John 21: 20-25, Final Comments by the Eyewitness

Jesus has reappeared to the disciples several times in Jerusalem. John records one more appearance, this time later in Galilee.

John 21: 17b-19, Simon, do you love me?
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 
18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

This is a strange conversation, recorded by John standing nearby. Peter, who when frightened, denied Jesus three times, is now being given instructions, with a three-times emphasis. Jesus has a plan for Peter but Peter is unsure as to what it is.

John 21: 20-23, Peter & John

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?”) 
21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 
23 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?”

John responds, half a century later, to speculation that he will never die.  Not so, he assures his readers.

John 21: 24-25, John's testimony
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

John repeats the earlier theme, from the end of the previous chapter, claiming that he was an eyewitness to all of these events and  -- added as an afterthought --  that there are many, many more things that could be written about the time Jesus spent on earth.

John 21: 15-19, Simon, Do You Love Me?

Jesus has reappeared to the disciples several times in Jerusalem. John records one more appearance, this time later in Galilee.

Jesus already has breakfast cooking for them, with a fire and some fish already on it.  He also has bread for them but invites them to add some of their fish to the meal.  In the final chapter of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C. S. Lewis has the lion, Aslan, turn into a lamb and re-enact this scene. (See this blog post.)


John 21: 15-19, Simon, do you love me?
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.”

16 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.”

17 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. 
18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

This is a strange conversation, recorded by John standing nearby. Peter, who when frightened, denied Jesus three times, is now being given instructions, with a three-times emphasis. Jesus has a plan for Peter but Peter is unsure as to what it is.

John 21: 9-14, Fire, Fish, Bread

Jesus has reappeared to the disciples several times in Jerusalem. John records one more appearance, this time later in Galilee.

This event is a bookend to a miracle at the beginning of Jesus's ministry. Not recorded in John, but recorded in the other three gospels (see Luke 5:1-11),  is an early event in which Jesus begins his discipling of Peter by helping him fish.

The distance from shore is (translated from Greek) "about two hundred cubits", that is, about 90 meters.

John 21: 9-14, Fire, fish, bread
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 
11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 
13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 
14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus already has breakfast cooking for them, with a fire and some fish already on it.  He also has bread for them but invites them to add some of their fish to the meal.  In the final chapter of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C. S. Lewis has the lion, Aslan, turn into a lamb and re-enact this scene. (See this blog post.)

Some try to make something out of the number 153. I suspect it simply represents a very large catch!

John 21: 1-8, Appearance in Galilee

Jesus has reappeared to the disciples several times in Jerusalem. John records one more appearance, this time later in Galilee.  It is a strange one (to me) for the disciples

John 21: 1-3, Fishing
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 
3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

The disciples, mostly fishermen, have returned to their roots.

Once again, the gospel writer records that Thomas ("twins") had a Greek name (which also meant "twins".)

The Sea of Tiberias is the same as the Sea of Galilee.

John 21: 4-8, Jesus at the lake side
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 
8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.

This event is a bookend to a miracle at the beginning of Jesus's ministry. Not recorded in John, but recorded in the other three gospels (see Luke 5:1-11),  is an early event in which Jesus begins his discipling of Peter by helping him fish.

The distance from shore is (translated from Greek) "about two hundred cubits", that is, about 90 meters.

John 21, Epilogue, On the Sea of Galilee (Overview)

Jesus has reappeared to the disciples several times in Jerusalem. John records one more appearance, this time later in Galilee.

John 21: 1-3, Fishing
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

The disciples, mostly fishermen, have returned to their roots.

The Sea of Tiberias is the same as the Sea of Galilee.

John 21: 4-8, Jesus at the lake side
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" 

"No," they answered.

He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." 

When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.

This event is a bookend to a miracle at the beginning of Jesus's ministry. Not recorded in John, but recorded in the other three gospels (see Luke 5:1-11),  is an early event in which Jesus begins his discipling of Peter by helping him fish.

The distance from shore is (translated from Greek) "about two hundred cubits", that is, about 90 meters.

John 21: 9-14, Fire, fish, bread
When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.  Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."  Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.

Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 

Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus already has breakfast cooking for them, with a fire and some fish already on it.  He also has bread for them but invites them to add some of their fish to the meal.  In the final chapter of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C. S. Lewis has the lion, Aslan, turn into a lamb and re-enact this scene. (See this blog post.)

Some try to make something out of the number 153. I suspect it simply represents a very large catch!

John 21: 15-19, Simon, do you love me?
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly 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 truly 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. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."

Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

This is a strange conversation, recorded by John standing nearby. Peter, who when frightened, denied Jesus three times, is now being given instructions, with a three-times emphasis. Jesus has a plan for Peter but Peter is unsure as to what it is.

John 21: 20-23, Peter & John

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?") When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"

Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."

Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers 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?"

John responds, half a century later, to speculation that he will never die.  Not so, he assures his readers.

John 21: 24-25, John's testimony
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

John repeats the earlier theme, from the end of the previous chapter, claiming that he was an eyewitness to all of these events and  -- added as an afterthought --  that there are many, many more things that could be written about the time Jesus spent on earth.

John 20: 24-31, Jesus Appears to Thomas

Jesus has appeared to Mary Magdalene at the tomb on Sunday morning and then to the disciples later that evening.

John 20: 24-28, Appearance to Thomas

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 
25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Thomas, "the Doubter", is given convincing evidence. First, Jesus acknowledges Thomas's earlier challenge, made in his absence, and then Jesus makes it clear to Thomas that he, Jesus, is physically present. Thomas, of course, quickly concedes.

I empathize with Thomas!

The NIV footnotes elaborate on "Thomas" and "Didymus"; the both mean "twin". The first is Aramaic, the second Greek.

John 20: 29, Those that don't get to see him....

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The gospel writer adds a note to all of us who would like to be like Thomas.

John 20: 30-31, That you may believe
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

This passage is a theme of the book -- it has been written "That you may believe..."

The book almost ends here.  But John has a bit more to say, describing one last appearance of Jesus.

John 20: 18-23, Sunday Resurrection

Mary has been to the tomb and there, instead of a body, she has seen men in white and then Jesus.

John 20: 18, The news of Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

This is the first person to see Jesus, one of the women who followed him. There will be other appearances.

John 20: 19-23, Sunday evening appearance

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 
22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 
23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

The disciples are afraid that they will be rounded up and so they are in hiding. John reports that the doors are locked so that no one can easily enter, yet Jesus appears.

The disciples react with joy and then Jesus "breathes on them" and tells them to receive the Holy Spirit. The gospel writer does not elaborate.

John 20: 10-18, Mary at the Tomb

The "disciple Jesus loved" is John. Young John outruns the older Peter to the tomb. (This race is recalled by the elderly John fifty to sixty years later!)  John records that he finally "believed" at this moment and so began to truly understand the meaning of the events that had occurred.

John 20: 10-17, Mary at the tomb

Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 
12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 
14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary sees angels. They are only described as "in white".  She does not react to them, other than asking where Jesus is. Then, a moment later, when Jesus appears, she does not recognize him, either blinded by her tears or because he is, in some fundamental way, different. (Luke, see Luke 24: 13-35, records two disciples on the road to Emmaus who also do not recognize Jesus for a time.)

It is not clear what Jesus means by "Do not hold on to me."  It may simply be that he has things to do?

John 20: 18, Mary hurries to tell the disciples

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.