John 21:12-14

This is the third time that Jesus had revealed Himself. It is unclear if Jesus or any of the disciples ate breakfast. However, in Luke 24:43 we see that Jesus does eat with His disciples. What is clear in this passage is that He was not a ghost. He had prepared a fire and had a fish on it. He broke the bread and gave them their food. John is making a clear case that this was a risen man, not an imposter. It was the real Jesus who they had known well for the previous years. This is their testimony to us that we may believe in Him and in His power over sin and death.

John 21:9-11

Not only was it a miracle that the fish were caught; it was another miracle that the net was not torn. Note well the details given about the fish and the fact that the net was not torn by this large catch. It would be expected that there would be some damage to the net. There are some commentators who draw a conclusion about the power of the risen Christ, saying that Jesus had not only brought the fish, but also maintained the net by His power. The church’s power is in Jesus Christ. It is in Him and only Him that we have our hope. It is to Christ that the church looks for help and it is in Christ that we find that help, support, and strength we need.

John 21:7-8

John is the first to recognize that it is Jesus who has instructed them. Peter, hearing that it was the Lord Jesus, jumps into the water to swim to Jesus. Do we really need to say much more than this about these verses? Should we not desire Jesus as much as Peter did? Should we not cast off our sin and self-will to follow and know Jesus? What encouragement to us that Peter is accepted even after his denial of Jesus. Are you holding back from following Jesus completely? Are there areas of sin you need to cast off? Will you stay with the world or go to Jesus?

John 21:1-6

What are the disciples to do with themselves now? They go back to what they knew, which in Peter’s case was fishing. After a long night they had caught nothing. Jesus, who they did not at first recognize, called out to them to try the right side of the boat. This they tried and the net was so full it could not be hauled into the boat. This was not a secret fishing trick of Jesus’. It was a miracle wrought by the power of God. Many people want to apply this passage in various ways, but the correct application is that we need to obey Jesus in all areas of our life as Lord.

John 20:30

The Bible does not answer every question we may have about Jesus and His Gospel. Here, John tells us that Jesus did many other things not recorded in this book. It is not an exhaustive account of Jesus’ life. Rather, John has written an account with the purpose of giving information so that those who read it may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. John has written so that those who would believe might have life in Jesus. This means that we might know and worship God in a restored relationship that can only come through Jesus Christ (John 14:1-6).

John 20:29

Jesus made a point that in seeing Him, Thomas had believed. There were many then, and millions to come, who would believe without seeing. They would believe not because they had seen the risen Jesus, but because they heard the account of the resurrection. This is the essence of faith; to believe in the promises of Jesus Christ even though we have not seen him or touched him. We can know as clearly as Thomas did that Jesus is risen and His truths are real. The power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives convinces us and teaches us that the Word of God and the Gospel contained within it are true.

John 20:28

Thomas had not believed the reports of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead when the disciples had told him. It is clear from this response that Thomas now believes after having seen Jesus alive. This is what all who have believed in Jesus say when they see and believe in Him. If Jesus is not your Lord and your God then you are not saved. You must put on Christ! He must be your God. You must see Him, worship Him, and acknowledge Him as such. He must be your Lord. He must have lordship over your life. You must submit to his love. His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).