What About This Man?

John 21:1-3  “After this…” After all that had gone before in Jesus’ incarnation and His interaction with these men….After fulfilling the Father’s plan by His death on the cross and His physical resurrection ….After appearing to different groups of them at different times in His resurrected human body, complete with scars of crucifixion….Jesus now appeared a third time to seven of the apostles as they were fishing on the Sea of Tiberias/Sea of Galilee. It is the same fresh-water lake, referred to by different names in the Gospels.

The men were trying to get back into a normal routine, after the recent traumatic events they had experienced. Having opted not to wait around to see what the Lord would have them to do, Peter just declared “I’m going fishing.” Ah, familiarity. Something he knew about. A trade in which he was an expert. He could do this, without anyone’s permission. Some of the others followed Peter’s lead, which was apparently normal procedure for these men. Self-will plus human leadership brought disappointment in verse 3: They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. John 21:4-8

The test: “do you have any fish?” (How’s it working for you?) (It is not.)

When they cast their net where the Lord told them to, the net was too full to bring into the boat. Divine leadership brought results, verse 6.

Well, this had to be someone other than a beachcomber. John caught on first, and told Peter. Who else but the Lord could have done this? The nearly naked fisherman threw on his tunic and jumped in the water, swimming to shore to meet Jesus. Obviously, Peter wasn’t hiding from Jesus, in spite of his humiliating failure on the night of the trials. He had confidence in Jesus’ forgiveness. The other disciples got in the small boat and dragged the full net in to the shore. We can sense their excitement about the huge catch and about seeing the Lord, there waiting for them. It brought on a surge of activity among the group.

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.  Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them,“Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. John 21:9-14

The Lord prepared and served their breakfast! With fish He provided on shore and fish He’d provided in their net. They didn’t question Him, for they had no doubt Who He was, especially this third time.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him,“Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus was asking Peter (please notice: three times) if he loved Him in a Godly way, unconditionally (agapao). Peter kept answering that he loved Jesus in a brotherly, familial way (phileo). Well, if you do, Peter, you will tend My lambs (baby believers). If you do, Peter, you will shepherd My (hard-headed, rebellious, adolescent) sheep. If you love me, Peter, you will tend My (mature) sheep. Pastor them, feed them, teach them.

J. C. Metcalfe faithfully writes: "It is more than comforting to realize that it is those who have plumbed the depths of failure to whom God invariably gives the call to shepherd others. This is not a call given to the gifted, the highly trained, or the polished as such.  

"Without a bitter experience of their own inadequacy and poverty they are quite unfitted to bear the burden of spiritual ministry. It takes a man who has discovered something of the measures of his own weakness to be patient with the foibles of others. Such a man also has a first-hand knowledge of the loving care of the Chief Shepherd, and His ability to heal one who has come humbly to trust in Him and Him alone. Therefore he does not easily despair of others, but looks beyond sinfulness, willfulness, and stupidity, to the might of unchanging love. The Lord Jesus does not give the charge, 'Be a shepherd to My lambs ... to My sheep,' on hearing Peter's self-confident affirmation of undying loyalty, but He gives it after he has utterly failed to keep his vows and has wept bitterly in the streets of Jerusalem. 

-from The Complete Green Letters by Miles J. Stanford

The life of Christ’s apostles would not be easy. For these first ones, as well as for others throughout the Church Age, their faithful service would end in martyrdom. We really are not the masters of our own destiny. If we belong to Jesus, He is. Some of us have been or will be carried where we would not go. Our Lord doesn’t sugar-coat this truth.

Yes, Lord, but what about John?

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but,“If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” John 21:20-23

Never mind how other believers are serving, or not serving! That is not our business. Each of us has his own life to live before the Lord, his own personal ministry, and his own volitional expressions of faith. What John does, or when or how he does it is entirely between him and Christ. When a human receives the atonement provided by Jesus Christ, he becomes a new spiritual creature. He does not shed the Old Sin Nature, however. We see evidence of the OSN every day in ourselves and in fellow Christians, by our displays of pettiness. That’s what Peter was displaying here. The Lord took care of this bit of childishness with a succinct admonition. Jesus had given Peter his orders, and we know from Peter’s own epistles that he got the message. “This man” to whom Peter referred, was John himself, who wrote this gospel.

This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. John 21:24

Verse 25 - Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

John already told us in chapter 20 verses 30-31 why he wrote this gospel and why he included in his gospel account the particular things about Jesus he wanted us to know. It is a select list of narratives, discourses, parables and miracles, chosen to show those willing to read and understand exactly Who Jesus is, and why faith in Him is the only way to eternal life.

There isn’t enough space in the earth to accommodate books about everything Jesus did.

Those Who Have Not Seen

In studying Jesus’ life and ministry according to the apostle John, we have seen a progression of intimacy develop between our Lord and the men who served with Him. After their last Passover meal together, Jesus privately taught them to serve each other’s needs, demonstrating this principle by washing their feet. We saw in John 13:4-16 His reference to Himself as their Master and to them as servants (doulos –slaves – bondmen) who are not greater than the Master, therefore they should do at least as the Master has done. As the evening went on after Judas' dismissal, Jesus spoke to the remaining eleven disciples about being branches who must abide in the vine in order to produce fruit for the kingdom. In John 15:15, He told them they were no longer considered servants, but now they were His friends (philos – dear ones – fond associates). Friend of Jesus is a great position to hold. Being a friend removes all fear and tension from a relationship. Friendship is warm, comfortable, relaxed, familiar. A friend knows what is appropriate and what his friend expects.

Now, John has taken us through the arrest, trials, crucifixion and burial of our Lord, and it is Sunday morning. Mary has seen the resurrected Lord, and He spoke to her. His instruction in John 20:17: “go to my brothers and say to them…..” (!) “My Brothers!” (adelphos – as from the same womb). There are characteristics shared by brothers that servants do not share and even friends do not share. These common men, over the course of three years with Jesus, had gone from discipleship (students) to apostleship (missionaries) to servanthood (obedient slaves) to friendship (familiar fondness), and had now arrived at an even closer relationship to our risen Lord. They were now His brothers. And He had gifts to bestow.

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” John 20:19-23

The doors were locked. Jesus’ brethren were in hiding as they mourned. At this point, they didn’t know what to expect. They didn’t want any surprise intrusions by the Jewish rulers. As in any oppressive political situation, if the leader has been executed, his followers are likely to be rounded up and executed, too. The locked doors did not deter the risen Lord Jesus Christ. He simply appeared among them, with a greeting of peace. Not waiting for their astonished questions, He displayed His wounded hands and side. They were delighted to see Him.

Again declaring peace upon them, He commissioned them to the work of the kingdom. Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon them. They didn’t understand they should ask for that, though He had previously prompted them to do so (Luke 11:13). He simply gave it to them, by no effort of their own. They were believers and they were His brothers. The Holy Spirit was part of their grace package as well as the equipment by which they would perform the work He had for them to do. This gave them authority to declare the grace provision of God to “any,” and to teach how forgiveness is received, and why it is withheld.

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them,“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” John 20:24-25

Yeah, well, the cynical absentee is not impressed with what the others have seen. “I’ll have to see that for myself.” There is a temptation to sneer at Thomas and make assumptions about his absenteeism and his attitude, but that’d be judging, now wouldn’t it? The Lord took care of it. It is interesting that He didn’t chase Thomas down, but just let him wait.

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:26-28

“Here I AM, Thomas. You want to touch my wounds? You may.” John doesn’t say that Thomas touched the wounds. Thomas believed. Thomas worshiped. Thomas praised.  Because he saw.

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

Many millions of us have not seen Jesus in His human body, yet untold millions of us have believed in Who He is, What He is, that He lived a sinless life, died under our judgment, was buried, rose again, and is now seated at the Father’s right hand.

Indeed we are greatly blessed.

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

Why did John write the specific things he wrote? He was glad to give the reason in verse 31:

.....but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.   

Why Are You Weeping?

John’s gospel was the last of the four to be written, between 85-90 AD, we’re told. He must have known there was already a lot of information circulating from Matthew, Mark and Luke about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and about the details of His death. His stated purpose in writing this gospel was so that anyone reading it might believe in the reality of the unique person of the universe; the God-Man, and thereby receive eternal life (John 1:7, John 19:35).

John’s story began with the eternal person of Christ before the creation of the universe (John 1:1), and throughout his gospel he emphasized the uniqueness of that Person, demonstrating  Jesus’ qualification to be the only Savior of mankind. In John chapter 19, John took us through Pilate's struggle, trying to find a way to avoid crucifying the King of the Jews. He failed, of course, and finally ordered the illegal execution to take place. John reported this matter-of-factly, while making sure we realized that Jesus was who He claimed to be, and that He actually did die spiritually and physically on that cross. The two Pharisees who had come to believe in Him had the means to provide Jesus’ body a proper burial, and saw to that detail with courage and reverence. John didn’t mention a stone being placed, but he did tell us that it was somehow removed:

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. John 20:1

Sunday morning, the day after the Sabbath, before daylight Mary came. She had been among His followers and friends from early in His ministry. Her devotion for Him was deep and steadfast. The term “Magdalene” indicates she came from a place called Magdala. Luke 8:2 tells us Jesus had healed her of seven demons. Any more details regarding this woman are speculative. What we know is that she was present at major events in His life, and now was attentive to Him in His death.

….but the stone….said to be massive and sealed….had been removed! This was a shocking sight, which sent Mary running to tell Peter and John something was wrong. “They” must have moved His body!

So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”  So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. John 20:2-10

“the other disciple” of course, was John, the writer of this gospel. Mary had announced that the body of Jesus was not in the tomb, and she was distraught, so they ran to see. John got there first, but did not enter right away. He looked in though, and saw “strips of linen lying there.” These were death-dressings, wrappings as for the newborn swaddling cloths; long, narrow strips of cloth that were wrapped around the body like bandages.

Then Peter ran straight in. He saw the strips of cloth, too, and the separate face-cloth, lying in place apart from the linen strips. This was a soudarion; like a sweat-rag or a towel which bound the face of the corpse. Also referred to as a handkerchief or napkin. This does not describe a blood-stained shroud.

We do not need relics of Jesus to know He is real. Whatever relics have been found or counterfeited to prey on the gullible or add to the story never seem to conform to the Bible accounts we have been given. The fact that people superstitiously keep coming up with those things just adds to the ridicule we Christians have to endure from a skeptical world.

We walk by faith, not by sight. Humans are easily deceived and easily influenced to worship tangible objects in addition to, or rather than, the Lord of Life. Relics do not prove the reality. The Holy Spirit’s teaching of our spirit does. The existence of the Perfect Word of Truth does.

…these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. I Corinthians 2:10

Actually, John, Peter and the other disciples had plenty of tangible proof of Jesus’ resurrection. Among the evidence were those burial clothes that had been left lying in place, and that separate face-cloth that seemed not to have been moved. It would take a while for the cobwebs of grief to clear from their stunned souls. They would soon see greater proof of life than empty death wraps.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).  Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”  John 20:11-17

The men had gone back home, no doubt to think about and talk about what they had just seen. Mary was frightened and sorrowful, and couldn’t tear herself away from the open tomb. On closer look, she saw two angels sitting there and they questioned her tears. All she could think was that someone had moved the body of Jesus, and how could she attend to it, not knowing where it was?

Turning, she saw a gardener, who also questioned her about her crying. “Why do you keep on weeping? Who are you looking for?” This must be the guy who moved the body! “Tell me where He is, and I will take care of Him.”

And then, He spoke her name. She knew that voice. His sheep always do. It was the Teacher!

“Don’t touch Me yet, Mary. I have to report to My Father. Go and give My brothers this message.”

John 20:18 - Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Behold Your King

Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. John 19:1

Step by step, Pilate continued going through the motions of his duty to prosecute and punish the man in whom he could find no fault. The Jewish religious leaders who accused Jesus of blasphemy insisted upon it. The chant was Crucify him! Crucify him! Pilate’s reluctance was overcome by political pressure. The Jews had no allegiance to Rome, but they would use every underhanded tactic to persuade this governor that his career would suffer if he did not meet their demands.

So, the next step in the punitive process was flogging. Thirty-nine lashes with an instrument of torture. It was cruel, painful, nasty and barbaric. It totally disfigured the man who had to endure it. Pilate ordered it done. Then came the crown.

And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. John 19:2-3

The crown of thorns doesn’t seem to be Pilate’s idea. It was a cruel attempt at satire by the Roman soldiers who were scourging and tormenting Jesus, just because they had been given permission to do so. They wanted to not just kill Him, but to totally humiliate Him on the way to the cross. This strikes me as senseless human evil, like we see in schoolyard bullies or locker room hazing. It has no real reason, since the soldiers probably didn’t have a religious objection to His teaching. They wouldn’t have been particularly impressed with the Jews’ bad opinion of this grace teacher. As with Pilate, Jesus posed no personal threat to the soldiers, so it isn’t as if they had a legitimate quarrel with Him. They were simply enjoying their cruelty. It was a day's entertainment. Taunt the King. Dress him up and ridicule him in his royal robe and thorny crown.

The soldiers’ gleeful torment of this person they would crucify included fashioning a crude crown from thorny branches. Spontaneous teasing, they thought. They didn’t think about or care about the heavy symbolism of the thorns. The thorns represented a curse upon the earth, pronounced in the Garden of Eden. The curse results from sin. Mankind’s sin of disobedience, which has affected every human since Adam took and ate the forbidden fruit. The thorns upon the head of our Lord were His crown of grace, indeed, as He bore our sins on the cross of judgment.

Thorn, Thorns - Literal: Any of various sharp, spiny protuberances; a prickle.
Symbolic: A person or thing that causes sharp pain, irritation, or discomfort.
Biblical: Symbolic of the Judgment of God; first on the earth, then on Israel. In the Old Testament, wherever its use is symbolic, it is the direct result of disobedience, neglect of doctrine, and the negative response of a rebellious people.

Genesis 3:17-18 “…Cursed is the ground because of you (Adam)….It will produce thorns and thistles for you…” Numbers 33:55 “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.” Joshua 23:13 “..they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes.” Proverbs 15:19 “The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway." Proverbs 24:30-31 “I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense…thorns had come up everywhere…” Ezekiel 2:3-7 “He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’  And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.”

Thorns and thistles are the NATURAL produce of the uncultivated earth. If not systematically destroyed, they will hinder and destroy the good crops of the husbandman.

Matthew 7:16 “Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?”
Matthew 13:7 “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.”
13:22 “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”
Hebrews 6:7-8 “Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.  But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.”

Principle: Humans never have to be taught carnality, laziness, rebellion. All these characteristics are natural, instinctive, EARTHLY. We must, however, be taught the Word of God. It must be systematically cultivated in our souls. If believers neglect so important a responsibility we will become overgrown with thorns before we notice, and totally incapable of producing good fruit for our Husbandman.

As Jesus was bearing our sins on the cross, He was at the same time bearing the curse of the earth (the crown of thorns) on His head. 

Of course, the joke was on the soldiers. And the grace was for them and the Jews as well as for us. They had no clue how they were being used to fulfill God’s prophecy regarding His perfect Lamb. They also did not know that their human arrogance was being manipulated by Satan, to torture and put to death God’s uniquely born Son in an attempt to prevent the fulfillment of His perfect plan of grace.

Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” John 19:4-5

When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. John 19:6-8

He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.  So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?”  Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” John 19:9-11

He who delivered Jesus over to Pilate was Caiaphas. Religious leader of the Jews (John 18:28). Pilate really did not want to execute this man, but the Jews kept applying the political pressure:

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” John 19:12-14

15 - The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

16 - So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

So much for Pontius Pilate’s authority.