This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder John 21:1-19. The English Standard Version divides the text into two portions, under the headings “Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples” and “Jesus and Peter.”
As I’ve said before, John alone of the apostles was called “theologian” by the early church.
John structured his gospel around themes such as “life,” “hour,” and “signs;” whereas Matthew, Mark, and Luke, structured their gospels around the movements of Jesus.
In today’s reading, we hear that Peter, John and five others went fishing.
They fished all night. Caught nothing. Returned to land. Just before sunrise. They saw a figure on the shore. He called them “children.” They must’ve thought he was a senior.
Asked if they’d caught anything. They said no.
The “stranger” told them to cast their net on the right side of their boat. Perhaps it was his tone. Perhaps Peter recalled a time when he’d obeyed a similar instruction, and there was a big catch. [1] So, he obeyed.
The net filled up. They couldn’t haul it onto the boat. They would have to drag it behind the boat and then land the fish.
John said to Peter, “It’s the Lord.”
Peter knew John had to be right. He didn’t feel comfortable appearing semi-naked before Jesus. So, he covered himself, jumped into the sea, and made a beeline for Jesus.
Jesus was cooking them breakfast. They took the fish out of the net. There were 153 fish. They marvelled that it was such a big catch, but the net wasn’t torn.
Jesus asked them to bring him some of the fish, so he could cook them.
No one asked Jesus who he was. Because they knew. They knew he was the resurrected Jesus, back from the dead. They didn’t know what to say or do. This was the third time they’d seen him since his resurrection.
Why does John tell us about this miraculous, huge catch? Why does he tell us there were 153 fish?
John presented seven of Jesus’ miracles as “signs.” These include turning water into wine, healings, feeding thousands, walking on water, raising from the dead. But he didn’t present today’s miraculous catch as a sign.
When John wrote, he didn’t divide his thinking and writing into 21 chapters. Stephen Langton (c.1150–1228 AD) probably created the chapter divisions. [2] But it’s clear that the material in chapter 21 forms a unit. It’s an epilogue, a follow-up to a finished work.
John wrote his epilogue to introduce us to what would happen after everything he’d narrated in the previous 20 chapters.
The account of the miraculous catch and the 153 fish is a predictive epilogue. It prophesies that the apostles will set out on a mission, following the direction of the Lord. Some will have distinct roles.
Notice that John recognized Jesus and told Peter. But remained in the boat. Peter was slow to recognize Jesus, but as soon as he did, he covered his nakedness, jumped into the water, swam to Jesus.
Jesus knew Peter had an urgent need to know. Because he was all cut up over having denied Jesus three times, in Jesus’ moment of need. All cut up over the thought that he failed to do anything to prevent Jesus from being mocked, shamed, flogged, and crucified.
So, Jesus had special words for Peter. Gave him a responsibility. Told him to care for all who would recognize the sonship, lordship, power, and message of Jesus. And told him he would be killed, just like his master. For Jesus’ death was part of God’s plan, not something to be prevented.
Why 153 fish? I’ll tell you of two possible explanations.
First, it’s a large number. The church will go on many fishing expeditions, and many will become disciples.
Second, it’s symbolic, a common practice in those days. [3] Bible scholar Richard Bauckham says:
“According to John 20:30–31 the signs … recorded up to that point in the Gospel, have been written so that people may believe in Christ and have life (symbolic number 153).” [4]
Bauckham suggests that John equates the Temple in Ezekiel’s vision, from which the live-giving river flows,[5] to Jesus, the source of living water.[6]
The Bible can be read at many levels. It isn’t necessary for everyone to understand it at all the levels. But everyone must know that it’s purpose is to introduce us to the plan of God, and our role in that story.
Peace be with you.
[2] See Where did the Bible’s chapters come from, on the website of Tyndale House.
[3] For example, there’s a record which refers to a Roman graffiti which read, “I love the girl whose number is 545.”
[4] In his book, The Testimony of the Beloved Gospel, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2007, page 308.
[5] Ezekiel 47.
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