Day 97, John 21
The end of John 20 feels like a conclusion, but there is one more important chapter to add before John completes his first account (he will follow this later with three letters and the revelation of Jesus).
Remember how John recorded Peter’s denial of Jesus? Three times, even with an oath, Peter denied knowing Jesus (just as Jesus predicted). Now there is important business to be done.
Peter and the others are back in Galilee, where Jesus had sent them, and Peter (with nothing to do since Jesus hasn’t appeared recently), says “I’m going fishing.”
Have you had times in your life, where you returned to what you knew originally, even though it was nothing compared to what you had experienced subsequently?
As if to underscore the futility of returning to old ways, they catch nothing (which was exactly what happened before Jesus picked them out at the start of His ministry).
You can see the humor in Jesus’ shouted question “Did you catch any fish?” – He knows they didn’t!
And thus they experience a repeat of the miracle that brought Peter into Jesus’ circle. It is John who recognizes what is happening – the disciple Jesus loved who is the most sensitive to the significance of what he sees (as we read yesterday). “It is the Lord!”
Peter is drawn to this risen Savior, and dives into the lake to hurry to Him. They pull in the miraculous catch (John even records the precise number of fish) and find that Jesus didn’t need fish anyway: He already has breakfast cooking! So Jesus feeds them (this is the third time He has appeared to the eleven). After breakfast Jesus restores Peter, asking three times “do you love me?” to undo the threefold denial in the High Priest’s courtyard when everything was falling apart. Presumably Jesus took Peter away from the group, because when Jesus tells Peter to follow Him, Peter asks about John following them. Recording this detail allows John to set the record straight about what Jesus really said: it became a rumor that Jesus said “John won’t die,” but the truth was that Jesus said “what concern is that of yours?” Or, in other words, focus on what I’m calling you to, don’t compare with others.
And finally John reaches the end of his gospel by painting a word picture of the enormity of the works of Jesus. There is far more than we have read, but what we have read in these four unique accounts is enough for anyone to believe and have life!
Have a great day!
Mark.