The Gospel Of John Chapter 21 Pt. 1 Come And Dine With Jesus

We began our study through John's gospel on May 28, 2020. 66 posts later, we had worked our way through John 12. 

Then, I took a break, with the intention of coming back to this gospel at a future date. 

We resumed our study in John's gospel on June 20,2023, picking up in chapter 13.

Now, we have reached the last chapter of John's gospel. I hope each reader has been as richly blessed as I have been, by this in depth, careful study.

After these things Jesus appeared to His disciples again.

John 21:1  After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 

John and Luke used the phrase "after these things" very effectively. Wherever we find this phrase used in the gospels, it is always used to tell us what Jesus is currently doing. Thus, we read "After these things Jesus showed..."

The phrase is also a reminder for us to look back at the events immediately preceding what Jesus is presently doing. 

In this case, we would look back at John 21, and the resurrection appearances of Jesus to His disciples. 

The word "shewed" is used of people in the sense of  being exposed to view, making oneself manifest, to fully appear. It means to be plainly recognized, and thoroughly understood. 

Jesus made Himself fully visible, and palpably manifest to His disciples. John is going to tell us how Jesus revealed Himself to them.

The disciples were waiting for Jesus to come, as He promised.

John 21:2  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.  

After Jesus had appeared several times to the women, and to the apostles at Jerusalem, and at the tomb, he bade them go into Galilee. 

He gave them the promise of meeting them there (see Matthew 28:7; Mark 16:7). 

Jesus fulfilled this promise in the manner John relates here. This was Jesus' seventh post resurrection appearance.

This is why 7 of Christ's disciples were back in Galilee. They obeyed their Lord, and went where He told them to go.

During Jesus' earthly ministry, several people supplied for their practical needs of food, clothing or shelter (See Luke 8:3).

At this point, the disciples did not know how they would support themselves, or in Peter's case, his family.

Thus, Peter practically declared "I go a fishing" and the other disciples agreed to accompany them.

Jesus brought them back to the point where He called them.

Matthew 4:18-22  And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19)  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20)  And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21)  And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22)  And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. 

This is important to note, because most of His disciples were fishermen, as Matthew records. 

However, when Jesus called these men, it was to make them fishers of men, as Jesus used terms they would readily understand.

All their work in the energy of their flesh was for nothing.

John 21:3  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 tells us that Peter and the others toiled all night long, and caught nothing. All of their hard work and human effort came to nothing. They did not catch a single fish.

Yet, we see the hand of God orchestrating all of these circumstances. They were back home, doing what they used to do. They were at the same location as when Jesus first called them to follow Him.

What happens next repeats what happened when Jesus first called them. Luke's gospel tells us about that encounter. 

Luke 5:4-8 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5)  And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6)  And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7)  And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8)  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 

Like we read in John 21, the first time Jesus called these men, they had been out fishing all night and they caught nothing. Jesus commanded them to cast their nets one more time. 

Peter was still skeptical, but they obeyed and caught so many fish that their net broke. Their boats began to sink under the weight of the so many fish.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus knees, acknowledged his sinful condition, and recognized the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

There is a principle for us to remember. When Jesus calls us, He never calls us to go back and do what we were previously doing. 

This sets the stage for John's eyewitness account of what happened next.

When they did what Jesus commanded, they were successful.

John 21:4-6  But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5)  Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6)  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. 

In the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but His disciples did not know it was Jesus. He asked them if they caught anything, and they affirmed that they had not. 

Jesus told them precisely where to cast their nets, and assured them they would find fish. 

As soon as the disciples obeyed Jesus' command, they caught another amazing catch of fish. There were so many fish that the disciples were unable to bring them in.

John 21:7-8  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. 8)  And 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. 

At this point, John (that disciple whom Jesus loved) remembered their first encounter with Jesus. He told Peter that it was Jesus Christ the Lord, standing on the shore.

Peter cast himself into the sea, and the disciples followed, bringing their boats to shore. 

A miraculous supply of fresh fire, fresh fish and fresh bread.

John 21:9  As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 

There are two miracles John records in this verse. 

First, there is a new fire of coals, that was not there when they went fishing. 

Second, there was a fish laid on the fire and some fresh bread prepared, that were not there before.

This miracle reminds us of Jehovah feeding Elijah in the wilderness, when he fled from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:6).

A gracious invitation from Jesus to come and dine.

John 21:10-14  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11)  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. 12)  Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13)  Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14)  This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. 

Jesus commanded them to bring the fish which they caught. John does not tell us that they cooked those fish, which numbered more than 150.

At this point, the disciples knew that it was Jesus appearing to them. 

He invited them to come and dine. They ate the fish that Jesus prepared and the bread that He supplied. 

As Jesus took the bread and fish, and gave it to them, their minds went back to when Jesus fed the 5,000 and the 4,000 with bread and fish.

This miracle of Jesus in providing fire, fish and bread for them to eat, was designed to help the disciples remember His many mighty miracles. 

Remembering these things would strengthen and encourage them as they began Great Commission work.

Although this is the 7th post resurrection appearance of Jesus, it is the 3rd time that He appeared to this group of men.

Thoughts to Ponder...

There is a principle in this paragraph that teaches us, when God calls us to follow Him, we are not to go back to our old way of life.

Old things are going to pass away and we are to walk in newness of life (See 2 Corinthians 5:17).

We are to be spiritually minded people who walk after the Spirit of God, rather than being carnally minded.

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

There is a second principle. God will supply all our needs, in order that we might serve Him. We cannot revert to our old ways and expect that we can also serve God.

We must serve Jesus Christ as we worship Him: in Spirit and in truth.

If we attempt to serve the Lord in our own strength, we will fail. 

This is what the new fire, the fresh fish and bread represent. Jesus will give us what we need to serve and love God. He will fill our hearts with fresh zeal for the things of God.

Jesus invites us to come and dine. This is a picture of feasting on His Word, being filled by His Spirit, and communing with Christ in prayer.

Will you come and dine with Jesus today? 

Bob