Today’s titles are; Verses 1-14 Jesus appears to seven disciples. Verses 15-19 Feed my sheep. Verses 20-25 The blessed disciple. Let’s finish the gospel of John today, John 21 and verse 1 reads.
John 21:1] After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
Lake Tiberias G5085 pronounced tib-er-ee-as’, is also known as lake Gennesaret. 1. a city of Galilee near the Lake of Gennesaret, which Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, greatly enlarged and beautified, and named Tiberias in honour of Tiberias Caesar. Let’s go to Matthew 26 and verse 31 reads.
Mat.26:31] Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
Written in Zechariah 13:7.
Mat.26:32] But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
Back to John 21 and verse 2 reads.
John 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.
These seven were fishermen and worked together. Now, why they went fishing instead of doing the works for the LORD I will never know. After all, they were made Apostles, which means Sent ones.
John 21:3] Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
It’s no wonder why they caught nothing.
John 21:4] But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus can open eyes and he can close them.
John 21:5] Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
[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.
Always fish on the right side of the boat, this means; do what is righteous in the sight of the LORD when doing his works. Let this be a lesson to the churches, some will not be teaching righteously, but on the left side, of that wicked one. Teaching falsely the Word of God. Lord reward them according to their works.
John 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,) and did cast himself into the sea.
Notice John is speaking in third person again, the disciple whom Jesus loved. Peter was not naked but simply put on his upper garment and jumped into the water. He could swim faster than they could row. Peter had the habit of throwing himself into the water when he would see Jesus.
John 21:8] 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.
[9] As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
Jesus would provide his own food. Let’s look at this a little closer. Fish G2486 Ichthus pronounced Ick-thoos’ and is an Acronym for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. I (Iota) – Iēsous (Jesus). CH (Chi) – Christos (Christ). TH (Theta) – Theou (of God). Y (Upsilon) – Huios (Son). S (Sigma) – Sōtēr (Savior). We also have Bread, Jesus would teach us that his body would be the Bread of Life, it has become one of our sacraments.
John 21:10] Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
[11] Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, and hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
153 fishes. Always room for more disciples, is why the net was not broken. This is why we call it fishing when we expand our churches.
John 21:12] Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
Peter would give a good testimony of these events in Acts 10 and verse 38 reads.
Acts 10:38] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
[39] And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
[40] Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
[41] Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
On the beach of Lake Gennesaret, or Lake Tiberias.
Acts 10:42] And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
[43] To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
The testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Prophecy. Rev.19:10.
Acts 10:44] While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
This was an amazing event because the Holy Spirit was given to the Gentiles also at this moment. Back to John 21 and verse 13 reads.
John 21:13] Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
[14] This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
Let’s go back to John 20 for the first time Jesus showed himself to them, and verse 19 reads.
John 20:19] Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
[20] And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
[21] Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
[22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
And for the second time, drop down to verse 26 and it reads.
John 20:26] And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
[27] Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
[28] And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
[29] Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
This was written for you today, blessed are we for believing and not have seen. Back to John 21 and verse 15 reads.
John 21:15] 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.
Lambs are said for the young in the Word. Peter would include this in his epistles, let’s go to 1Peter 5 and verse 1 reads.
1Pet.5:1] The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
[2] Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
[3] Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
[4] And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Now, this would seem a little harsh for Peter, but Jesus is compassionate, John 21 and verse 16 reads.
John 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.
The sheep here represent the mature in God’s Word. To show that there is nothing new in God’s Word, let’s go to Psalms 79 and verse 13 reads.
Psa.79:13] So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
To all the children of Israel from generation to generation we pass down the Word of God. Let’s go to Hebrews 13 and verse 20 reads.
Heb.13:20] Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
[21] Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Let’s go to 1Peter 2 and verse 24 reads.
1Pet.2:24] Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
[25] For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Bishops of your own souls, and fathers being bishops of their own houses. Back to John 21 and verse 17 reads.
John 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. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Maybe a little reminder for Peter about him denying Jesus three times. Now, this is the third time Jesus says to feed his sheep. Meaning that once you have given the young milk, like Salvation and Baptism, then give them meat. Meat is the depth of God’s Word. That would be knowledge of scripture, law, and prophets. Prepare them as servants to go out and feed others the Word of God.
John 21:18] 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.
Teach others so that it will carry on after your death would be a simple way of saying this.
John 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.
Take up your cross and follow Jesus. Peter would be crucified upside down as recorded in the books of Josephus. We too will be delivered up to Satan at the sixth trump and will Glorify God also. It is a privilege for God’s Elect.
John 21:20] 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?
Speaking of John.
John 21:21] Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
[22] Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Peter didn’t say this because he was being nosy, I believe he said this because he wanted John to go with him. We see in Acts that John and Peter went everywhere together. We all have different jobs to do for the LORD. Some will be pastor’s and some will be Evangelists (those that bring them of no faith to the Lord). Some will take care of the poor, the widows and the fatherless. To each his own, you worry about what the Lord has given to you, pick up your cross and follow him.
John 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?
Here we have John fixing the question that Jesus didn’t mean what they thought, and straightens them out himself.
John 21:24] This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
John now admits it was he that was talked about. Also acknowledging he is the writer of this Gospel.
John 21:25] 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.
So much more that wasn’t written because Jesus was with them forty days after the resurrection. They will now be Sent out to begin His church.
Let’s do a quick recap. Ch.1 We learned that Jesus is the Word of God. And that the Word was with God, and that the Word was God. And that the Word became flesh and walked among us. Ch.3, Believe that Jesus was the Son of God and you will have life eternal. Ch.8, Learn who the Kenites are. They crucified our Lord, and it was them that he talked with when he spoke with the Pharisees. Ch.9, How God can open the eyes of the blind, their spiritual eyes also. Ch.14, The Trinity, how the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one. And that if you have Christ (The Word) in you, then the Father and the Comforter are in you as well. Ch.17, The True Lord’s Prayer. How compassionately Jesus prayed for us to the Father. Ch.18, How the Comforter is the Holy Spirit. And Ch.20-21, how humble John was that he was that one the Lord loved.
The four gospels are witnesses to themselves that the Son of God came to the earth. Isa.7:14. That He died on the cross for our sins that upon repentance we should have Salvation, Eternal Life. And that the resurrection of Jesus Christ defeated him that had the power of death, that is the Devil. Heb.2:14. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible