John Chapter 21 {Jesus' Appearance to the Disciples - Location - in Galilee} 1~~After these things {events of the previous chapter} Jesus {in resurrected body} revealed/manifested Himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberius. And in this manner, He showed Himself. {Note: John wrote this gospel after Tiberius became emperor, the Sea of Galilee was changed to Sea of Tiberius. This dates this gospel as later then the other synoptic gospels.} {Jesus Meets with Seven Believing Disciples} 2~~There kept on being together Simon Peter {listed first - probably in authority at this time   even though he failed}, and Thomas - called Didymus, and Nathanael - from Cana in Galilee, the {sons} of Zebedee   {John and James who was a disciple and early Church martyr}, and two 'others of the same kind of' {allos} His {Jesus} disciples/'doctrinally oriented students'. {Note: Per RBT, Nathanael was his proper name and Bartholomew - is Aramaic meaning son of Tholomew - is another name he goes by. Philip and Andrew are most likely the other two disciples because of their association with Galilee but this is not known. All seven have been recorded as being 'out of line' (later recovering) so RBT calls them 'the rat pack'.} {Peter is Impatient So Goes Fishing} 3~~Simon Peter said {lego} unto them, "I go to fish." They say {lego}, "We also will go with you." They went forth and got aboard {anabaino} the boat, but that night they caught nothing. {Disciples Working Hard Do Not Recognize Jesus in the Poor Light} 4~~Now when the dawn was coming on, Jesus stood on the beach/shore, but the disciples kept on absolutely not inherently knowing {oida - pluperfect} that it was Jesus. 5~~So Jesus said to them, "Boys {paidion}, you don't have any fish {prosphagion}, do you?" They 'had an answer'/'gave a discerning answer from the ultimate source of themselves' {apokrinomai}, "No." {Note: Phagion means to eat. Pros means 'face to face'. So this means to have something worthy of eating. Jesus uses an idiom meaning 'have you caught anything?'} 6~~But, He said to them, "Throw/cast your net on the right side of the boat, and you will discover/'find {some fish}' {heurisko}." So they threw the net, and they kept on being absolutely no longer able to bring it in . . . because of the large number of fish. {Men of Thought (John) and Men of Action (Peter)} 7~~Therefore the disciple/'one who learned doctrine' {mathetes} whom Jesus kept on loving {agapao} {John Himself} said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" {first to discern the Lord was John} So Simon Peter, having heard that it kept on being the Lord, put on his outer garment {had put it aside while fishing hard} - for he was naked {while fishing and sweating} - and plunged into the sea {first to act was Peter}. {Note: Peter was not going to greet the Lord naked. So, he put his clothes back on - apparently had set them aside while working hard and sweating up a storm. First to understand was John. First to act was Peter. God uses all types of personalities! Privacy of the priesthood - don't try to change others! Everyone serves differently!} {Verses 8-9: Boat Returns to Shore} 8~~Meanwhile the other of the same kind of {allos} disciples came with the shore-boat {ploiarion}, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from land - only about a hundred yards/'200 cubits'. {Note: Ploiarion means a small boat. RBT says a boat is anything that can be hoisted aboard a ship. Peter is like the evangelist who goes ahead of the others and 'catches the fish'. John is like the pastor who stays behind and brings along the fish to spiritual maturity.} 9~~As soon as they disembarked {from the boat -apobaino}, they glanced {blepo} at a 'mass of burning coals'   {representing Jesus Christ on the cross - salvation} lying there with 'roasted fish'   {a delicacy - representing 'delicacy of grace'} placed on it, and bread {representing the bread of life - bible doctrine}. Note: The fire of coals is a picture of the cross - salvation. The roasted fish was a delicacy representing all that is available to you after salvation because of the grace of God. The bread represents bible doctrine. 'No man lives by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'} 10~~The Jesus said, "Bring some of the fish you have now caught." 11~~So Simon Peter went aboard {anabaino - boarded the skip} and pulled the net to shore   {did this all by himself - quite a feat - indicates divine assistance}. It was full/replete with large fish, - one hundred fifty-three - but although there were so many, the net was absolutely not {ouk} 'torn apart'/split {schizo}. {Note: In verse 6, seven men could not haul the net aboard. That was human ability. Now with the power of the Lord behind him, Peter could pull in the net with all the fish all by himself. This verse demonstrates what can be done under the power of the Spirit.} {Verses 12-14: A 'Dinner Party - at Breakfast Time'} 12~~Jesus said to them, "Come {a command in a rough tone - deute} . . . {eat} breakfast {aristao}," But none of the disciples kept on having the courage {tolmao} to interrogate {exetazo} Him, "Who are you?" - because they inherently knew {oida} it kept on being the Lord. {Note: Aristao is the word for the first meal. It is the word from which we get aristocrat. An aristocrat was a person who could afford to eat breakfast.} {Jesus Provides Provisions} 13~~Jesus came {erchomai - present tense - a dramatic event} and took the bread and kept on giving it to them   {represents the Bread of Life - the Word}, and did the same with the fish   {represents evangelism - fishers of men}. {Note: Every verb in this verse is a verb of action, with Jesus providing the action. This is the basic concept of Grace - God provides the action. Jesus Christ provided everything - that is grace! They will eat which is a non-meritorious activity.} 14~~This . . . already the third time Jesus showed Himself {phaneroo} to the disciples/'ones who learns doctrine' {mathetes} after He received 'rising'/resurrection out from the dead. {Verses 15-17: How Pastors Teach Depends on Maturity of   the Congregation} 21:15~~Then when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon . . . {son} of Jonas {Ionas}, do you keep on having a 'mental attitude love' {agapao} for Me more than these   {the 6 disciples he lead all last night - a detail of life}?" He said, "Yes, Lord, you have inherent knowledge {oida} that I keep on 'having a rapport love' {phileo} for You!" He {Jesus} said to him {Peter}, "Keep on 'gently caring for'/ 'feeding as a shepherd with a true sense of responsibility' {bosko} My lambs/'new/immature believers   {who need basic doctrines}' {arnion}." {Note: RBT says the little lambs here are baby believers. When you have new believers they need to be gently cared for so they can grow in grace and not be discouraged. Jesus filled Peter's nets with fish. Now Peter is to become the fisherman.} {Note: In verse 17 we see that Peter has a righteous indignation about Jesus' questions. Jesus uses 'agapao' type love and Peter responses 'not only agapao Lord, but phileo also'. But Jesus uses agapao a second time. The third time, Jesus uses phileo.} 16~~He {Jesus} said a second time, "Simon . . . {son} of Jonas {Ionas}, do you keep on having a 'mental attitude love' {agapao} for Me?" He {Peter} said, "Yes, Lord, you have inherent knowledge {oida} that I keep on 'having a rapport love' {phileo} for You!" He {Jesus} said to him {Peter}, "'Rule over'/ 'Sternly shepherd, care and guide using your rod' {poimaino} My 'grazing sheep'/ 'hardheaded believers feeding on the Word' {probaton}." {Note: RBT says the 'grazing sheep' here are believers taking in the Word. When you have adolescent hardheaded believers they now need a sterner hand in keeping them in line. They know a little and think they know it all. So, dogmatic teaching line upon line, precept upon precept, is now required for spiritual growth.} 17~~ He {Jesus} said unto him {Peter} a third time, "Simon . . . {son} of Jonas {Ionas}, do you keep on 'having a rapport love' {phileo} for Me?" Peter was distressed {lupeo} that He {Jesus} asked him a third time, "Do you keep on 'having a rapport love' {phileo} for Me?" and he {Peter} said unto Him {Jesus}, "Lord, You inherently know {oida} all/everything! You keep on 'knowing from study or observation' {ginosko} that {result clause} I keep on 'having a rapport love' {phileo} for You." He {Jesus} said to him {Peter}, "Keep on 'gently caring for'/ 'feeding as a shepherd with a true sense of responsibility' {bosko} My 'grazing sheep'/' believers feeding on the Word' {probaton}." {Note: RBT says the 'grazing sheep' here are believers who have continuously taken in the Word for a substantial period of time and are now mature. They have built an edification complex of the soul and no longer need the 'rod'. They still need teaching, but with a gentler hand now.} {Verses 18-20: Prophecy of Peter's Death} 18~~'Verily, verily'/'Point of doctrine' {amen amen}, I {Jesus} say to you {Peter}, when you kept on being young {when you were more youthful}, you tied your clothes around you {you dressed yourself} and went wherever you wanted   {Peter was a young active independent person - dynamic,   vigorous and powerful}, but, in contrast, on the occasion of becoming old {not quite their yet}, you will stretch out your hands and others of the same kind {other believers} will 'dress you'/'gird you up' {someone will dress Peter in old age} and bring you where you do not want to go   {Peter will be lead around in old age - and here to his execution}." {Note: Peter was always strong physically in his youth. He will die the death of a physically weak person. Extra-biblical sources say he was crucified, but Peter could not physically walk himself to the place of the execution. Peter will have a wonderful life of 'feeding the sheep of the Lord'. Then he will die an 'old persons death' but will bring even more glory to the Lord in doing so (see next verse).} 19~~This He {Jesus} spoke {prophecy of Jesus} specifying/'indicating clearly' by what kind of death he {Peter} would glorify God. And, having said this, He {Jesus} said to him {Peter}, "Keep on following Me {as a student of His Word}." {Note: Peter will eventually 'follow Jesus' in his study of the Word and will become a great pastor and apostle. But, right here he fails again! He will immediately stick his nose in John's business! Oh well.} {Peter Sticks His Nose in John's Business} 20~~Then Peter having received turning around {epistrepho} and glanced at {blepo} following them {Jesus and Peter} the disciple whom Jesus loved {agapao} {John} - who also having reclined on the table near His chest/'outer garment' at the meal - and asked, "Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?" {Note: Epistrepho is an aorist passive participle meaning 'having turned around' at a point in time. He RECEIVED the turning around. Why? RBT says it is because his mental attitude sin of jealousy from his competition with John caused him to turn around and ask a question about John. John is a 'good student' and is DOING what Jesus wants him to do - to follow Him as a student of divine viewpoint! Without having to be told, John was doing what Peter was 'commanded' to do! John has his eyes on the Lord, but Peter has his eyes on John!} {Peter's Long Proboscis - Bad Mental Attitude} 21:21~So Peter 'staring at'/'having a panoramic view of' {horao} him {John}, said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this one {John}?"   {Idiom: literally 'and this one . . . what?} {Note: No believer priest has the right to know God's plans for other believers. This is an infringement on the right to privacy of John. Infringement on the privacy of another tends to lead to the judging of others.} {Principal of Privacy} 22~~Jesus said to him {Peter}, "If I design/wish/desire him {John} to remain {stay alive} until I come back {Rapture} - maybe I will design/desire it so, maybe I will not - 'what business is it of yours'?   {idiom: Literally - 'what . . . face to face with your?'} You keep on following Me   {Peter still needs to learn Jesus' Divine Viewpoint}!" {God the Holy Spirit's Sense of Humor} 23~~So the saying circulated among the brethren that this disciple {John} should absolutely not {ouk} die {apothnesko - physical death}. But, in contrast, Jesus absolutely did not {ouk} say to him {John} that he was not going to die, but rather, "If I design/wish/desire him {John} to remain {stay alive} until I come back {Rapture} - maybe I will design/desire it so, maybe I will not - 'what business is it of yours'?   {idiom: Literally - 'what . . . face to face with your?'} {Note: There were seven disciples who heard what Jesus said. So someone took this and spread a rumor - missing the implications of the subjunctive in the 3rd class condition! They said, did you hear . . . John is not going to die! :-) So, here God the Holy Spirit through the author John, lets us know to not listen to gossip.} {The Disciple 'Whom Jesus Loved' is the Author of this Gospel - John} 24~~This is the disciple who 'makes a deposition'/testifies/witnesses/ {martureo} concerning these things and has written these things, and we inherently know {oida} that his testimony   {doctrine as breathed by God the Holy Spirit to John   and all other writers of scripture} keeps on being true {alethes}. {Selectivity of John's Gospel - He did Not Record all he Knew of Jesus' Ministry on Earth} 25~~And, there keeps on being many other of the same kind of things that Jesus did {during His earthly ministry}. If every one of them receiving writing - maybe they will be, maybe they will not be - I think/expect {oiomai} that the whole world {cosmos} would not have room for the books {biblion} that would be written. Amen/'I believe it'. {Note: Some manuscripts do not have Amen here. But RBT did teach it in the verse by verse study.} ************************************************** This page is sponsored by Kenneth Sidley, CPA. This page is sponsored by Moxxor For Pain Free Living. Moxxor is a highly concentrated Omega 3 product that has reduced inflammation in this writer. Please go to this website to read more about Moxxor.