Jesus appears to the seven

The Lake

Expository Thoughts on John, Vol. 3 Notes. John 21:1–14

In a theological point of view it must always be most interesting to a Christian, because some of our Lord’s mightiest miracles were wrought on it, or close to it. Here our Lord walked on the waters, and came to the disciples toiling in rowing. Here He stilled the wind and waves with a word. Here He granted to four of His Apostles a miraculous draught of fishes. Here He provided payment of the tribute-money, out of the mouth of a fish which He commanded Peter to catch. On the banks of this lake He fed a multitude with a few loaves and fishes. On a high ground overhanging this lake He cast out the legion of devils, and allowed them to drive 2,000 swine into the sea. In the towns upon this lake, Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, He did some of His mightiest works. Sitting in a boat on this lake, He delivered the parable of the Sower. In short, of all the districts in which our Lord preached and wrought miracles, there was none which saw and heard so much as the district round “the Sea of Tiberias.”

Christ knew well that the experience and the scenery of this place would would have an influence on their thoughts and rememberance of love, power, wisdom they experienced in this place

What better place to command them to meet than the very place where He called them to lay down their nets and follow Him. He would stir their hearts with some of the last things He would say to them in the place where He first called them to lay down their nets

They went fishing

Why were they here? Matthew 28:10 “Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.””

Many have argued the disciples motives here. Some said they had committed apostasy. They say the disciples had left their calling and return to their old lives and old ways of living.

First they were in this location because Christ had earlier commanded them to go there. Second at this point they were not fully equipped to fulfill their calling. Their is also nothing sinful about lawful employment. If Matthew had went back to his job he would have been wrong. There is nothing sinful about men providing to there physical needs. We see Paul often used his skills as a means to obtain his daily provisions.

On top of all these. There had been alot that had happened at this point and maybe they were fishing just for the sake of just taking it all in.

The Boat

A boat should be, the boat. Is this not the boat that Christ stood on and preached, that He calmed the storm in and that He walk to on the water

They fished all night because thats when most fish are caught. The fact they caught nothing is no surprise to any fisherman

At daylight they looked toward the shore and seen someone but did not recognize them. Its obvious to me now that with all the appearances at this point and no one recognizing Him, that Christs body did not look the same. He wasn’t recognizable at first glance to any of them

Cast your net

He gave specific instructions. Cast the net on the right side of the boat. Not the left, out the back or the front. He also assured them that they would find some.

This should have immediately brought to their rememberence when earlier on in His ministry when they had toiled all night and Christ commanded them to let down their nets and they caught

Heres my question. Why after a tiresome night of fishing and toiling, after your nets is hauled in and put up would any professional fisherman take the advice of someone on the shore who they did not know?

Answer has to be that because of the power and influence of Jesus words went out and for some unknown reason to them they felt an irresistable urge to obey

John was the first to realize. Maybe the command made him perk up and stirred his thoughts and once he seen the miracle there was no doubt it could only be Jesus.

Peter who we have seen often act off emotion, who pulls the sword and cuts off a mans ear, walked on water, here jumps into the lake and swims toward shore. Just like the samaratan woman who left her pot , Peter left fish, net and boat

Two Miracles and two commands so far

First cast the net and you’ll find some. The net was full and so full they couldn’t draw it in.

Second this time the net didn’t brake like it did the first time Christ gave this command

Expository Thoughts on John, Vol. 3 Notes. John 21:1–14

(a) On the one hand, there is undeniable danger in the habit of seeking spiritual and allegorical meanings in the plain historical facts of God’s Word. We may go so far in this direction, that, like Origen, and too often Augustine, we may lose sight of the primary simple meaning of Scripture, and turn the Bible into a mere book of riddles, which is useless to any common man, and useful only to those who have very fertile and fanciful imaginations. In fact, if we are always extracting figurative meanings out of Scripture, we may destroy the usefulness of the Book altogether. There must be some limit to the system of figurative interpretation. As a rule, I shrink intuitively from putting any sense on God’s Word, which is not the obvious and plain sense of its language. Hooker’s words are weighty and wise: “When a literal construction of a text will stand, that which is furthest from the letter is commonly the worst.”

Final thoughts

Expository Thoughts on John, Vol. 3 Notes. John 21:1–14

(a) I think that Christ’s remarkable appearance to the disciples, when they were in the act of fishing, was meant to remind them and the whole Church of the primary duty of ministers. They were doing work which was strikingly emblematic of their calling. They were to be “fishers of men.”

(b) I think the want of success in catching fish which the disciples had, until the Lord appeared, was meant to teach that without Christ’s presence and blessing ministers can do nothing.

(c) I think the marvellous success which attended the cast of the net, when Christ gave the command, was meant to teach that, when Christ is pleased to give success to ministers, nothing can prevent souls being brought into the Gospel net, converted and saved.

(d) I think the drawing of the net to shore at last, was meant to remind the disciples and all ministers, of what will happen when the Lord comes again. The work of the Church will be completed, and the reckoning of results will take place.

(e) I think the dinner prepared and provided for the disciples, when the net was drawn to the shore, was meant to remind ministers that there will be the great “marriage supper of the Lamb” at last, when Christ Himself shall welcome His faithful servants and ministers, and “come forth and serve them.” (Luke 12:37.)

(f) I think, besides this, that the respective positions of the disciples and Christ, when they first saw Him, may possibly be intended to represent the respective positions of Christ and His people during this dispensation. They were on the water of the sea. He was looking at them from the land. Just so Christ is in heaven looking at us, and we are voyaging over the troublous waters of this world.

(g) Finally, I think that our Lord’s sudden appearing on shore, when the morning broke, may possibly represent our Lord’s second advent. “The night is far spent, and the day is at hand.” When the morning dawns, Christ will appear.

With these conjectures I leave the passage. They may not commend themselves to some readers. I only say that they appear to me to deserve consideration and reflection.