John 21:1-3 1After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way. 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3Simon Peter said to them, “I am going to fish.” They said to him, “We will also go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
The events described in chapter 21 serve several purposes. The events of this chapter take place after these things, referring to the revelations of Jesus’ resurrection in chapter 20. The opening verses confirm Jesus’ resurrection and set the stage for the continued ministry of the disciples. The key thought is how Jesus revealed himself. According to the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus instructed his disciples to meet him in Galilee (Matthew 28:10). The scenes of this chapter take place in Galilee. The Sea of Tiberias was another name for the Sea of Galilee (6:1). Jesus had more to teach his disciples. The time period from chapter 20 to 21 is unknown. According to Acts 1:3, Jesus appeared to his disciples for a period of 40 days after his resurrection. The events of this chapter are examples of this.
John names several disciples who were out fishing on the lake. Simon Peter is named first as possibly the leader. John calls him by both his given name of Simon and nickname Peter, meaning “rock.” Thomas appears once again, undoubtedly a changed person because of his encounter with the risen Jesus. We find out a little more about Nathanael (1:45-51) in that he was from Cana in Galilee where Jesus performed his first public miracle of turning water into wine (2:1-11). James and John are not named but only called the sons of Zebedee. John has consistently taken the backstage by not naming himself in this Gospel. Two other disciples were also there but unnamed, making a total of seven.
Simon Peter takes the initiative in the story. He was a fisherman by trade. It appears that the disciples had returned home to Galilee where their boats and families were. Peter’s motivation for going fishing is not stated, and so we should not assume any particular reason. They needed to eat and feed their families. It may also have been to get away and do something familiar. Whatever Peter’s motive, the other six disciples joined him. They had a lot to think about. Sometimes doing something familiar helps put the pieces of life together. At least some of these seven were expert fishermen and had spent their entire lives on the water. They knew what to do and where to go to get the fish. As all good fishermen know, fishing was done best at night or early morning, before dawn. The disciples experienced a common problem: they caught no fish. Their frustration would prepare for Jesus’ next revelation of himself. Often we learn best in the difficult moments and experiences of life.
For older posts, click here.
