Reflections on John 21

John 21 (Contemporary English Version)
1. Jesus later appeared to his disciples along the shore of Lake Tiberias.
   
2. Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the brothers James and John, were there, together with two other disciples.
   
3. Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing!" The others said, "We will go with you." They went out in their boat. But they didn't catch a thing that night.
   
4. Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize who he was.
   
5. Jesus shouted, "Friends, have you caught anything?" "No!" they answered.
   
6. So he told them, "Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some fish." They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat.
   
7. Jesus' favorite disciple told Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Simon heard that it was the Lord, he put on the clothes that he had taken off while he was working. Then he jumped into the water.
   
8. The boat was only about a hundred yards from shore. So the other disciples stayed in the boat and dragged in the net full of fish.
   
9. When the disciples got out of the boat, they saw some bread and a charcoal fire with fish on it.
   
10. Jesus told his disciples, "Bring some of the fish you just caught."
    
11. Simon Peter got back into the boat and dragged the net to shore. In it were one hundred fifty-three large fish, but still the net did not rip.
    
12. Jesus said, "Come and eat!" But none of the disciples dared ask who he was. They knew he was the Lord.
    
13. Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave some of it to his disciples. He did the same with the fish.
    
14. This was the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from death.
    
15. When Jesus and his disciples had finished eating, he asked, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than the others do?" Simon Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know I do!" "Then feed my lambs," Jesus said.
    
16. Jesus asked a second time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you!" "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus told him.
    
17. Jesus asked a third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him three times if he loved him. So he told Jesus, "Lord, you know everything. You know I love you." Jesus replied, "Feed my sheep.
    
18. I tell you for certain that when you were a young man, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will hold out your hands. Then others will wrap your belt around you and lead you where you don't want to go."
    
19. Jesus said this to tell how Peter would die and bring honor to God. Then he said to Peter, "Follow me!"
    
20. Peter turned and saw Jesus' favorite disciple following them. He was the same one who had sat next to Jesus at the meal and had asked, "Lord, who is going to betray you?"
    
21. When Peter saw that disciple, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"
    
22. Jesus answered, "What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return? You must follow me."
    
23. So the rumor spread among the other disciples that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say he would not die. He simply said, "What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return?"
    
24. This disciple is the one who told all of this. He wrote it, and we know he is telling the truth.
    
25. Jesus did many other things. If they were all written in books, I don't suppose there would be room enough in the whole world for all the books.
    
    

    ---

    
    In this final chapter of John's gospel he records a third time that Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples following His resurrection. It was not His final post resurrection meeting with his disciples, however, since they were present when He was ascended into heaven. Luke's record of Jesus' discourse with His disciples in the first chapter of Acts may also have been following this event in the last chapter of John's gospel.
    
    In this chapter John tells of a miracle Jesus performed for the disciples. They had returned from fishing without a catch and Jesus told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. When they did, it was filled with fish to the extent that they couldn't haul it into the boat. Was this a "sign" miracle? John does not speak of it in that regard. Certainly a sign miracle does not seem necessary at this point when the disciples had come to know and believe that Jesus was the Messiah. I see it more as a teaching miracle that Jesus used to show the disciples the outcome of doing His will.
    
    We see also in this chapter Jesus' mercy and forgiveness demonstrated in His reinstatement of Peter following his denial of Jesus during the trial. Though no mention is made of Peter's denial, Jesus singles him out and asks about his love for Jesus.  In fact, He asked this question of Peter three times, corresponding to Peter's denial three times. With each question of Peter's love, Jesus gave him a command - "Feed My lambs," "Shepherd My sheep," and "Feed My sheep." Then He concluded with the command, "Follow me!" Peter had not only been forgiven, but was given an assignment, or a calling, by the Lord. But in the course of this exchange, John points out that Jesus also referred to Peter's death as a result of following Jesus.
    
    The world gets hung up with ideas of personal gain if one follows Jesus, or if God is a God of love that He will never allow bad things to happen to anyone. But Jesus was calling Peter to follow Him to his death by crucifixtion. Bad things were going to happen to Peter as a result of following Jesus. How does this fit our theology? Scripture does teach that there is personal gain for those who follow Jesus, but is it the same gain we have in mind? Our idea of gain is of prosperity and no problems and recognition, etc. The gain Jesus gives is much more eternal and relates to fellowship with Him, joy, inner peace, abundant life, eternal life, etc.  Is Jesus idea of gain worth the possibility of bad things happening? Jesus taught that, "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it." (Mark 8:35)