It Is the Lord

John 21:1-14 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise showed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter said unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said unto them, Children, have you any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus said unto them, Bring of the fish which you have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus said unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who are thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then come, and take bread, and give them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he rose from the dead. 

‘After these things’ After Christ’s resurrection and His two appearances to the disciples, He showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias where they were catching fish. ‘Showed’ the Greek word phaneroo which means He manifested His power and glory after His resurrection.

Seven disciples of which were Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples went on a fishing trip. They didn’t catch anything repeating the same results as when they went on the last fishing trip. In both instances, Christ gave them a miraculous catch, which convinced them that it was the Messiah. On both occasions, they received a call to preach the Word as it was given to them (Luke 5:1-11; John 21:1-20).

‘Knew not that it was Jesus’ Because of darkness, distance, or another reason is not stated.

‘Children, have you any meat?’ the word child is used for a term of endearment here for His followers, which are stated in the Word in various forms for believers and unbelievers: children of light (or darkness); children of righteousness (or unrighteousness); children of God (or of the devil); etc.

‘Meat’ the Greek word prosphagion which mean something to eat with bread. Here it was used of fish.

John said to Peter: “It is the Lord,” whereby Peter wrapped his fishermen’s coat around himself. ‘Naked’ means he had only his tunic or undergarment on. He cast himself into the sea, perhaps the shallow water to help draw the boat and net to shore.

‘They saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread’ this was as miraculous as the catch of fish, demonstrating that the Lord could supply every need and that they did not have to go back to the fishing business to make a living.

‘Dine’ the Greek word aristao, to eat the morning meal (Luke 11:37); not deipnon which is supper (Mark 6:21; Luke 14:12-24; John 12:2; 13:2, 4; 21:20; 2Cor. 11:20-21; Rev. 19:9, 17). Christ no doubt ate with them to prove He was real and His friendship in them and that resurrected people still eat (Luke 24:42-43). Even God and angels eat (Gen. 18:1-33; Ex. 24:9-11).

‘Third time that Jesus showed himself’ the third time to show Himself to the majority of apostles (20:19, 26; 21:1-14). It was the seventh appearance since the resurrection.

The twelve appearances of Christ is as follows: To Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9; John 20:15-16); to the women at the tomb (Matt. 28:9); to two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-31); to Peter (Luke 24:34; 1Cor. 15:5); to the ten apostles (20:19); to the eleven apostles (20:26); to the seven apostles (21:1-22; this was after the second Sunday); to the eleven apostles on a certain mountain in Galilee (Matt. 28:16); to the twelve apostles, including Matthias (1Cor. 15:5; Acts 1:26); to five hundred brethren (1Cor. 15:6); to James, the Lord’s brother (1Cor. 15:7; Gal. 1:19); to all the apostles (1Cor. 15:7; Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:3-12, 26).