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Joh_21:1. After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise showed he himself.
Jesus loved to show himself to his people. Of old, his delights were with the sons of men; so, now that he had risen from the dead, he was not ashamed to visit his brethren, and he did not disdain to make himself known to them, and he will still show himself to us after a spiritual fashion, if we sincerely desire to see him.
Joh_21:2. 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.
As John was the writer of this record, he did not put his own name there, but merely mentioned “the sons of Zebedee.”
Joh_21:3. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee.
Men who are in a right state of heart cannot willingly be idle; so, if these apostles cannot preach for a time, they will go back to their old employment, and seek to catch fish.
Joh_21:3. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
Brethren, without Christ’s presence, that is what always happens: “they caught nothing.” But notice what the next verse says: —
Joh_21:4. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
We must remember that a great change had taken place in him, and that the disciples were at some distance from the shore. They saw a person standing there, but they were not sure who it was.
Joh_21:5. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat?
This is not an exact translation of our Saviour’s words; he might too readily have revealed his identity if he had spoken like that. His question was more like a common fisherman’s salutation, “Lads, have you any food?”
Joh_21:5. They answered him, No.
Jesus likes us to admit that we do not possess anything of our own before he gives us the blessing he is waiting to bestow. He lets us see that the table is bare before he loads it with his bounty, so that he may have all the praise and glory for what he gives us.
Joh_21:6. 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.
This is another proof of the difference between Christ’s presence and Christ’s absence.
Joh_21:7. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved (again John does not mention his own name,) saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.
“It is only he who could spy out the fish, and only he who could fill the net with them; it is just his way of acting, ‘It is the Lord.’“ The eyes of true love are very quick. Peter was not the first to recognize Jesus; John was, for he loved him most.
Joh_21:7. 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.
He had such reverence for his Master that he would not appear before him without a sufficient covering, yet he was in a hurry to get to him. Peter always was in a hurry; yet he was grandly impetuous as a rule. I wish that some “slow-coaches” had a little of his pace.
Joh_21:8-9. 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. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
How that fire must have reminded Peter of his denial of his Lord! He saw his Master by the light of the charcoal fire, and that is how he saw him on the night when he denied him.
Joh_21:10-11. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 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.
On the previous occasion when Peter’s net was miraculously filled by Christ, we read that the net brake. That was Peter’s own net, but this time I suppose it was not Peter’s, but one that he had borrowed, and probably he had no time to mend it, so the Master took care that it should not break.
He always has his own ways of working, and they always fit the circumstances of the case, and show his thoughtful care of his people.
Joh_21:12. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine.
The Revised Version is more correct: “Come and break your fast,” — “Come and have your breakfast.”
Joh_21:12-15. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, —
When they had broken their fast, — but not until then, for Christ does not talk to men when their hunger might make them inattentive, —
Joh_21:15. Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?
He had talked as if he did: “Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.”
Joh_21:15. He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.
He was wise in not measuring his love in comparison with that of his fellow-disciples, or in speaking of the quantity of it, but he affirmed that even Christ knew that he did really love him.
Joh_21:15-17. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 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. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?
Here is a lesson for all who would be pastors of Christ’s flock. The first necessity of a true pastor is love to Christ, the second necessity of a true pastor is love to Christ, and the third necessity of a true pastor is love to Christ. A man who does not love the great Shepherd cannot properly feed either his sheep or lambs. If his own heart is not right towards the divine Owner of the sheep, he cannot be a true under-shepherd to Christ’s flock.
Joh_21:17-19. 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. 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. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God.
Peter was to stretch out his hands, and be nailed to a cross, as his Lord was.
Joh_21:19. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
“That is to be your rule, whether you feed my sheep or lambs, or whether you stretch out your hands upon a cross, and die as a martyr, — ‘Follow me.’“ That is also the rule for all of us who love the Lord. O Lord, help us to obey it!
Joh_21:20-25. 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? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 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? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things. and we know that his testimony is true. 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.
Joh_21:1. After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
May every one of you, my fellow-disciples, realize that Jesus is showing himself to you! He is only to be seen in his own light; he must show himself to us, or else we shall never see him.
Joh_21:2. 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.
He had told them to go into Galilee, and given them the promise, “There shall ye see me.” So now they were by the Galilean lake they were keeping their tryst with Christ, and as he always keeps his tryst with his people, he was there to meet them, as he had promised.
Joh_21:3. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee.
Their Master had told them to wait, but they could not wait. Surely when they were in Galilee by his command, they might have trusted him to supply their needs; but their faith was slack, so Peter said, “I go a fishing,” and the others were much of the same mind; waiting had become weary work, as it often does with our faint hearts, so they said, “We also go with thee.”
Joh_21:3. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
As is generally the case with us in our will-work and will-worship When we are not guided of God, but go entirely according to our own mind and will it will be thus with us also. Men attempt some business speculation without asking guidance of God, and they make a miserable failure of it, so that it might be written of them as of the disciples, “That night they caught nothing.”
Joh_21:4. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
They were thinking of fishing, so they saw boats, and nets, and the sea; if they had been thinking of Jesus, they would have looked for him, and when he came, they would have known him.
Joh_21:5. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat?
“Have ye anything to eat?”
Joh_21:5. They answered him, No.
But that was not his fault.
Joh_21:6. 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.
He testified his presence by crowning their exertions with his blessing, and soon they had a great catch of great fishes, — a great contrast to their night of fruitless toil.
Joh_21:7-8. 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. 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.
We often come very slowly to Christ because we will drag that net with fishes; we have such a deal of care, anxiety, and trouble, when we need not have any at all, and so we come slowly, “dragging the net with fishes.”
Joh_21:9. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
Why did they want to go fishing on their own account? Christ had all that they needed ready for them, there was the fire, and there were the fish cooking on it ready for their breakfast. It was the Lord Jesus Christ’s business to provide for them, and he did so.
Joh_21:10-11. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 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.
And there lay those hundred and fifty and three big fishes on the beach. Christ had no need of them but perhaps he condescended to use some of them for that morning meal, as he said to Peter, “Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.”
Joh_21:12. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine.
Or, “Come and break your fast after your long night’s toil.” How they must have opened their eyes to see the fish ready cooked for them to eat!
Joh_21:12. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
“It was the Lord,” — “the Lord” who had asked them if they had any food, “the Lord” who had filled the net which had previously been empty, “the Lord” who had given them his own fish from his own fire, that they might have breakfast with him. O good Master, if we have been toiling all the week, and have caught nothing, call us now to come and eat of that which thou hast thyself prepared!
Joh_21:13-15. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?
“More than this lot of fish, these boats, these nets? You gave them all up for me once, but now you have taken to them again; do you really love me better than your fishing and your fish?”
Joh_21:15. He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
“Feed My Lambs: A Sabbath-school Sermon.” “Do not go after fish any more, but attend to my business: ‘feed my lambs.’ The proof of your greater love to me than to all worldly things will be found in your doing of the work which I have committed to your charge.”
Joh_21:16. 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.
“Quit the sea; I am giving you no more business there: come now, and be a pastor to my blood-bought sheep.”
Joh_21:17. 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.
Thrice he had denied his Lord, so thrice he must be questioned concerning his love to the Lord whom he said he did not even know, and then for the third time he was re-commissioned by his Lord: —
Joh_21:17-19. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou willest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And When he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
Peter’s death was to glorify God, so he might well be content, painful though it was to be.
Joh_21:20-21. 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? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, lord, and what shall this man do?
Our Lord never answered such a foolish, inquisitive question as this, and therefore —
Joh_21:22. Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
That is how Christ would answer any similar questions that we might put to him. We need not concern ourselves so much about what is to happen to others until we have made our own calling and election sure. “What is that to thee? follow thou me.”
Joh_21:23. 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?
This is only one of many instances in which Christ’s words have been twisted and made to mean something quite different from what he intended.
Joh_21:24-25. This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. 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.
Joh_21:1-3. After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 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. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee.
They could not do better. Idleness is the most injurious condition in which a man can be found. A preacher is much better occupied fishing than doing nothing.
Joh_21:3. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
Even apostles may fish and catch nothing. Do not be discouraged, you who, when you are endeavoring to fish for souls, for many a day catch nothing.
Joh_21:4. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
Yet he was their old familiar friend. Was it their unbelief? Let us hope not. Was it that a remarkable change had passed over the Master — that, after his resurrection from the dead, there was a glory about him quite unusual, such as they had never seen before, except when they were with him on the holy mount? Perhaps so.
Joh_21:5. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat?
Just the kind of language you would expect from him — to call them children, and to inquire even about their temporal wants. For evermore the Lord had an eye to the temporal condition of the twelve, as well as to their spiritual. “Have ye any meat?”
Joh_21:5-6. They answered him, No. 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.
Christ knows where fishes are. He knows where you are then, my friend, though you do not, perhaps, know where you are yourself. You have get out of your own latitude, mentally and spiritually. You could not describe yourself, but Christ knows every minnow in the brook, and every fish in the lake, and knows where you are. Christ can bring fish where he wants them to be. He brought them into the net. Christ can bring souls into his net tonight. At his will, their will shall sweetly yield itself up, and they shall come into the net.
Joh_21:7. 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,)
He was in his undress.
Joh_21:7-8. And did cast himself into the sea. 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.
It is all very well of Peter to be in such a hurry, but somebody must keep hold of the net. It is not always the most venturesome that is the most practical. We are glad to have some splendidly rash brethren, but we are equally glad that the rest are not quite so rash and are a little more prudent.
Joh_21:9. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon and bread.
Christ had provided this. We are to catch fish as if we should have nothing to eat if we did not, but yet we are to depend upon him as it we never caught a fish ourselves. Do everything as if you had to do everything; trust in God as if you had to do nothing. The blending of these two will make a wise believer. “They saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.”
Joh_21:10. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
“I do not need it in order to entertain you, for I have fish here already; still, bring it.” Nothing is given in vain; use it.
Joh_21:11-12. 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. And Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
Inwardly conscious that it was Christ’s habit to speak as he had spoken. Nobody could have caught his manner, and besides, what secret instinct enabled them to discern their meek and lowly Lord, even through the glory which surrounded him?
Joh_21:13-14. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them. and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
Count the visits of Christ. “This is now the third time.” We ought to remember Christ’s visits to us so well and so thoroughly that we could tell how many times he has been with us. “This is now the third time.”
Joh_21:15-17. 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. 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. 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.
Nobody can feed Christ’s sheep unless they love him, and when we love Christ the most practical way of showing it is by taking care of his lambs — his little ones — and of all those that are his — his sheep. Love will teach us how to do it. Love will sign our commission, and ordain us to the work. The Master went on to say: —
Joh_21:18. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest; but when thou shall be old, thon shall stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
Peter, thou wilt have to be girded with an iron chain, and taken off to prison, and taken off to the cross to die.
Joh_21:19. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
That is your life business. Follow me, even though you end, as I did, on a cross. Follow me. I am a shepherd; you must be a shepherd too; and as the sheep follow you, so do you follow me.
Joh_21:20-21. 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? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
What about this man?
Joh_21:22. Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me.
We ought not to be curious about the future of anybody. We must not be inquiring into what is not revealed; and what the Saviour said on this occasion was misunderstood; and if the words of Jesus, even when he spoke them, were misunderstood so as to become the foundation of a false tradition, you may judge how little value can ever be put upon tradition in the Church.
Joh_21:23. 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?
The Word of God is to be trusted, and not tradition, for in the handing of a message from mouth to mouth it generally varies. It sometimes loses its very essential spirit, and sometimes may be made to say the very reverse of what was said. Stick to the word, and leave the traditions alone.
Joh_21:24-25. This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. 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.
Such a full life — so pregnant with meaning — so active, and all its activity so intensely real and spiritual, that to write a life of Christ is an impossibility: and though there have been many very admirable “lives of Christ” in our time, I recommend you to keep to one which is the best of them all, and that one is written by four. The Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the best life of Christ out of sight. All others must be but mere helps to the understanding of these four.