Year 2, Day 269: John 21

A Unique Ending To A Unique Story

John 21 is a very unique chapter.  In fact, it is such a unique chapter that there is quite a bit of debate over this chapter.  There is so much debate over this chapter that I’m going to focus on the debate and try to remain partial – at least where I think partiality is necessary because we can’t genuinely “know” exactly what was happening within people.

We start off with this story about the disciples going fishing.  Right here begins the debate.  What exactly are Peter and the rest of the disciples doing out in a boat?  Don’t they have a Gospel to tell the world?

• Some people have argued that Peter is well within His rights.  We know Jesus had told them to wait for the Holy Spirit to come.  In the grand scheme of things, Pentecost had not yet happened.  Since Peter was in this spiritual holding pattern, why shouldn’t he and the other disciples fill their time trying to be productive members of society?
• On the other hand, according to John’s Gospel the disciples have already received the Holy Spirit.  In John’s Gospel, the disciples receive the Holy Spirit in the upper room when Jesus breathes upon then.  See John 20.  Thus, if the disciples already have the Holy Spirit, why have they returned back to their old way of life?  Shouldn’t they get busy doing the work of the Lord?

In the end, I think this is one of the questions where we need to be partial.  John’s Gospel is the least “historically focused” Gospel.  John wrote this Gospel to tell a symbolically spiritual story – not necessarily to make sure that it was an absolutely factually perfect account.  We do historically know that the genuine ministry of “the church” didn’t begin until after Pentecost, so even if the disciples had fully received the Holy Spirit it still might not have been in God’s agenda for them to start right away.  We cannot completely know God’s rationale for waiting until Pentecost.  But we can know that from Pentecost on the church is absolutely on fire.  While I think we should understand that there is an urgency to ministry, I don’t think we should be too hard on the disciple’s choice to go fishing while they were waiting for God to make Himself clear at Pentecost.

A Man On The Shore

So now we move on.  As the disciples go fishing, they spot a man standing on the shore.  The man asks if they have caught any fish.  They say that they haven’t.  The man tells them to try the other side of the boat.

Let’s pause here for a second and think about what had to go through their minds.  Peter and his fellow disciples had some pretty good fishing knowledge.  They fished with big nets, not little lines and hooks.  They knew that the likelihood of the fish all being on one side of the boat and not the other is really ridiculous.  In order for that to happen the fish would all have to be aware of the boat, the net, and the greater scheme of catching fish.  I mean no injustice to our water-loving fellow creation, but fish just aren’t that smart.  The disciples really have to wonder about the advice from the man on the shore.

But I will give them credit.  They are willing to try anything.  So they cast their net on the other side and there are so many fish that they can’t even bring the net in.  Then it becomes clear.  This is a supernatural event.  This is a miracle.  Only one person has done this kind of thing in their life: Jesus!  They recognize Jesus through His miraculous action! 

Contrast this with Mary, who earlier recognized Jesus through the calling of her name.

Peter Leaps Off The Boat

Then Peter leaps off of the boat.  This is not the first time that Peter has done this.  This is also not the first time that Peter’s action falls under scrutiny.

• Some people argue that Peter really messes up here.  Peter leaves the miracle behind.  Peter abandons God’s provision for them: the fish.  He leaves other people to do the work.  He is so focused on “being with Jesus” – one might say, “hanging onto Jesus” – that He is guilty of abandoning the work of the Lord and leaving it to others.
• On the other hand, we know what Jesus says to Mary and Martha when Mary chooses to sit at Jesus’ feet.  See Luke 10:38-42.  Jesus isn’t going to be with the disciples long.  Is it so bad that Peter wants to spend every moment with Jesus?  Furthermore, what was the point of the miracle?  Did Jesus create the miraculous catch of fish for the disciple’s worldly hunger or did He create the miraculous catch of fish to reveal Himself and the power of God?  If the miracle was for God’s agenda – that is, the revelation of Himself to the world – then perhaps Peter actually demonstrates the greatest response by literally abandoning what his body says he needs (food) for what his spirit truly needs (Jesus).

Peter and Jesus

After the disciples eat breakfast with Jesus, we have an intimate moment between Peter and Jesus.  Much has been said about this moment – and I believe it to be spot on.  Thus, I will summarize here and trust that anyone who has not heard this will do their own research into this idea.  This intimate moment between Jesus and Peter is all about redemption.  Peter denied Jesus three times.  Now Jesus gives Peter the opportunity to genuinely respond now that he has all the information his human brain needs.  When Peter denied Jesus, Peter didn’t understand the plan of God.  He was still learning the power of God and the purpose of Jesus.  Now, Peter has seen what Jesus was really about.  Jesus gives Peter a new chance to respond knowing that the story is complete.  Peter is redeemed.  Peter confesses His love three times in perfect balance for his prior transgression.

Peter, Jesus, and the Other Disciple

Then we have this enigmatic meeting between Peter, Jesus, and the disciple that Jesus loves.  We can learn a really important lesson here about humanity.  Even though we might have the Holy Spirit, even though we might be in the presence of Christ, and even though we truly are God’s holy temple it is still easy for our humanity to show through.  Our self-monger rages within us.  Peter wants the intimate time with Jesus.  Peter wants to be the chief.  Peter wants to know what is going to happen to the disciple that Jesus loves so that he can compare that disciple’s calling to his own calling.  In so many ways, our self-monger is all about competition while being better and living better than others.

Why is it that we always have to compare and compete?  When the glory of God shines through someone else, why must we be jealous and why can we not be filled with the awe of God?  When a sinner makes a deathbed confession and finds God, why are we filled with irritation about their ability to escape the snare of Hell when we should give glory to God for His redeeming work?  When God exalts one of his people to become a spokesperson for the faith {Such as Billy Graham} why do people feel the need to immediately berate his testimony to God instead of stand in awe of how God can use a sinful human being for His glory?

We have much to learn from this ending to the Gospel of John.  No human is perfect this side of His return.  We will all have faults.  We all have a self-monger still dwelling inside of us.  Even in the presence of Christ we are still in bondage to sin and unable to free ourselves.  We need to recognize this fact.  We need to confess it.  We need to be willing to resist it and fight against it.  We need to turn to God rather than being absorbed into ourselves.

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