattered to Peter but getting to the Lord.

a. Why was Peter the only one to leave the boat?

b. Suddenly the fish meant nothing to him.

c. Peter was impulsive and sometimes it was a good thing.

d. His love for Christ overrode his sense of safety or logic.

3. We should all try to focus on Christ the way Peter did that day.

E. First things First

1. Jesus has a fire going with fish and bread already, but He tells them to bring some of their catch and eat.

2. They are no doubt wet, cold, and hungry.