John
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John 21
John 21
1After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and he manifested himself on this wise.
2There 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.
1After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2There 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.
Commentary · verses 1-2
3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing.
3Simon 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.
Commentary · verse 3
Peter and six other Disciples went fishing and caught nothing. Why were they doing the same jobs they did before they met Jesus? Remember, Peter, Andrew, James, and John returned to fishing after they first met Jesus: Matthew 4:18-22. Why did they catch nothing?
4But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No.
6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6And 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.
Commentary · verses 4-6
Jesus told them to cast the net on the right side and they would find. They were not able to bring up the net because it was so full.
7That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his coat about him (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea.
7Therefore 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.
Commentary · verse 7
The Disciple whom Jesus loved and Peter were close. In the Book of Acts, Peter and John traveled together. Peter jumped into the water to swim to Jesus. Why did Peter not walk on water as he did earlier?
8But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off), dragging the net full of fishes.
9So when they got out upon the land, they see a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
8And 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.
9As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
Commentary · verses 8-9
Jesus was cooking!
10Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now taken.
11Simon Peter therefore went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, the net was not rent.
12Jesus saith unto them, Come and break your fast. And none of the disciples durst inquire of him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
10Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11Simon 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.
12Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
Commentary · verses 10-12
Jesus dined with the Disciples. This proved that Jesus rose physically from the dead. He was able to physically eat. The Disciples were afraid to confirm it was Jesus. Were they embarrassed Jesus "caught" them fishing?
13Jesus cometh, and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and the fish likewise.
14This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, 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.
13Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15So 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.
Commentary · verses 13-15
Jesus asked Peter if he loved (agape) Jesus more than these. Peter said he loved (phileo) Jesus. Jesus said to feed His lambs: teach the young believers (children). The Greek word agape was the word "love" which meant "to give without expecting anything in return from the person you gave to." The Greek word phileo was not actually love but an affection/emotion; something you cannot do intentionally.
Doctrines on this passage
16He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep.
16He 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.
Commentary · verse 16
Jesus asked Peter again if he loved (agape) Jesus. Peter answered that yes he did love (phileo) Jesus. Jesus said to tend His sheep: watch over (pastor) the adult believers. Again, Peter answered Jesus' question not by saying he loved (agape) Jesus but loved (phileo) Jesus. In the Greek translation, phileo would not even be translated into the word "love." The fault was the English translation. God has one word for "love" and that was translated rightly by the word agape. Its meaning is closer to our word "charity," but wherever "charity" does not fit grammatically, the word "love" was used. It is not God's fault that the English language has more than one definition of the word "love". God had one definition of "love" and that is the right definition.
17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of John, 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.
17He 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.
Commentary · verse 17
Jesus asked Peter a third time if he loved (phileo) Jesus. Notice, Jesus now adjusted to Peter and used Peter's words (phileo). This grieved Peter when Jesus asked if Peter phileos Jesus because Peter thought it was the same question three times, however it wasn't. Peter then made a doctrinal statement ("Thou knowest all things...") and that Jesus knew that Peter loved (again: phileo) Him. Jesus said to feed His sheep: teach the adult believers. Notice, Peter thought he had three identical exchanges with Jesus, yet Jesus' response was different to each of Peter's identical answers. Jesus gave Peter the authority over the Disciples to teach all the believers (children and adult) and pastor the adult believers. However, Jesus had adjusted to Peter...
18Verily, 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.
18Verily, 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.
Commentary · verse 18
Jesus addressed Peter's not adjusting to Jesus by making Peter aware that as he matured he would be adjusting to the Holy Spirit. Also, this verse was prophecy concerning the rest of Peter's life including his death by crucifixion...
Doctrines on this passage
19Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
19This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
Commentary · verse 19
This verse made it appear that John's Gospel Account was written after Peter's death.
20Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who also leaned back on his breast at the supper, and said, Lord, who is he that betrayeth thee?
21Peter therefore seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
20Then 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?
21Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
Commentary · verses 20-21
After Peter heard a prophecy concerning how he would die, Peter asked what John was going to do. Again, Peter was still doing what he wanted to do.
22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Commentary · verse 22
Jesus told Peter to not worry about John. Peter was then told to follow Christ. This ought to be Peter's (and everyone's) focus: do what God is directing you to do. This was Peter's first lesson towards giving up something he wanted in order to do something God wanted.
23This saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, that he should not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
23Then 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?
Commentary · verse 23
The Disciples turned this saying into John not dying although Jesus never said that he would not die. However, John lived the longest of all the Disciples. He wrote the last book of the Bible and there was no record of his death.
24This is the disciple that beareth witness of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his witness is true.
24This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
Commentary · verse 24
It was not until the second to last verse in this entire book that John indirectly revealed that he was the Disciple that wrote this account.
25And 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 would not contain the books that should be written.
25And 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.
Commentary · verse 25
The New Testament began with four Gospel Accounts of Jesus' time on earth. The fourth of these Gospel Accounts was written by St. John. John was also known as the beloved Disciple. It was believed this account was written about sixty years after Christ's death. John was the youngest of the twelve Disciples. Of all the Disciples, John appeared to be the smartest and able to learn the most Doctrine. Consequently, his firsthand account contained numerous incidents and teachings not included in any of the other three Gospels. John, like Daniel, understood Doctrine to the point he was able to receive visions and revelations as to prophetic events associated with end-time prophecy. John was the author of three epistles and the Book of Revelation. John's main theme was Jesus' being the Son of God, and not being able to state this plainly. John's Gospel presentation was also unique in that he took the time during the narrative of his account to explain the previous causes and eventual results regardless of timeframe. Consequently, we focused on the Doctrine presented in this account.
John did not refer to himself by name. The author of this book was not Simon Peter, Thomas, or Nathanael...or the other two Disciples, otherwise, John would have said, "myself." Instead, he referred to himself and his brother James as "the sons of Zebedee." At the very least, from this verse we could say that the identity of the author of this book was one of the sons of Zebedee. However, the fact that the other accounts consistently mentioned Simon Peter, Andrew, and John as Jesus' "inner circle," and the author of this book spoke a lot about Simon Peter and Andrew without ever mentioning John's name, ought to confirm John as the author of this book. Why did John not plainly state himself as author? One reason may be that he spent so much time writing about John the Baptist (and referred to him as "John") that he did not want to confuse the reader by using his own name. The second reason may be that John was keeping with the main theme of his Gospel Account: Jesus not plainly stating He was the Son of God. Likewise, John did not plainly state he was the author of this account.