John 21

     Some consider this chapter something of an afterthought.  But Jesus had told his disciples to wait for him in Galilee (Mt.28:7,10,16).  John 21 (and probably 1 Cor.15:6) is all we know of what happened there.  It was as though Jesus had sent them home on furlough to put their affairs in order, before sending them at Pentecost on their life long mission to a lost world.  It was also a chance to remind them once more that they had been called away from the former life.  “Do you love me more than these?”  V.15 might well have meant, “Do you love me more than these things,” i.e. the fishing business.

     21:1-11.  The fishing episode was a sort of parable for them.  Their efforts accomplished nothing until the Lord directed their casting of the net.  Though the number of fish caught, 153, has no symbolic meaning, it is the sort of thing an eyewitness would likely include.  Also, though the number of the redeemed gathered by the gospel net is unknown to us, it is a definite number, one day to be counted.  The net was not torn, and no fish was lost, nor did any get thrown back because they were too small.

     21:12-14.  Henceforth, Christ with us is recognized by his people not so much by his physical features as by what he is doing among us.  Often, as here, he is recognized in his breaking of the bread.  Apparently this was the third time John had witnessed him doing this for the disciples (John 20:19,26.  Cf. Luke 24:35; Acts 10:41).

     21:15-23.  Peter denied knowing the Lord three times, and now painfully must confess his love for him three times, each time being ordered to confirm it by fulfilling his commission.  I think too much is made of the distinction between the two Greek words for love used here.  Phileo is a love of friendship and the heart’s affection.  Agapao is a love of social and moral duty of the mind and will.

     Probably Peter had already finished his earthly course when vv.18-19 were written.  V.22 reminds us to mind where the Lord is leading us more than we concern ourselves with his plans for others.  V.23 was written by the aged John to dispel a false rumor.

     21:24-25.  John’s use of the word “we” in v.24 was probably more than editorial.  He calls God the Holy Spirit under whose inspiration he writes to witness to the truth of his testimony.  It is an apostolic “we.”  V.25 is literally true, in the sense that the acts of God the Son are beyond counting.