Bible Commentaries
John 21

Verse 1

1 After these things means the events of the preceding chapter. Tiberias was another name for the Sea of Galilee. It was according to previous appointment that Jesus met his disciples at this place. (See Mat 28:7).

Verse 2

2 Among the men named as disciples was Nathanael, the same man who figured in the interesting conversation of chapter 1:45-51. (See the notes at that place.) The other name for him was Bartholomew, which may be learned from the lists given by the Gospel records. Matthew 10, Mark 3 and Luke 6, name twelve apostles including Bartholomew, but never mention Nathanael; while John mentions Nathanael six times, but never refers to Bartholomew by name one time. The verse merely states that these disciples were together, but does not tell the exact spot where they were nor what they were doing; the next verse will give us that information.

Verse 3

3 The disciples named were together somewhere in the vicinity of the Sea of Galilee, when Peter proposed going fishing, his original occupation. The others of the group said they would join him, and thus they returned to the secular business they were in when Jesus first called them into his service (Mat 4:18-22). They did their fishing in a boat by using a net, but although they spent the whole night in their efforts, they caught nothing.

Verse 4

4 In the meantime Jesus had come to the . sea and was standing on the shore when morning came, or at least as it was getting on towards daylight. But it was still somewhat dark, so that the disciples could not, recognize Jesus.

Verse 5

5 Children is from PAIDION, and its literal meaning is "little ones." It is not used literally in this verse, but is spoken "in affectionate address" according to Thayer. The margin renders it "sirs," and Moffatt translates it "lads." Have ye any meat meant to ask if they had been successful in their fishing, which they had not.

Verse 6

6 The word right is used in the sense of right-hand, and has no reference to the distinction between right and wrong, or "right" as contrasted with "incorrect" A school of fish was coming along that side of the boat at that moment. Jesus had divine power as well as divine knowledge. He could have caused the school of fish to come to that spot at the appropriate time, or he could have known that it was occurring by ordinary causes. In either case it would have been a miraculous demonstration on the part of Jesus. Not able to draw it without help. (See verse 8.)

Verse 7

7 By this time it was light enough to recognize an acquaintance, especially by the help of hearing his voice. The disciple whom Jesus loved (John according to verses 20, 24), was the first to recognize Jesus, and he announced the fact to Peter. Naked is from GUMNOS, which Thayer defines at this place, "clad only in the undergarment." The cloak or outer garment had been laid aside for convenience in the activities of fishing. Peter did not feel "presentable" to come into the presence of Jesus, and threw his fisher's coat over the undergarment. He did not wait to come to land by boat, but plunged into the water and either swam or waded out as it was only 300 feet (verse 8).

Verse 8

8 The short distance from land is mentioned to explain why they came in a little ship. At that distance the water would be shallow, so that a larger boat would not navigate so well, especially when it had to serve as a sort of a "tug" to draw the filled net toward shore.

Verse 9

9 By having fish on the fire, with bread to eat with them, Jesus taught the disciples that he did not need to depend upon them for the necessities of life.

Verse 10

0 But the Lord has always taught that man must contribute to his own needs as he is able, hence the disciples were commanded to bring some of the fish they had caught.

Verse 11

1 The disciples had reached the edge of the water when Jesus told Peter to bring some of his fish. The writer mentions the fact of the net being unbroken notwithstanding the number and size of the fishes, and such reference to it indicates that another miracle was worked to preserve the net.

Verse 12

2 Dine is from ARISTAO. Both Thayer and Robinson define it, "To breakfast," and the latter adds, "to lunch, i. e., to take an early meal before the chief meal." Durst is a form of "dare." The thought is that none of the disciples would dare or venture to ask Jesus to identify himself, for they all knew it was the Lord. Curiosity, as well as a desire to be doubly certain, would have prompted them to ask Jesus the question, but the evidences of his identity were so great they did not have the courage to ask him.

Verse 13

3 The fish having been cooked by the fire that Jesus had kindled before the arrival of the disciples, he served them with bread to them.

Verse 14

4 Third time . . . to his disciples, or apostles. The two other times are in chapter 20:19 and 26. His first appearance was to Mary Magdalene (Mar 16:9), but she was not an apostle.

Verse 15

7 I believe these verses should be studied as one paragraph for the best results. Some unnecessary labor has been done by some in the way of technical distinctions between certain words, which might cause us to overlook the main point Jesus had in mind. It is true that the Greek originals for love, feed, sheep and lambs has each some meanings different from the others. And yet, those distinctions are not great enough to affect the lesson Jesus was giving the apostles. Peter was engaged in the fishing business when Jesus called him (Mat 4:18-20). He left his net and followed the call, and later insisted that nothing could separate him from his service to the Master (Mar 14:31). Notwithstanding such a profession of loyalty, Peter denied his Lord three times (Mat 26:75), and in verse 3 of the present chapter he led the others in returning to their former occupation. Now it was the time and place to make him "take his stand" with reference to his service to the Lord. The masculine and neuter genders for the original of these are the same in form, hence the Greek grammar will not help us in determining to what the pronoun refers. Strong defines the word, "Of (from or concerning) these (persons or things)." From all the foregoing considerations, the question of Jesus means, "lovest thou me more than you do this fishing business?" Upon his three-fold assertion that he did, Jesus very logically directed him to prove it by devoting his efforts towards the spiritual business of teaching His people.

Verse 18

8 The Greek word for young has the comparative form, which makes it mean "younger." Jesus is speaking of the days when Peter was in his prime physically and able to tare for himself, even to the extent of self-defense if necessary. But the time was coming when he would be subject to the will and strength of others. This prediction is so general that we only could have guessed at its meaning, had the writer not given us the key to it in the next verse.

Verse 19

9 By what death indicates not only that the death of Peter would be to glorify (do honor) God, but that the manner of that death was to be a significant item in the affair. I do not believe it requires me to pay any special attention to the tradition that Peter was crucified with his head downward, nor even that he was crucified at all, though that is probable. The point is that he was to die by violence because of his devotion to God. In that kind of experience he would be imitating the example of his Lord, which is what he was exhorted to do in the words, follow me.

Verse 20

0 This entire verse is given to identify the disciple of whom Peter was about to ask his question. That disciple was John according to verse 24.

Verse 21

1 In this verse Peter manifests a very natural curiosity, but which will be interpreted by Christ as an intrusion by Peter into matters that should not have concerned him. Jesus had exhorted Peter to follow Him by faithfulness even to the extent of a violent death. The question of the apostle means as if he had said, "And what do you expect John to do; will he have to die a violent death also?"

Verse 22

2 Jesus did not answer Peter's question directly. Tarry till I come means not only that he would not die a violent death, but would not die at all before Jesus returned to earth. But Jesus did not say that such a thing would happen, only that if it did, it would be no concern of Peter's; his duty was to follow Jesus.

Verse 23

3 This verse gives a clear example of the disposition of men to formulate rumors with no truth as a basis. Jesus only asked Peter a hypothetical question by way of rebuking him for his meddlesome attitude. Then the gossiping spirit of the disciples made an affirmation out of it, and. made Jesus say that John was promised that he would live to see the second coming of Christ.

Verse 24

4 This verse, together with other passages, shows us that the disciple "whom Jesus loved" was John. (See chapter 13:23.)

Verse 25

5 Jesus lived and worked with his disciples and among men for more than three years. It would have made a volume or volumes of immense Size had all of His deeds been recorded. World means the people of the earth. Contain is from CHOREO, and as Thayer defines it, the meaning is, "To receive with the mind or understanding, to understand; to be ready to receive, keep in mind." The entire Bible is very brief, and the Lord has placed before mankind enough only to make the necessary preparation for usefulness in this life, and happiness in the next.