After
these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing. But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
John 21:1-5
John 20 [30.] Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
John 21 [1.] After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.”
They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing. But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
John 21 [6.] He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”
They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!”
So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish. So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
Meaning:
John 20 ended with a statement of the Gospel’s purpose (John 20:30-31). Chapter 21 is an epilogue that tells of another appearance of the risen Jesus, this time in Galilee. It prepares the way for the restoration of Peter and for the future of the beloved disciple. The scene opens quietly: a group of disciples go fishing at night and catch nothing.
- “Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias”
The sea of Tiberias is another name for the Sea of Galilee, taken from the city of Tiberias that Herod Antipas built on its western shore and named after the emperor Tiberius. John uses the same name in the account of the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1). Jesus had told his disciples before his death, “after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee” (Mark 14:28), and on the resurrection morning the message was repeated: “Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me” (Matthew 28:10). The disciples had returned home to wait for him.
John twice says that Jesus “revealed himself”. The risen Lord was not always visible to them; he appeared when and where he chose. Each appearance was a gift of grace.
- “Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee”
Seven disciples are together. Peter leads, as usual. Thomas, who had so recently confessed, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28), is with them. Nathanael, whom Jesus had called “an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit” (John 1:47), appears only in John. The sons of Zebedee are James and John, called by Jesus “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). This is the only place in John’s Gospel where the sons of Zebedee are mentioned. Two others are not named.
- “I’m going fishing”
Peter and the sons of Zebedee had been fishermen on this lake when Jesus first called them (Mark 1:16). Readers understand Peter’s decision in different ways. Some think he was going back to his old life, perhaps discouraged after his denial of Jesus. Others think it was simply a practical step: the disciples needed food and income while they waited in Galilee, and fishing was what they knew. The text itself does not criticize Peter, and the others immediately join him.
- “That night, they caught nothing”
Night was the usual time for fishing on the Sea of Galilee. Yet these experienced fishermen worked all night for nothing. The scene recalls an earlier occasion when Simon told Jesus, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5). Jesus had once said, “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The empty net prepares for what Jesus is about to do.
- “Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus”
As with Mary Magdalene (John 20:14) and the two on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:16), the disciples do not at first recognize the risen Lord. It was early morning, the boat was about two hundred cubits from shore (John 21:8), and they were not expecting him.
- “Children, have you anything to eat?”
Jesus calls them “children”, a warm and familiar word, like a father speaking to his family. His question invites them to admit their need. Their short reply, “No”, sets the stage for his provision.
The Significance of John 21:1-5
- Jesus comes to ordinary life
The risen Lord meets his disciples not in the temple but at their workplace, after a frustrating night. He cares about everyday needs and shows himself in ordinary places.
- Admitting our emptiness
Jesus asked a question to which he already knew the answer. Sometimes he lets us come to the end of our own efforts so that we will recognize our need of him and receive what only he can give.
- Waiting for the Lord
The disciples were in Galilee because Jesus had told them to go there. Even when nothing seemed to happen, they were in the place of obedience, and there he came to them.
Cross-References:
Mark 14:28: "However, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee." Jesus’ promise kept.
Luke 5:5: "Master, we worked all night, and took nothing;" An earlier night of fruitless fishing.
John 15:5: "for apart from me you can do nothing." The lesson of the empty net.
Mark 1:16: "he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen." The disciples’ first calling by the same lake.
Conclusion: After his resurrection Jesus revealed himself to seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee, where they had fished all night and caught nothing. Unrecognized on the shore, he called them “children” and asked whether they had anything to eat. The scene shows the risen Lord coming to his people in ordinary life, at the end of their own efforts, ready to provide what they lack.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible