The Miraculous Catch of Fish
Study note
Seven disciples go fishing on the Sea of Tiberias but catch nothing all night. At dawn, Jesus stands on the shore -- unrecognized at first -- and instructs them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. The net fills with 153 large fish yet does not break. The beloved disciple recognizes Jesus, and Peter plunges into the water to reach him. On shore, Jesus has prepared a charcoal fire with bread and fish, and invites them to breakfast. This is the third post-resurrection appearance to the disciples as a group.
1 Later, Jesus appeared to his followers again at the Sea of Tiberias. Here is how it happened. After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2 These followers were together: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), and Nathanael from Cana in Galilee. The sons of Zebedee were there, and two others. 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.
3 Simon Peter said, "I am going fishing." The others said, "We will come with you." They headed out and climbed into a boat, but the whole night went by without catching a single fish. Simon Peter saith 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.
4 As the sun was coming up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but the followers did not realize it was him. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus called out to them, "Hey guys, have you caught anything?" "Not a thing," they called back. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 He told them, "Throw your net off the right side of the boat, and you will catch some." They did, and suddenly there were so many fish in the net they could not haul it back in! And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 The follower Jesus loved most said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" The second Peter heard that, he threw on his outer coat (he had stripped down to work) and jumped straight into the water. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith 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.
8 The rest of the followers brought the boat to shore, dragging the heavy net packed with fish behind them. They were only about a hundred yards from land. 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.
9 When they climbed out of the boat, they found a charcoal fire already burning with fish cooking on it, and some bread. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus said, "Bring over some of the fish you caught." Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and hauled the net up onto the shore. It was bursting with large fish -- one hundred and fifty-three of them! And even with that many, the net did not tear. 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.
12 Jesus said, "Come and eat breakfast." None of the followers dared to ask, "Who are you?" They all knew it was the Lord. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus walked over, picked up the bread, and handed it to them. He did the same with the fish. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his followers after coming back from the dead. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
The Restoration of Peter
Study note
After breakfast, Jesus asks Peter three times, 'Do you love me?' -- corresponding to Peter's three denials. Each time Peter affirms his love, Jesus commissions him: 'Feed my lambs,' 'Feed my sheep,' 'Feed my sheep.' The threefold restoration is both tender and purposeful, reinstating Peter's calling and entrusting him with pastoral responsibility. Jesus then foretells the manner of Peter's death -- that he will be led where he does not wish to go -- indicating that Peter would glorify God through martyrdom. He concludes with the same invitation that began Peter's journey: 'Follow me.'
15 After they finished eating, Jesus turned to Simon Peter and asked, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me more than anything else here?" Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my lambs." So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 Jesus asked him a second time, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?" Peter said, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Then take care of my sheep." He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 Jesus asked him a third time, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?" Peter's heart ached because Jesus asked him three times. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep." He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18 "Let me tell you something important: when you were young, you got dressed by yourself and went wherever you pleased. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your arms, and someone else will put your clothes on you and take you somewhere you do not want to go." Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19 Jesus said this to hint at what kind of death Peter would face to bring glory to God. Then he looked at Peter and said, "Follow me." This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
The Beloved Disciple's Testimony
Study note
Peter sees the beloved disciple following and asks about his future. Jesus responds, 'If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.' This corrects the rumor that the beloved disciple would not die. The chapter concludes with the testimony that this disciple is the one who wrote these things and that his witness is true. The final verse marvels that if everything Jesus did were written down, the whole world could not contain the books -- a fitting tribute to the inexhaustible richness of Christ's life and ministry.
20 Peter looked behind him and saw the follower Jesus loved most walking behind them. It was the same one who had leaned close to Jesus during supper and asked, "Lord, who is going to betray you?" Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 When Peter spotted him, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him? What is going to happen to this man?" Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus replied, "If I decide he should stay alive until I return, that is none of your concern. You focus on following me." Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Because of what Jesus said, a rumor spread among the other followers that this man would never die. But Jesus never said he would not die. He only said, "If I decide he should stay alive until I return, that is none of your concern." Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24 This particular follower is the one who saw all of these things and wrote them down. And we know that what he says is true. This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did so many other things as well. If someone tried to write down every last one of them, I honestly think the entire world would not have enough room for all the books it would take. Amen. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.