_CHRIST APPEARING AGAIN TO HIS DISCIPLES, IS KNOWN TO THEM BY THE GREAT DRAUGHT OF FISHES: HE DINETH WITH THEM; EARNESTLY COMMANDETH PETER TO FEED HIS LAMBS AND SHEEP; FORETELLETH HIM OF HIS DEATH; REBUKETH HIS CURIOSITY TOUCHING JOHN. THE CONCLUSION._ _Anno Domini 33._... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THESE THINGS JESUS, &C.— As all the males among the Jews were, by the law of Moses, to repair thrice every year to Jerusalem, on the passover or feast of unleavened bread, the pentecost, and the feast of tabernacles; so the _apostles_ and _disciples_ who had come up to Jerusalem from Galilee,... [ Continue Reading ]
NATHANAEL OF CANA— There seems to be no doubt that this Nathanael is the person mentioned ch. John 1:45. It is uncertain who the _other two disciples_ were: Dr. Lightfoot conjectures that they were Andrew and Philip; which is not improbable, as they were both inhabitants of Bethsaida, near the sea o... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON PETER SAITH—I GO A FISHING.— _I am going a fishing._ Heylin. Our Lord having, first by the angels, and then in person, ordered his disciples to go home to Galilee, with a promise that they should see him there, it is reasonable to think that they would depart as soon as possible; (see the seco... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST THE NET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SHIP,— The disciples, not knowing Jesus, but imagining that he might be a person acquainted with the places proper for fishing, did as he directed, and caught a multitude of fishes. This was not merely a demonstration of the power of our Lord, but a kind of prov... [ Continue Reading ]
_JOHN 21:7_. (_FOR HE WAS NAKED,_)— That is, had only his under-garment on. See the note on 1 Samuel 19:24. Dr Heylin reads, _He put on his upper coat, for he was stripped._... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO HUNDRED CUBITS,)— About one hundred yards.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS SOON—AS THEY WERE COME TO LAND,— When the disciples came ashore, they found _a fire_ burning, which Jesus had miraculously prepared, and _fish laid thereon, and bread._ But neither being sufficient for the company, or perhaps to shew them the reality of the miracle, by making them attend to the n... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS THEN COMETH, AND TAKETH BREAD,— It is not said that Jesus now ate with them; but his invitation to them, John 21:12 implies it; besides St. Peter testifies, Acts 10:41 that his apostles did eat and drink with him after he arose from the dead; meaning to tell Cornelius, that that was one of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS NOW THE THIRD TIME— The evangelist does not say that this was the third time that Jesus appeared, but the third time that he appeared to his disciples; that is, to his apostles in a body; for, in reality, it was his seventh appearance. Besides, St. John himself has taken notice of three appe... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVEST THOU ME MORE THAN THESE?— The original words, πλειον τουτων are ambiguous, and may either signify, "Dost thou love me more than any of _thy brethren,_ as thou didst once profess?" (See Matthew 26:33.) Or, "Dost thou love me more than thou lovest _these nets,_ and other instruments of thy trad... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SAITH TO HIM AGAIN— From our Lord's asking Peter if he loved him, before he renewed his commission to _feed his lambs and his sheep,_ it is justly inferred, that, to render men duly qualified for the ministerial function, they must prefer the interest and honour of Christ to every other considera... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU WAST YOUNG, &C.— St. Peter being thus restored to his apostolic office and dignity, Jesus proceeded to forewarn him of the persecutions, to which he, in particular, would be exposed in the execution of his office, intending thereby to inspire him with courage and constancy; but we do not r... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PETER, TURNING ABOUT,— "There is a spirit and tenderness in this plain passage, which I can never read (says Dr. Doddridge,) without the most sensible emotion. Christ orders Peter to follow him, in token of his readiness to be crucified in his cause. John stays not for the call; he rises and _f... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHAT SHALL THIS MAN DO?— _And what shall become of him?_... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I WILL THAT HE TARRY, &C.— "If it is my pleasure that he should _live_ till my coming [in judgment upon Jerusalem], _what is that to thee?"_ So the word μενειν signifies, being elliptical for the words μενειν εν τη σαρκι, _to abide in the flesh._ We have both the elliptical and complete phrase, P... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS THE DISCIPLE WHICH TESTIFIETH, &C.— Though the inspired writer of this gospel is here spoken of in the third person, it is agreeable to St. John's manner. See ch. John 19:35. 1 John 1:1 and ch. John 5:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
I SUPPOSE THAT EVEN THE WORLD, &C.— According to most commentators, this is an hyperbole; a figure in which the Asiatics are known to have dealt greatly, and which they carried far higher than is allowable in the European languages; and the word _I suppose_ naturally leads to this exposition: thus u... [ Continue Reading ]