This chapter is very puzzling. It comes after the joy of the resurrection, the appearances of Jesus to his disciples in Jerusalem, and Jesus commissioning the disciples with the Holy Spirit. Then the book appears to end in 20:30-31 with the statement "these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name".
Now in chapter 21, Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John and 2 unnamed disciples are back in Galilee. Why are some disciples named and others unnamed? Why are they back in Galilee? Certainly Peter was still in Jerusalem when he testified to the crowd at Pentecost (Acts 2:14). Did they go to Galilee and then go back to Jerusalem? What has happened since they left Jerusalem? Where are the other 4 disciples? Did they split up or did the other 4 just not go fishing? Why is John called a "son of Zebedee" for the first time in this gospel? What is the significance of the catch of fish when Jesus tells them to throw their net on the right side of the boat? What is the significance of their having caught 153 large fish? What is the significance of Jesus making a breakfast of bread and fish for the disciples? What is the significance of this being the 3rd time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after his resurrection? Did this appearance happen before or after Jesus was taken up into the sky in front of the disciples in Jerusalem in Acts 1?
This section seems appended to the gospel of John after it was initially written. I did a search and it looks like this is fairly widely believed, although there is no manuscript evidence. I hate to finish up a study this way, but I am at a loss to find the meaning in this passage. I suppose the joy of easter is still here. Jesus is risen! And he shows his continuing love for his disciples!
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I concur this section does seem to be attached as an afterthought. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary points out a couple of things I had not considered...
ReplyDelete"And there is nothing lost by observing Christ's orders; it is casting the net on the right side of the ship."
Obeying Christ's commands never returns void, and typically, if not immediately, returns an abundance. If not in material things then definitely in spiritual.
"Although there were so many, and such great fishes, yet they lost none, nor damaged their net. The net of the gospel has enclosed multitudes, yet it is as strong as ever to bring souls to God."
Christ's ability to "catch" souls far surpasses our ability to comprehend. The net is to small we think. The net is too weak we think. Yet when we follow Christ's commands to spread the good news( the net), it is precisely the right size for the task at hand.
Lastly Henry points out that the story illustrates the various people in the Kingdom family. John, who was with Jesus during His sufferings was first to recognize the Master. Peter being the most zealous was first to reach the Master. The others continued working bring in the fish and coming to shore, such persons should not be considered "worldly". They are serving Christ as truly as the others.
We all have places in the kingdom family, some play the Zealot, others the "workers" and yet others the cleavers. The point is Christ accepts all and has made provisions for all and holds no one above the other. When can the same be said of us?
I like that a lot: Christ's ability to "catch" souls far surpasses our ability to comprehend.
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