A T1 1. Manifestation of the Lord.
U 2-13. Miracle.
T2 14. Manifestation of the Lord.
U 15-23. Ministry.
T3 24,25. Witness to the Lord.29 A.D.
John 21)
1 After these things Jesus manifested (not merely presented Himself, but revealed His power and glory) Himself again to the disciples upon the sea of Tiberias; and thus showed He Himself.
U V1 2-6. Appearance of the Lord. Unknown. V2 7-13. Appearance of the Lord. Known.
V1 X 2. Disciples alone.
Y h 3-. fishing.
i -3. Failure. "Nothing."
X 4. Disciples. The Lord present.
Y i 5. Failure. "No meat."
h 6. Fishing
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other out of His disciples.
3 Simon Peter said to them, "I go forth to fish." They say to him, "We also go with you." They went forth, and entered into the ship;
and in that night they caught nothing. (probably that of Matt. 4:21, belonging to Zebedee and his sons. Christ made the disciples fishers of men. They were suppose to be sharing the gospel so God could draw His children to the Word. The disciples were fishing for fish. They left Jesus out of the equation. He wasn't in the boat.)
4 But when the morning was already come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Therefore Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any meat?" They answered him, "No." (Think spiritual. Jesus wanted to know if the had any meat of the Word)
6 And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find." They cast therefore, and no longer were they able to draw it from the multitude of fishes. (This is the 8th sign. When Christ is in your boat, and you fish for men the way He tells us to fish, you can't imagine how successful you will be. Always fish out of the right side of the boat. What's on the left? Socialism and communism are on the left. They will try to draw you away from God.)
V2 Z k 7. Recognition of John.
l 8. Fish caught.
A 9. Provision made.
Z l 10,11. Fish brought.
k 12. Recognition by all.
A 13. Provision enjoyed.7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." therefore Simon Peter having heard that it was the Lord, he girt the upper garment to him, (for he was naked (this means he had only his tunic or undergarment on. Cp. Mark 14:21. Acts 19:16)), and did cast himself into the sea. (Peter was very excited about seeing the Lord once again. He cast himself in the sea to swim to shore.)
8 And the other disciples came in the boat; (for they were not far from the land, but as it were bout two hundred cubits (100 yards),) dragging the net of fishes.
9 As soon then as they went forth to land, they see a fire of coals there, and little fish laid thereon, and a loaf. (One little fish and 1 loaf of bread to feed 8 persons. A beautiful variant of, and supplement to, the widow's handful of meal and cruse of oil [1 Kings 17]. It was a type of the food He would supply them with, in the strength of which they would go "many days". Did the Lord need the disciple meat? No, He did not. He already had meat. In fact, He has enough spiritual meat to feed the entire world, today.)
10 Jesus said to them, "Bring of the fish which you have now caught."
11 Simon Peter went back, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. (There is always more room for more Christians. The church will hold as many as are drawn to the Lord.)
12 Jesus said to them, "Come and dine." And not one of the disciples ventured to inquire Him, "Who are You?" knowing that it was the Lord. (Contrast their freedom in questioning Him before. It marks their change in their relationship wrought by the Resurrection.)
13 Jesus comes, and takes the loaf, and gives it to them, and the fish likewise.
14 This is already the third time that Jesus showed Himself to the disciples, after that He was risen from the dead.
U B1 15-19. The future of Peter. B2 20-23. The future of John.
B1 C1 15-. Question.
D1 -15. Command.
C2 16-. Question.
D2 -16. Command.
C3 17-. Question.
D3 -17. Command.
C4 18,19-. Prediction.
D4 -19. Command.15 Therefore when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me more than these?" (i.e. than these other disciples do) He saith to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.
He said to him, "Feed My lambs." (i.e. provide pasture for. Lambs = young Christians)
16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me?" He says to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love you.
He saith to him, "Shepherd My sheep." (Sheep = mature Christians)
17 He said to him a third time, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to Him a third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."
Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
18 Verily, verily, I say to you, When you were younger (This and 20:4 gave rise to the tradition that Peter was a middle-aged man), you gird yourself, and walked wherever you wanted: but when you shall be old, you shall stretch forth your hands, and another shall gird you, and lead you wherever you would not."
19 This spoke He, signifying by what kind of death he should glorify God.
And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me." (Used of soldiers, servants, and pupils)
20 Peter, having turned around, sees the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which leaned also on his breast at supper, and said, "Lord, who is he that betrays You?
21 Peter seeing him says to Jesus, "Lord, and what shall this man do?"
22 Jesus said to him, "If I will that he abide till I come, what is that with reference you? (Peter's curiosity rebuked. Cp. Matt. 17:4. ) you follow Me."
23 Then went this saying abroad to the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not to him, "He is not dying (i.e. is not going to die); but, If I will that he abide till I come, what is that to you?"
24 This is the disciple which bears witness concerning these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written one by one, I think that even the world itself could not contain the written books. Amen. (This chapter is a supplement, of the highest value, to the Gospel formally concluded in 20:31. The use of the first person singular in v.23, contrasted with the Evangelist's modest self-effacement elsewhere, has led some to doubt the Johannine authorship of this chapter. But the evidence out of the MMS. and Versions, and the attestation clause at v.24 is so closely allied to that in 19:35 as to leave little room for doubt.)