The Epilogue

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John 21:1-14

1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 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. 7 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. 8 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.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 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. 12 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. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

 
 

I believe that the Gospel of John is one of the greatest works of art in all human history. Its first twenty chapters are a masterpiece. And the conclusion that John gives us at the end of chapter twenty—after the resurrection, the greatest thing that has ever happened—after Jesus calls Mary by name, and she turns and knows—after Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on the disciples—after Jesus shows Thomas His scarred hands and side—the conclusion that John gives us after all of that is just perfect:

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 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 [John 20:30–31].

The screen finally fades fully to black. We finally exhale, deeply moved. We shift in our seats, slowly stand and stretch, and silently begin to make our way out of the theater. We don’t want to say anything and ruin the moment, so we walk single file down the stairs at the end of the row. The credits begin to roll.

And then, when we least expect it, the screen lights up again and the story continues!

John chapter 20 seems to end on the perfect note, but John is a peerless artist and what happens next is beyond perfection.

There is another chapter—an epilogue.

With John 20:30–31, nothing more needs to be said about Jesus. His story is complete, and we have all we need to know to believe in Him.

But John knows there is more to be said about the church and its mission, and that is the purpose of his beautiful epilogue in chapter 21.

Jesus told Thomas, “blessed are those who have not yet seen and yet have believed” (20:29). How is that going to be possible? How will people believe without having seen Jesus in the flesh? Through the testimony of the church.

Chapter 21 is about not about Jesus so much as it is about the disciples—specifically Peter and the beloved disciple—each of whom will play a crucial role in the early church as it begins its mission of telling people about Jesus.

At some future point, sometime in the weeks following the resurrection, seven of the disciples are fishing on the Sea of Galilee. (Seven is the number of fullness.)

2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing [John 21:2–3].

After a fruitless night, the dawn begins to break, and something extraordinary happens:

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 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 [John 21:4–6].

Earlier in the Gospel, Jesus had taught “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Here, after the miraculous catch of fish, the beloved disciple judges with right judgment and he is able to see Jesus:

7 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. 8 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 21:7–8].

Peter, who has an impetuous character, is so excited and overwhelmed that he puts on his outer garment and jumps in the water. As he struggles to shore, the other six disciples struggle to pull the boat and their heavy net to shore.

Jesus has breakfast there waiting for them:

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread [John 21:9].

The charcoal fire is a subtle reminder of the charcoal fire by which Peter warmed himself on the night he denied Jesus. But Jesus isn’t yet through with Peter—He has more for him to do.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 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 [John 21:10–11].

There were 153 fish—one of those startling eyewitness details. Way back when He spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus had promised His disciples a rich harvest:

35b Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest [John 4:35b].

Here, Jesus is teaching Peter about the harvest He has planned for him. The church has a mission—to bring people to faith in Jesus—and Peter will be the chief shepherd.

12 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. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead [John 21:12–14].

Jesus is no ghost, but a living man who eats and drinks with His disciples.

 

The Charcoal Fire

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John 18:12-27

12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

 
 

Peter famously denies Jesus three times in total on the night of Jesus’s arrest. It’s a heartbreaking scene, and one that John will return to in chapter 21, when there is another mention of a “charcoal fire.”

Peter denies Jesus three times, and after the Resurrection, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” That threefold question must have brought about a poignant moment when Peter realizes that his denial is both known by Jesus and forgiven by Jesus. And to make sure that we make the connection between the threefold denial and the threefold question, John includes that little detail that would have been easy for him to leave out: “a charcoal fire.”

QUESTION OF THE DAY
Peter was one of the leaders of the early church. Why was it important to the early Christians that their leader’s denial of Jesus was retold? Why not just leave that part out to make Peter look good?