May 15, 2016 John 21:1-14
The truthfulness and accuracy of the story John tells are evident by the things he does not say. He leaves out the things that a good fiction writer would include. A skillful author writing a novel would follow the dramatic climax of the resurrection with exciting details of the renewed association between the risen Lord and His discouraged disciples. Their restored fellowship and His profound teaching would make for great reading. Instead, John reports the actual facts, two appearances by Jesus, with nothing mentioned for the week in between. Then the disciples went fishing. What writer would make up a story like that? One of the chief characteristics of the passage is the ordinariness of the events: going fishing and then having breakfast. A Hollywood screenwriter would certainly have to add some excitement to that mundane end of the story. But John was not looking for dramatic tension or climactic action. He was telling the true narrative of Jesus and His followers.
One of the first questions as our group was noting observations about the passage was about the meaning of the word “manifested” and if it related to the idea of glory. The word appears three times in the passage (vv. 1, 14), so getting a definition right from the start was a good idea. Several members offered suggestions from different translations: revealed, appeared, showed, and disclosed were mentioned. The idea common to the various versions was that Jesus made Himself plainly visible to the disciples. The word itself (phaneroō, φανερόω) is not directly related to glory (doxa, δόξα; cf. doxology in English). It is from the word sometimes used for “shine” (phainō, φαίνω; e.g., John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness”). The two words (manifest and glory) appear together in the story of the wedding at Cana, when Jesus “manifested His glory” (John 2:11).
In this John 21 passage, the emphasis seems to be on the clarity of His presence. He was showing Himself plainly to the disciples so there would be no question in their minds: He really had risen from the dead (v. 14). We discussed why the idea of “manifesting Himself” was so important. We agreed that the important issue at that time was first, to confirm the reality of the resurrection, and second, to confirm the identity of Jesus. He really was alive, and it really was Him. Jesus wanted to give them the clear demonstration of both of those incredible facts.
John is very explicit that this was the third time (v. 14), following the first appearance to the disciples behind locked doors but without Thomas (20:19), and then a second appearance when he was present (20:24). Several participants expressed concerns. What about the two persons on the road to Emmaus the “very day” of the resurrection (Luke 24:13)? What about all the appearances Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 15:5-8: Cephas (aka Peter), the twelve, a crowd of more than five-hundred, James, then all the apostles, finally to Paul himself? Did John not have accurate information? (A good Bible discussion, based on the inductive method, is fearless, never afraid to ask what might sound like awkward questions.) As for Paul’s list in his letter to the Corinthians, the first two appearances on his list (Peter and then the twelve), are consistent with John’s first-hand account. Judas was no longer among them, making eleven, and Thomas was absent, making ten for the very first appearance. But the designation of “the twelve” was clearly meant to represent Jesus’ original disciples. The two on the road to Emmaus apparently encountered Jesus after His meeting with Mary Magdalene (John 20:17) and before His manifestation to the disciples that evening (20:19). John seems primarily concerned about the renewed connection between the risen Jesus and His closest followers. One of the two on the road to Emmaus is identified by name (Cleopas, Luke 24:18), not one of the original twelve. John (even if he knew about Cleopas and his companion) was not including that encounter, just as he did not include the very first meeting with Mary. He was clearly recording the times when “Jesus was manifested to the disciples” (v. 14).
Our group talked about the disciples’ reactions. After two encounters with Jesus, some unspecified time passed. Perhaps they were discouraged. Perhaps they thought Jesus had ascended to the Father as He had first announced to Mary Magdalene (20:17). Maybe they wouldn’t see Him again. As someone suggested in our discussion, maybe they just needed food. During the ministry of Jesus others may have been providing them with the resources they needed (not to mention the occasional miraculous meal). Now they were (as far as they could tell) on their own. Better get back to what they knew and catch some fish. One other suggestion was that this was their version of “tent-making” or a self-supporting ministry. Jesus had told them that they were still on a mission, the same mission the Father had sent Him on (20:21). In almost the same breath (20:22) He reminded them of the promised Holy Spirit that would be the power of their ministry. Perhaps they were waiting expectantly for the mission to begin. Perhaps they were just bored and uncertain what the mission would look like without the incarnate presence of Jesus. Whatever their mood, Peter decided to go fishing, and the others decided to join him (21:3).
If they had not been discouraged when they started, they may have been after fishing unsuccessfully all night (v 3b-4). Then someone called out to them from the shore a hundred yards away, too far to recognize in the dim morning twilight (v. 4b-5). Someone in our group wondered why experienced but tired fishermen would listen to advice from a stranger, but they did. Maybe, as another person suggested, the disciples were reminded of a similar situation about three years before. Peter (then still called Simon) had been fishing all night and caught nothing. Peter had reluctantly followed Jesus’ fishing advice, and he had astonishing success (Luke 5:4-5). Maybe the similarity with the current unsuccessful efforts gave the disciples just enough hope to listen to the unidentified man on the shore. And then, “déjà vu all over again” (from a group member) when there were too many fish to get into the boat. John (again identifying himself as “that disciple whom Jesus loved”) had no doubt: “It is the Lord” (v. 7). John knew. He and his brother James had been there with Peter (Luke 5:10). As one person commented, those two miraculous catches of fish mark the disciples’ experience with Jesus like bookends.
One other discussion point came up in our conversation: one-hundred and fifty-three fish. Someone among the disciples took time to count them, and John included that detail in his storyline. The disciples could have said (and John could have reported) something like, “We caught tons of fish” or “We caught hundreds of fish.” Maybe first-century Palestinian fishermen had the same reputation that fisherman have today. An exaggerated “fish story” would be doubted by their contemporary colleagues and by readers today. Perhaps they counted for their own satisfaction, to see if there really were as many fish in the net as it seemed. They counted fish, and John’s story has one more mark of a true, eyewitness account.
Another observation was the contrast between Peter’s reaction to the miraculous catch in the two passages. In the first instance Peter asked Jesus to leave. He “fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, ‘Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man’” (Luke 5:8). In the second experience, three years later, Peter dove into the water to reach Jesus as quickly as possible (John 21:7b). The awe and fear of that first reaction were tempered by the loving bond that they had built over their years together. Peter had been learning how to have a relationship with the One who inspires awe.
Jesus met them on the shore with a warm fire and fresh bread and fish (He knew where to catch them). He invited the tired disciples (including the soaked Peter) to bring some of their catch and have breakfast with Him (vv. 9-12). He met their very practical, routine needs. Maybe John pointed out the count of the times He had shown Himself to them to highlight the progressive encounter with them. At the beginning (20:19) He appeared and they saw Him. Later He appeared and invited the skeptical Thomas to touch His wounds as further evidence (20:27). Now He meets them and feeds them and provides a warm fire. The alarm they must have felt at the first sudden appearance was becoming the intimate relationship they had with Him before He had gone to the cross. That relationship could continue with Him now.