John 21:1-14 It is the Lord! (Lesson Notes - The Living Well)
“After these
things” refers to what had happened in Jerusalem. After the week-long Feast of
Unleavened Bread and after the resurrection appearances of Christ to both the
women and the disciples, the eleven headed back north to Galilee. It is here
that Jesus would meet them again to show
Himself.
Early in the
first century, Herod Antipas founded a city near the Sea of Galilee named
Tiberias in honor of the Roman emperor who supported him, Tiberius. That name also
became associated with the lake, especially by the time that the apostle John
wrote his Gospel narrative.
We are
invited into a story that begins with seven of the disciples going out fishing
one night. Not even all of them are names, but we may be able to take a guess
as to who they were as we consider the fact that many of them were professional
fishermen while some were not. It is not odd that they went fishing. This is
what they knew, they may not have had much else to do as they waited for
Christ, maybe they needed some extra money, and people can always eat! Night
was considered the best time for fishing, probably for several reasons, but
mainly because they could sell the fish fresh in the market the following morning.
Sadly, they fished all night but caught nothing.
Jesus
appears on the shore and calls out to them, although they do not immediately
recognize Him. The designation “children” is thought to be equivalent to
calling them “friends” or “guys.” Of course, we have just been told that they
have not caught anything so when Jesus asks if they have any food they
necessarily reply, “No.”
The Lord
tells the men to drop their nets on the other side of the boat. Why did they
listen to what they considered a stranger? Maybe they still had a little bit of
hope left, or maybe they figured, why
not? Whatever the case, they listen to Jesus and throw their nets on the
right side of the boat, and they catch so many that they cannot haul it in.
Later we are told that it was 153 large fish.
After the
large catch, John immediately recognizes that it is the Lord. As usual, John is
quick to see spiritual significance, and Peter is quick to act. Peter hears
John, throws his outer garment back on, and dives in the water to swim to
Christ. They were about 200 hundred cubits from the shore, about 100 yards.