John 21:1

IN GALILEE (John 21:1-19)

1. After these things Jesus showed himself again to his disciples at the sea of Tiberias.

For some reason the Savior had desired to gather the whole band of his followers on the shores of Galilee, before his departure, and had directed (Matthew 28:7; Mark 16:7) them to repair to Galilee. There, after his resurrection, he was seen by the Twelve, and by about five hundred brethren at once (1 Corinthians 15:6). The apostles, having arrived at the appointed place, engaged in their old occupation of fishing, until they were interrupted by the appearance of the Savior. This is not to be regarded as an abandonment of hope or of their sacred calling, but rather as. determination to employ themselves usefully while they are waiting for the fulfillment of the promise of the Lord. We are not told how long "after these things" the appearance at the sea of Galilee occurred, and can only be certain that it occurred during the last thirty days of the period that preceded the ascension.

Sea of Tiberias.

A name of the sea of Galilee bestowed upon it because the capital of Galilee bore that name and was located on the margin of the lake. This name does not occur elsewhere in the Gospels. In the preceding chapter John has only noted the appearances of the Savior at Jerusalem; Luke notes those only; while Matthew mentions both those of Galilee and Jerusalem, he only speaks of the appearance to the "eleven" in Galilee. John, by the addition of this chapter, makes. record of both.

Shewed himself.

There is. significance in the words, "Jesus showed himself," or that he manifested himself after his resurrection, showing that he was visible only by. distinct act of his own will. From the time of his resurrection the disciples did not see him, in the usual sense in which we use that term, but he appeared unto them, or was seen of them when he so willed. The language is changed, and in language of this kind all his appearances after the resurrection are narrated. The same kind of language is applied to his appearances that is used of angels and all heavenly manifestations. Men do not see them, in the sense that it was. matter that lay in their will to do so or not, as we see any material object. Language that is appropriate to objects of sense is not appropriate to these manifestations. They rather appear to men and are only visible to those for whose sakes the appearances are vouchsafed, and to whom they are willing to show themselves. The risen Christ, therefore, though seen on many occasions by his disciples, and on one occasion by hundreds of them, does not reveal himself to his enemies. In his appearances to his disciples he leaves no doubt but that he is the risen Lord, yet there is. mystery, and an air of strangeness that inspires them with awe, and which restrains them from the former familiar fellowship.