Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. In this way he showed Himself: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.”
They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish (v.1-6).
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came and in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.
Then, as soon as they came to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” (v.7-10)
Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”-knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, likewise the fish.
This is the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead (v.11-14).
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”
This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow me.” (v.15-19)
Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”, Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remained till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remained till I come, what is that to you?” (v.20-23)
John wrote the epilogue of the 4th gospel: “This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (v.24-25)
COMMENTARY
‘Sea of Tiberias’ is used only in this gospel (v.1) and it refers to the Sea of Galilee (John 6:1).
The disciples were in Galilee, having left Jerusalem after the week of the Unleavened Bread. Peter went fishing in the Sea of Tiberias and so did six other disciples. That night they caught nothing. The resurrected Jesus appeared to them and told them to cast the net on the right side of the boat and they would find some. They cast and subsequently the net was full of fish so they were not able to draw in. They caught one hundred and fifty-three large fish. The happening was similar to the occasion when Jesus first called Peter (Luke 5:4-11).
Then, at the Sea of Galilee, Jesus said to Peter, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” Yet Peter led the six disciples to go and fish in the Sea of Tiberias, although they saw the Lord Jesus appear to him on the third day of His death and burial when He was resurrected.
When they were eating breakfast with Jesus, fish and bread prepared over the fire of coals on the shore, Jesus again stirred up Peter to the ministry of love for Him which was to tend the lamb and feed the sheep of His flock. He asked Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” The question was ambiguous. It might mean, ‘Do you love Me more than you love these people?’ (meaning presumably his fellow disciples) or even, ‘Do you love Me more than these things?’ (which might be a reference to his fishing activity).
In the context of the whole passion and resurrection narrative, it may seem more appropriate to take it to mean, ‘Do you love Me more than these others do?” For not long earlier, Peter thought he loved Jesus more than any others did; he reckoned his love could outdo theirs.
For when Jesus told the disciples, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered” (Matt. 26:31), Peter said to Jesus, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” (Matt. 26:34-35). Whatever the others might do, Peter asserted that he would excel them. When Jesus said to Peter, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” Peter said, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.” (13:36-38)
But, however willing the spirit was, the flesh was weak, as Peter proved in the courtyard of Pilate’s praetorium where he denied Jesus three times. The reason why Peter was hurt when Jesus asked him three times, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” was probably that he remembered how on three successive occasions he had denied that he knew Him. In his answer to Jesus’ question at breakfast, Peter affirmed his love for Him, but did not make any comparison between himself and others.
‘Feed My lambs’ and ‘Tend My sheep’ (v.15 & 16) Tend is to shepherd. While lambs being young need to be fed, sheep need to be guided and fed. Peter was told to feed the lambs, tend and also feed the sheep of the Lord.
Peter was told by Jesus by what death he would glorify God. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”
Peter died as a martyr for Christ. He was bound as a condemned criminal totally under the control of the Roman executioners and carried where he did not wish to go. Church tradition states that he was crucified upside down.
TEACHINGS
Having received the grace of Jesus Christ to be justified and sanctified in His name and in the Holy Spirit, let us devote our days to live a life of faith. Have Him to live in us and not ourselves (Gal. 2:20; I Cor.6:11; Rom. 4:25).
Follow Him. Seek the things that are above whee Christ is. Set our minds on things above and not on things on the earth. For we died and our lives are hidden with Christ in God (Col.3:1-3)
Do not think for a moment that our love for Christ and zeal for Him would overcome all trials and sufferings. It is by His mercy and the strength of the Holy Spirit that we stand and remain in the grace of the truth and salvation (John 6:66-69; II Cor.12:9-10; Eph. 2:8-9; Phil.2:13).
Do no think that we are the only ones who are zealous for the Lord, much more than all others. Prophet Elijah said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.” (I Kings 19:14) The LORD said, “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (I Kings 19:18)
Peter after being told of the glorious death he would face at the end, when he turned around and saw the other disciple, asked Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remained till I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” (v.20-22)
Tend the flock and feed the sheep of the Lord with the love of Christ which the Holy Spirit puts in us (I Cor. 4:15; II Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 5:5; I Thess. 2:7-9).
Search the scriptures not just to increase in bible knowledge academically but to grow in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that we may inherit eternal life (John 5:39; II Tim.3:15; Acts 8:34-38).
Peter turning around saw the disciple whom Jesus loved. He asked Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus replied, “If I will that he remained till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” (v.21-22) John lived to a ripe old age and died around the end of the first century, being an apostle who witnessed the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus to heaven.
Unlike the other apostles who died as martyrs for Christ, John remained to his old age. He was the author of the Book of Revelation to Jesus Christ which was completed around AD 95.
