Road Trippin With Rachael

We have now reached the final chapter of John. I have so enjoyed being on this journey with you as we have road tripped through the Gospel of John. Hopefully, you have been reading along and have enjoyed reading these posts as much as I have enjoyed writing them. Although I include much more in my blog posts, if you ever wish to go through and watch any of the lessons presented on YouTube, you can do that by going to my channel, Road Trippin With Rachael, and see them for yourself.

Restoration

I’m one of those people who drive book publishers crazy. If I find a book that ha a good plot, storyline, memorable characters, and there is a nice tidy ending that’s really all I need. Even if a book is a part of a series, if the first book has what I considered to be a good ending – even if it is hinted that there may be future plot – I’m good. I don’t really need to go any further. I could almost say the same thing about John 21. In my opinion, John could have ended his Gospel in Chapter 20. There was a nice wrap up, no need to move forward. But John wanted to include something else; one final account of a miracle of Jesus to prove that Jesus is who he says that he is. 

Some of the disciples decide to go fishing. If you have read the other gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) you’ll know that about half of the apostles were fishermen by trade, so deciding to go fishing really isn’t that odd of a decision. Given the events of the last several days, going out and doing something “normal” probably felt like a reprieve to them. (FYI, fishing would not be my choice of relaxing). After fishing all night with nothing to show for it, they head back to shore for them to be greeted by a man they didn’t know (hint, hint it was Jesus). He tells them to go back and try casting their nets on the other side. This was an incredibly odd thing to tell a bunch of professionals to do. In my mind I compare it to telling a doctor how to use a stethoscope, or a kindergarten teacher what the alphabet is. For whatever reason, these professions decide that they are going to listen to this man on the shore – and there were so many fish they couldn’t bring it all in.  This abundance clues our writer in on the fact that they were dealing with Jesus. 

No longer tire from their long night, and no doubt feeling a sudden rush of adrenaline, there is a mad dash to get back to the shore. Peter jumps into the water, the others drag the nets in, and Jesus is waiting for them with breakfast.

It’s one of those accounts that John likes to use to show us an example of what Jesus can do. Throughout his gospel he has given us various asides and he’s doing that again. Then John shares a scene with his readers that, in my opinion, is why John didn’t end his gospel with chapter 20. In 21, Jesus restores Peter. 

Where Peter denied Christ, now he proclaims him. Jesus calls Peter to feed the lambs, to shepherd Christ’s sheep, and to feed the sheep.  He is called to care for those that were there and those who were to come. Peter is called to give of himself for the sake of others, and for those who won’t belong to himself. Although Peter is the one who is restored  -as he was the one to deny Jesus – this same directive could be applied to everyone who is called to ministry in any capacity. You are called to care for the new Christians, to help lead them, and to feed other believers throughout their walk. Unlike us today though, Jesus tells Peter the price that he is going to pay to follow him. Church history states that Peter, like Christ, is eventually crucified by the Romans, and before that Peter helps to lead the church in Jerusalem, to host the first church council, welcomes Gentiles into the faith, and writes letters to the churches. Scripture won’t shy away from displaying Peter’s flaws, and it goes to show that even after we come to Christ, and are reconciled to God through faith in Jesus – we are still going to mess up and sin.

John officially ends his Gospel with some identification of himself. He admits to being one of the disciples (remember, John doesn’t name himself), so his testimony can be trusted. There is then a sudden switch of narration perspective, where for the first time first person is used, and he tells us that there is so much more that isn’t included.

Thank you!

Thank you for having joined me on this journey. I look forward to finishing up Ezra with you, and preparing to launch into a new study in the new year!