seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 21:1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.[a] It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
a. John 21:1 Greek Tiberias
b. John 21:2 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.
c. John 21:8 Or about 90 meters
This must have been at least a week after the crucifixion. Thomas was a willing fisherman now. He's hanging out with the disciples. Now Thomas might have done this before he saw Jesus in the upper room and touched His wounds. But Thomas didn't say a thing when the stranger on the shore told them to put their nets in the right direction off the boat. He's not doubting the stranger now. So.... maybe the episode with the wounds took away all his doubts. That's why I figure John is staying chronological and Jesus must have hung around for over a week.... because He met with Thomas on the Second Sunday after the Cross.... a week after Mary hugged Him and the disciples examined the empty shell left by His body in the linen wrapping..
Some things have been nagging me since I read it.... the seamless undergarments and the clothes He wears.
First of all... the seamless garment. How did they get on Him without seams? How did he pee? Where did the poop come out? So there had to be some seams... right? Maybe the oddness of His undergarments was what made them so valuable to the soldiers who drew lots to win them. Come to think of it though.... I never read about Jesus actually eating or drinking. Mark 2 says He had dinner with sinners.... but what did He actually eat? He took a sip of vinegar water to wet His whistle on the Cross.... but He was always serving food and drink..... now He's cooking fish.... where did the fish come from. Just leaving that hang out there.... but I wanted to bring it up.... sure shows the hybrid in the Son of God.... right?
The second problem is the clothes He wears.... where did the clothes come from? Jesus was naked on the cross. His undergarments were gone..... the soldiers got them. Then He appeared to Mary.... she wouldn't have hugged Him if He was naked as a jay bird.. Where did He get the clothes? I guess I'll have to ask Him when I see Him... right?
Now back to todays story.... the fish dinner. Jesus could make something out of nothing. Jesus had a fire going... and fish on the fire. He knew where the men would be fishing... and He was there on the shore when the sun came up.
I think the last time I read this and posted it.... I talked about fishing all night with my dad and my uncle. No doubt while these men were sitting and fishing without bites... they were talking about the past and how they planned their life now. I bet they spent a good part of the night talking about when they met Him.... how He affected them individually.... and how He changed life for them individually. Meanwhile... on shore... Jesus was gathering rocks and firewood and fashioning an campfire. Jesus was gutting the fish and laying them over the hot coals at just the right time... so a breakfast meeting would be all set up when dawn broke.
So why didn't they fish off both sides of the boat in the first place? Why didn't they cast the net on the right side of the boat during the night? I read a commentary once that said they always fished towards the shore because the unknown of the tempest sea was frightful. The sea is actually formed in a huge bowl... the air is warmed by the uplift and then it's cold at the surface out from the shore. The sea was subject to storms that came up with no warning.... boats were often lost at sea. So they stayed closer to shore so they could swim if need be.... and they kept their eye on the shore... so they wouldn't drift too far out.
By telling them to fish off the other side of the boat.... Jesus was showing them fearlessness?
So what did the Son of God offer His Disciples right before He left? A Fish Dinner....
