Chapter 6.
Jesus Appears
Beside the Sea Of Galilee
Jesus Invited Believers
To a “Gathering In Galilee”.
In His discourses at the “Last Supper”, Jesus said, “After I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.” (Matthew 26:32, Mark 14:28) Early Easter morning, inside Jesus’ empty Tomb, two angels told a band of Christian women to tell the disciples, “He is going before you into Galilee. There you shall see Him.” (Matthew 28:7, Mark 16:7) And, shortly thereafter, Jesus told the ladies, “Tell my brethren to go to Galilee. There shall they see Me.” (Matthew 28:10) So, the early believers knew of an upcoming “Gathering in Galilee”. The event was to be held at a specific site on a certain date at a prescribed time. We don’t know when and where the meeting occurred, but we do know it was an opportunity for Jesus’ followers to see the Risen Lord and to hear His directives for forming the New Testament Church.
Many Believers Travelled
To the Planned Gathering.
As the meeting day neared, believers began streaming into Galilee. Many visited friends and relatives along the way and urged them to participate in the “Gathering”. For some it was a multi-day pilgrimage. Most of the believers walked to the appointed site with their provisions stowed on beasts of burden. The frail among them rode on donkeys. The journey wasn’t easy, but the chance to see the Risen Lord drew the pilgrims on.
Especially, Jesus had told His Apostles where and when to meet Him in Galilee. So, Matthew says ...
... the eleven disciples went away into Galilee ... (Matthew 28:16a)
Before the Scheduled “Gathering”
Jesus Appeared
Beside the Sea Of Galilee.
In his Gospel, John reports some of the appearances of the Risen Lord on the first Easter. Then, he speaks of Christ’s appearance to Thomas on the subsequent Sunday evening. And, he states that Jesus made many other post-Resurrection appearances that he did not record in his book. Then, John says ...
After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias [the Sea of Galilee or Lake Gennesaret]; and on this wise shewed he himself. (John 21:1)
Peter Organized
an Unsuccessful
Night Of Fishing.
John notes that before the large, scheduled “Gathering” occurred on the gentle slopes of a mountain near the Sea of Galilee, Jesus held a more intimate meeting with some of His disciples. The men had arrived in Galilee a few days ahead of the planned event and were visiting and lodging with relatives and friends. One evening as Peter conversed with 6 other disciples, he proposed that they go fishing. Many of them had been fishermen before they met Jesus. Their families were still in the fishing business. Boats and nets and other paraphernalia were at hand. So, Peter’s suggestion was attractive. With nostalgia for some of their “good old days on the lake”, they cast off from shore. John reports ...
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. 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. (John 21:2-3)
Jesus Appeared
In the Morning Mist.
In a wispy, morning fog, the Risen Lord appeared on the seashore. He was in control. He manipulated the moment to plant a conviction in the mind of each of these disciples: “This will no longer be my occupation!” And, He had kept the men from catching even 1 fish to set the stage for a spectacular miracle.
... when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. (John 21:4)
Jesus Startled the Men
With a Massive Swarm Of Fish.
First, Jesus got the Apostles to admit their lack of success.
... Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. (John 21:5)
Then, Jesus ordered an impressive collection of fish to swarm to the right side of the fishing vessel.
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. (John 21:6)
John Exclaimed,
“That Man On the Shore Is Jesus!”
It was an astounding miracle. These men had never seen such a catch. John was the first to realize that the One on the shore was Jesus. And, He said as much.
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. (John 21:7)
Not wanting to greet Jesus in His undergarments, Peter donned his “fisher’s coat” and slowly struggled to the shore.
Everyone Headed Toward Jesus.
The other disciples anchored the main vessel, tied the bulging net full of fish to a small boat, and dragged the catch to shore.
... the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits [or 300 feet],) dragging the net with fishes. (John 21:9)
While the Men Came Ashore,
Jesus Prepared a Meal.
As the disciples were busy securing the voluminous catch and Peter was struggling to reach the shore, Jesus was preparing a meal. Did He do it by simply calling it into existence or by more conventional means? We don’t know. But, somehow a well-ordered campfire appeared on the beach. And, wonderful fish and flat squares of bread awaited the men. And Jesus, in His glorified, Resurrection Body greeted them gladly. We’re sure it was the best fish-bake ever. Even so, Jesus asked the men to add some of the fish they had just caught to the meal.
As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. (John 21:9-10)
The Men
Prepared the Catch For Market.
Leaving the small boat and the fish-catch in shallow water, the disciples scrambled to shore and hugged and greeted Jesus. Peter, in a flush of practical thinking, drug the catch closer to shore and urged the men to transfer the fish to small carts which would be used to take the catch to market. The men cleaned a few fish and added them to those on the fire.
Simon 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. (John 21:11)
The Men Circled the Campfire.
Then, at Jesus’ invitation, the men gathered about the fabulous food. Questions and comments darted back and forth between the Lord and His disciples. Logically, the men knew they were in the presence of the Risen Lord, but Christ’s magnificence was so overwhelming that they had trouble wrapping their minds around the unusual situation in which they found themselves. They were awestruck.
Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. (John 21:12)
Jesus Served
the Baked Fish
To the Disciples.
What a contrast! There on the beach stood 7 wet and weary disciples with the Lord of the Universe; the very One, about whom the Apostle John would later write, “All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made!” (John 1:3) And promptly, this supernatural Personage began serving His followers.
Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. (John 21:13)
What a scene! Jesus handed each of them a flat piece of bread and, then, laid a tasty, fish slab upon it. The men wrapped the bread around the fish and began feasting. Without a doubt, those were the best fish sandwiches ever. They came directly from the hand of God.
John Enumerated
the Times the Risen Lord
Had Met With His Apostles.
John recapitulated; this meeting by the lake, he reasoned, was the third gathering in which Jesus had shown Himself to a large party of His Apostles. The first such meeting was on Easter evening. The next was the evening meeting during which Thomas first saw the Risen Lord. And, the third was this meeting on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. (John 24:14)
After Breakfast,
Jesus Had an Extended Conversation
With Peter And John.
Once everyone had their fill, Jesus arranged to have an extended conversation with Peter and John. He told the other disciples He would soon see them at the “Gathering” on the mountainside and urged them to transport the fish-catch to market. Of course, the disciples complied.
Jesus, Peter and John walked along the shore and talked. Jesus asked, “Peter, do you love Me more than these boats and nets and other fishing paraphernalia?” Peter responded, “You know I love You Lord.” And, Jesus said, “Then, you need to step away from the family business and spend your time providing spiritual nourishment to My followers and those fledgling believers who will soon become a part of the New Testament Church.”
... 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. (John 21:15)
After a moment, Jesus said again, “Simon, do you love Me?” Peter reasserted, “Lord, You know I love You!” And, Jesus declared, “Then, devote yourself to feeding the souls of My followers!”
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. (John 21:16)
The trio continued walking beside the sea. Breaking the silence again, Jesus said, “Simon, do you love Me?” Peter was exasperated. He said, “Lord, You know everything. You know all my thoughts. You know I love You!” Why was Peter agitated by Jesus asking the same question 3 times? Was his mind stricken again with shame as he remembered the 3 times he had denied knowing Christ? Perhaps, this was Jesus’ way of letting Peter make amends for his 3 denials. And, with that ugly episode forgiven, Jesus said again, “Pour all your energy into feeding the souls of My followers, especially those who will soon join themselves to the New Testament Church.”
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. (John 21 17)
Jesus said,
“Though You Will Be Martyred,
Peter, Follow Me!”
With great solemnity, Jesus told Peter he would be martyred when he was an old man. Nevertheless, Jesus said, Peter was to follow His leading and play a crucial role in the formation of the New Testament Church. Early Christian writers reported that Peter was executed by Nero in Rome. He was crucified upside down, at his insistence, on an X shaped cross, because he did not feel he was worthy to die as Jesus had died.
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest 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. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. (John 21:18-19)
Having heard of his future martyrdom from the One who Crated and sustains the Universe and manages its history, Peter fell into deep thought as he walked beside Jesus. Finally, he accepted his mission, even its unpleasant conclusion. Then, he thought about John who was walking closely behind him. Motivated on the one hand by curiosity and on the other hand by a supposed sense of evenhandedness, Peter asked, “If I’m to be matyred for the cause, what about John?” Jesus deferred his question and said, “You, Peter, follow me!”
... 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? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. (John 21:20-22)
But note, Jesus had said, “If I want John to live until I return to Earth to set up My Kingdom, what is that to you?” And, as other early Christians heard John and Peter talk about this conversation with Jesus, some of them overstated what they had heard and a rumor got started. They spread the word that John would, for sure, live till Jesus returned.
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? (John 21:23)
John Identified Himself
As the Author
Of the Gospel of John.
John concludes his book, saying ...
This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. 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. (John 21:24-25)