I. Jesus Reveals Himself Vs. 1-14
A. Meeting Jesus In The Normalcy Of Life Vs. 1-4
1. V. 1- Jesus had told the disciples that He would meet them in Galilee (Tiberius)
a. In obedience they returned to their home area around the Sea of Galilee.
b. Matthew 28:10, 16 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
c. Human logic may have influenced them to stay where they first saw Jesus, but instead, they obeyed and returned to their home region.
d. May we not fall into the trap of thinking that we can experience God only in some mystical or religious setting under special circumstances.
e. Some non-Christian belief systems think that you have to create a certain kind of environment in order to meet with God. This isn’t true according to the Bible.
2. V. 2- Two others- These were unnamed disciples, but known by Jesus.
a. Interesting that the story includes “unnamed” people.
b. The majority of the Church Universal consists of “unnamed” people.
3. V. 3- Some people criticize Peter for fishing when he should have been waiting.
a. He wasn’t rebuked by Jesus. He was using his time constructively.
b. They caught nothing- Failing at what they did best brought them to experience Jesus
4. V. 4- The affairs of everyday life served as a place of experiencing Jesus.
a. Genesis 18:1 Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.
b. Judges 6:11-12 Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
B. Honest Humility Brought Revelation Of Jesus Vs. 5-8
1. V. 5- Children- A paternal way of addressing friends.
2. V. 5- Seven out of the eleven disciples were professional fisherman.
a. Literally- “You haven’t caught anything, have you”? Asked in the negative.
b. When asked if they were successful, they confessed that they had failed that night.
c. Male ego and pride could have prompted them to lie.
d. They could have stayed in their boats until the stranger left, and then they would not have been discovered as liars.
e. Imagine if they would have lied: Jesus could have walked on the water to their boats and they would have been humiliated.
f. Perhaps after all they had been through; confessing failure at what they did best was not a big deal. Maybe it never would have been a big deal.
2. V. 6- Jesus knew that they had failed that night, but used that opportunity to prove His sovereignty over nature and over their failed efforts.
a. What He asked them to do was probably technically foolish and improbable.
b. For some reason, they followed this stranger’s advice. What could it hurt?
3. Vs. 7, 8 Similar to the tomb experience, John is more insightful; Peter is more impulsive.
a. Peter was probably only dressed in his loin cloth, but wanted to be more appropriately dressed in the presence of Jesus.
C. Honest Humility Bring Fellowship With Jesus Vs. 9-14
1. V.9-Honest humility brings them into fellowship with Jesus
2. V. 10- Jesus could have created fish on the spot, but instead, He included the disciples.
3. V. 12- None of them asked Him- Jesus was usually unrecognizable post resurrection.
4. V. 13- Sharing a meal was an act of intimate fellowship for the Jews.
II. The Commissioning Of Peter Vs. 15-19
A. Jesus Questions Peter And Commissions Him
1. V. 15a- Jesus planned to question Peter, but first He shared a meal with him.
a. More than these-Unclear what the “these” refer to.
b. Probably, “do you love me more than you love these other men”?
2. Vs. 15-17- Jesus used agapao the first two times; Peter responded with phileo
a. Agapao- sacrifical love. Phileo- friendly affection
b. Finally, Jesus used phileo. At this point, Peter is grieved.
c. Maybe because of the word change; maybe because of the repetition.
3. More importantly- Jesus gives Peter directions on being a pastor of God’s people.
a. 1 Peter 5:2-4 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
4. Vs. 18, 19- Jesus described Peter’s eventual death. Until then, “follow Me”.
III. Peter Worries About John; John’s Conclusion Vs. 20-25
A. Peter Wrongly Concerns Himself With John Vs. 20-23
1. Vs. 20, 21- Apparently, after verse 19, Jesus started walking away, and Peter followed.
a. the disciple whom Jesus loved– John, speaking of himself.
b. V. 21- Peter noticed that John was also following Jesus, and asked Jesus about it.
2. V. 22- Jesus gives an answer packed full of meaning.
a. If (hypothetically), I wanted him to live even until the day I return, what is that to you? In other words, don’t concern yourself about John following me. Don’t worry about his walk, his life, how I will use him.
b. “Peter, the more important thing is that you pay attention to me, not to him. You follow Me. Don’t worry about him”.
c. NOTE- I believe it is very much in our human nature to be worried or critical of other people’s lives while neglecting our own lives. We love to criticize and analyze others and either find fault with them or prop them up as good examples.
d. It is true that we are to be concerned for one another, but the trap is that we put our energy into analyzing others, or comparing ourselves to them. We might look for our purpose or style in life by copying those whom we esteem as “doing it right”.
e. Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
3. V. 23- As is often the case, the people around Jesus didn’t listen carefully, and an early church rumor started. If they would have listened carefully, so much distraction could have been avoided.
B. John’s Conclusion Vs. 24, 25
1. John signs off as the human author to the testimony.
2. John states that his writing is not comprehensive.