John 21:1
21:1 – “After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples…”
After these things—same expression is used in John 5:1…6:1…7:1…and now here in 21:1…it denotes an interval during which time other events took place…in this case
…one was His resurrection from the dead
…second was His appearance to Mary Magdalene
…then twice to His disciples; once when Thomas was absent, and at another time when he was present…it connects the events of this chapter with the events in the previous chapter.
In this passage it’s suggesting thatJesus was not recognizable to them unless He revealed Himself to them…After these things Jesus manifested Himself.
Mary Magdalene in the garden didn’t recognize Him…the two men traveling to Emmaus didn’t recognize him [Luke 24] …the disciples fishing on the lake did not know that it was Jesus [John 21:4] So what’s going on here?
Did some mysterious change take place in Jesus’ body after the resurrection … [Mark 16:12] says that Jesus “appeared in another form” unto them…is this to be understood that there was a change in His physical appearance?
Jesus was not in another form…He still had nail prints in His feet and hands and the spear wound in His side [John 20:27] …His physical features hadn’t changed.
So why was it that Mary Magdalene failed to recognize Him [John 20:15] …the two men walking to Emmaus failed to recognize Him [Luke 24:13] and now at the lakeshore those who had been with Him so long failed to recognize Him…so what was the problem that they were unable to recognize Him?
LOOK at what the Scripture says…. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him [Luke 24:16] …WHY? There are a couple of ideas.
ONE… that Jesus was disfigured…that He was still suffering from the effects of the beating He took before His crucifixion that left him disfigured beyond recognition.
Remember…He still had the nail marks in His hands and feet and the sword marks in His side…is it unrealistic to believe that suddenly the bruises and swelling left His face?
SECONDLY…more likely it was the combination of sorrow and unbelief regarding His resurrection that caused Mary and the two walking with Jesus to not recognize Him…being so distraught it blocked their understanding until Jesus identified himself because they weren’t really expecting to see Jesus at all.
In fact, it required strong evidence to convince them otherwise…that He was really risen from the dead.
Luke 24:21—says the problem was they were reasoning in their minds…We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel…there’s the problem… they were operating in the ‘natural’.
We were hoping…in other words…instead of living their lives by trusting in God’s Word they were relying on feeling…it’s easy to have our hearts swayed by life’s circumstances rather than by living by faith…being continually filled with the Spirit…but relying on our own interpretation or understanding.
1 Cor. 2:14 – The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God…he cannot understand them.
They were all operating in the ‘natural’ – their desires were corrupt…they were focused on what would benefit them…we were hoping…as a result their vision of who Christ was at that time…was obscured.
NO difference today…Christians fail to recognize Jesus’ presence because they are blinded by carnal minds (Eph 4:18) hoping Jesus will do what is necessary to benefit them.
The misunderstanding by the disciples was that Jesus would reveal Himself to the world by a spectacular demonstration of His power…this is seen in the question [John 14:22]
Lord what has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not the world?
They were unaware that Jesus’ disclosure to the world would not be through demonstrations of power…but through the working of the Holy Spirit.
BUT because people fail to respond to the Holy Spirit’s gentle nudging in their lives…they remain isolated from God’s grace…that is why only a small minority will enter through the ‘narrow’ gate’ [Matthew 7:14].
There are a certain number of people in this world who are not of it…the Bible refers to them as the remnant…who are they?
People who are not worldly in principle…in action…in conversation…in desires …they are people of prayer…who love God…these are God’s favored people whom He manifests Himself to.
Unfortunately, …there are some Christians who say, “We don’t know anything about these manifestations.” Here’s the tragedy…The Church needs to do its job…pastors need to be faithful to their calling.
“The church has been getting for the last few years into a lean, starved state; God has sent very few preachers who would preach…and the church has been getting lower and lower…what will become of us I cannot tell.” Charles Spurgeon
When they don’t…it’s the ‘Church’, God’s people, who suffer from a lack of knowledge.
From a common-sense perspective why does Jesus manifest Himself to us, and not to the world?
When He comes down again won’t the world see Him the same as we do? …if God is all-loving and all-powerful, why hasn’t He shown Himself to the world? …why would He leave any room for doubt? …why not reveal Himself in the most spectacular of ways that would make unbelief impossible? …He has.
The disciple’s question was: are You going to disclose Yourself to us and not the world? …if Jesus returns in a chariot of fire…or descends on a pillar of clouds…if we see Him, the world must see him too, right?
Why does Christ not manifest himself to the world? …how easy it would be for the entire world to believe…here’s the kicker…Jesus didn’t answer that question…he didn’t have to because He does manifest Himself to the world…every day.
God has provided enough evidence for a reasonable belief in His existence…just because God doesn’t reveal Himself in a way the world thinks He should…is not sufficient evidence to prove that God does not exist…I can’t see God is not a valid excuse for not believing in God.
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20
SO…in reality…God does reveal Himself to us…and the world:
…1) thru our conscience
…2) thru nature…seasons to change…first, the Earth moves around the Sun. Something has to cause it to move and to remain there…second, the Earth has a tilted axis of rotation…it’s at an angle of 23.5° …the earth’s tilted axis of rotation in combination with its orbit around the sun causes the seasons to change…think that’s by accident…that is a manifestation.
…3) and “in these last days, He has spoken to us by his Son…” [Heb. 1:1-2].
Some would say…religion is good …it has its place…it’s beneficial to society but as to these manifestations…we don’t believe in them.
That just validates Romans 1:20 …He does manifest Himself to the world…and when people say…manifestations aren’t real…they have proved they are of the world.
There is a difference between those who are in the natural and those who are in the spiritual…lost people are unable to ‘see’ Jesus because they are in the natural.
Christians many times fail to see Jesus because they’re operating in the natural and not in the spiritual…and therefore missing God’s immediate purposes for them.
SO, the guys decide to go fishing…returning to their former livelihood…remember Peter and a number of the other disciples were fishermen by trade so this isn’t the same as hanging a “gone fishin’” sign on the office door as a way to take a break from work.
These guys were unknowingly fulfilling what Jesus said in [16:32]
But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone.
The story begs the question: why did Peter and the disciples go back to their regular jobs of fishing when Jesus had personally called them to a greater work?
Kinda reinforces the idea that they were operating in the natural…they were not doing what the Lord had called them to do…being fishers of men.
Here we see something of human nature…there is always the temptation to stay in our old life or return to it again.
After his denials, Peter was acutely aware of his own inadequacy…his failings…his weakness…Peter reverted back to being merely a fisherman.
In our own walk with the Lord…have disappointments or failing on your part hindered you from truly stepping out into the fullness of God’s purpose for you?
The 21st chapter of John is not just about a bunch of guys out fishing…this chapter is KEY for us as Christians… it is a demonstration of The Promise of Restoration.
Throughout the Bible words like: Redemption…restoration…regeneration… reconciliation…are all over the Bible…with many of the main characters in the Bible failing God and needing to be restored.
Have you ever thought of yourself as being a disappointment to God because you have chosen your own way over God’s?
See the same thing in Paul’s life…here’s what Paul says about himself:
—formerly a blasphemer…persecutor and violent aggressor [1 Tim 1:13]
—persecuted Christians and saw to their arrest and punishment [Acts 22:4]
—made “murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” [Acts 9:1]
I’m sure Paul may have felt at times that his past life disqualified him from the ministry…in our own walk with the Lord often major disappointment or failing on our part hinders or blocks us from truly stepping out into the fullness of God’s purpose for you.
Like Peter…we have disappointments and failings…has guilt or shame resulted in you going out fishing again rather than living for the Lord?…look how God handles Peter’s restoration.
21:9 – when they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire
When you read this verse, you have to ask… ‘what has this got to do with anything …why would John add this obscure occurrence’ …who cares…look again…there’s a purpose.
You’ll notice this is strangely reminiscent of when Peter was standing outside the court of the high priest denying Jesus during His trial… [John 18:18]
Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves: and Peter was also with them standing and warming himself.
Think maybe Peter had a flashback to that…smells can evoke memories …what the smoky embers must have recalled to Peter…did he flash back to that awful night in the courtyard and his humiliating moment of weakness?
How many times has Peter failed the Lord since his bold statement [13:37] – ‘I will lay down my life for you’
…1) he denies him three times in the courtyard.
…2) he fails to acknowledge his resurrection
…3) collectively they – “went away again to their own home”
…4) now he’s out fishing
Peter’s life is a reminder that good intentions are not always followed up on easily…I will lay down my life for you.
Asked this question a few weeks back…have you ever made a commitment about something that you are completely unaware of the seriousness of what you’re committing to?
Here’s where we’re like Peter…in our zeal to demonstrate our commitment to God or to prove to God how strong a Christian we are we overstate our ability to handle temptations…trials…difficulties…challenges or problems.
Satan loves it when we do that…overstating our ability to handle temptations… trials…difficulties…challenges or problems…shows our desire to trust in ourselves rather than in God.
What happens next is a demonstration of God’s endless love…God is the restorer of people: words like: Redemption…restoration…regeneration …reconciliation…are all over the Bible…God is a restorer:
Jonah…God called him…refuses to be obedient…swallowed by a fish…repents… is restored [3:1] the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time…back to square one…same place he was when God originally called him.
Abraham…God promises him a son…doubts it…does his own thing…thirteen years later he’s back to square one…restored.
Moses…from his birth he was to be Israel’s deliverer from Egypt… [Ex. 1:12] kills an Egyptian …40 years later he’s restored…back to square one…God again calls him to his original purpose.
Israel…God brings them out of Egypt…takes them to the promised land… performance less than stellar… [Deut. 1:] …40 years later back to square one… waiting to cross into the Promised land.
Just as God had restored those people before…now it is Peter’s turn…Jesus turns and faces Peter…singles him out from the other apostles…calls him by name… directs His question specifically to him…asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” (John 21:15-17) and do you love Me more than these?
The disciple who said: “I do not know the man!” now says to Jesus, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you” …But how much do you love me?
Here’s where things start to get a little confusing…in the English there’s only one word for love…not that easy in the Greek…the word ‘love’ is used in Jesus’ question to Peter…do you love me? …in Peter’s response to Jesus he also uses the word ‘love’…Yes Lord, you know that I love you…but he uses another word for love…they don’t mean the same thing.
Jesus asks Peter do you love Me? …using the word that involves the idea of affectionate reverence and prompt obedience…doing what the Lord prefers… ἀγαπάω…but Peter responds with the Greek word φιλέω meaning to show warm affection…a human type of love.
Peter’s response to Jesus is not one that claims Peter truly loves Jesus…but only that he has affections for Him.
So, once more Jesus asks Peter…do you (ἀγαπάω)…me–embracing God’s will… choosing His choices…and obeying them through His power–but again Peter responds with the word φιλέω meaning to show a human type of love.
Here’s how theologians like to de-emphasize the Bible…in the past it was common to focus on these two Greek words for ‘love’ to demonstrate the difference between loving God to the extent of embracing His will…versus…a generic type of love that say: yea Lord I like You.
In this passage there’s a pattern…Jesus asking Peter twice whether he loves Him (agapao) and each time Peter responding that, yes, I do have affection for you (phileo) not responding with the intensity of love Jesus is asking him.
In recent years the idea that these two words are close synonyms has resulted in the idea that there’s really no distinction between loving the Lord with a total commitment–ἀγαπάω–and doing the Macdonald’s thing…I’m loving it—φιλέω.
(D. A. Carson 1991:676-77) …which is to ignore the seriousness of the question.
By the third time Jesus switches to using Peter’s word…asking whether he loves Him, Peter is hurt…Jesus’ desire to get Peter to respond that he loves Him more than just as a friend has Peter deeply grieved.
In response to this searing third question, Peter says, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you (v. 17).
Again…two different words for ‘know’ are used…as with the two words for ‘love,’ these words convey two different meanings.
The first two times Peter responded with ‘you know’ (σὺ οἶδα) meaning—to perceive with physical eyes—but in his third response he uses a different word for ‘know’ (γινώσκω) Peter uses the word that implies knowledge grounded in personal experience…knowledge viewed as the result of prolonged practice.
Peter is saying…after three years of us being together you should know from my actions…by what I have sacrificed…and through personal observation how much I love you.
I’m sure Peter is thinking back to his previous statement to Jesus that defines how much he loved Him… “We have left everything to follow you! [Mat. 19:27] including the nets and the boat.
As Christians…every time we’re faced with a temptation this question is asked …every time we become preoccupied with even the good things God gives us this question is raised…do you love me more than these…or do you love me because of these.
This question…do you love me more than these…is extremely searching…your answer determines the intensity of the Holy Spirit’s involvement in your life.