Jesus again appears to his disciples, A. M. 4037. A. D. 33. 25 The other disciples therefore said || hand into his side, I will not believe. A. M. 4037. unto him, We have seen the Lord. 26 And after eight days again his But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: hands the print of the nails, and put my finger then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and into the print of the nails, and thrust my stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Possibly it might be affliction, or some other una- for he showed himself now just as he had shown voidable hinderance. Through this, however, he || himself before. Our Lord deferred this his second missed the satisfaction and happiness of seeing his appearance for some time, 1st, To show his disciMaster risen, and of sharing with the disciples in ples that he was not risen to such a life as he had their joy upon that occasion. Here we may observe, formerly lived, to converse daily and hourly with those know not what they lose who unnecessarily them, but was as one that belonged to another world, and carelessly absent themselves from the stated, and visited this only as angels do, now and then, solemn assemblies of the people of God. The other when there was occasion. Where Christ was durdisciples, therefore, said to him-The next time ing these eight days, and the rest of the time of his they saw him, and that doubtless with great joy; || abode on earth, would be folly to inquire, and preWe have seen the Lord-Relating to him, probably, sumption to determine. Wherever he was, no doubt all that had passed at the time, and particularly the angels ministered unto him. 2d. He deferred it so satisfaction Christ had given them, by showing them long as seven days for three reasons: 1st, That he his hands and his side. But he said, Except I might put a rebuke on Thomas for his incredulity, shall see in his hands the print of the nails, &c. and perhaps also for his negligence. He had not -As if he had said, This is a matter of too great attended the former meeting of the disciples, and to importance for me to believe on any report, even on teach him to prize those seasons of grace better for yours; nay, more is necessary to convince me than the future, he shall not have such another opportu merely a transient sight of mine own eyes: for nity for several days. A very melancholy week unless I shall have the fullest evidence of my own we have reason to think he had of it; drooping and feeling, as well as sight of him, I will not by any in suspense, while the other disciples were full of means, or any testimony whatsoever, believe that joy: and the cause was in himself: it was his own he is risen. "Thus ended the transactions of the folly and unbelief. 2d, That he might try the faith day on which our Lord arose from the dead; a day and patience of the rest of the disciples. They had much to be remembered by men throughout all gained a great point when they were satisfied that generations, because it brought fully into act the con- they had seen the Lord; then were the disciples ceptions which had lodged in the breast of Infinite glad; but he would try whether they could keep Wisdom from eternity, even those thoughts of love the ground they had gained when they saw no and mercy on which the salvation of the world de- more of him for seven days. And thus he would pended. Christians, therefore, have the highest gradually wean them from his bodily presence, reason to solemnize this day with gladness each which they had doted and depended too much returning week, by ceasing from labour, and giving upon. 3d, That he might put an honour upon the themselves up to holy meditations, and other exer- first day of the week, and give a plain intimation of cises of devotion. The redemption of mankind, his will, that it should be observed in his church as which they commemorate thereon in its finishing the Christian sabbath, that is, the weekly day of stroke, affords matter for eternal thought, being such holy rest and holy convocations. That one day in a subject as no other, how great soever, can equal; seven should be religiously observed, was an apand whose lustre, neither length of time nor fre- pointment from the beginning; as old as innocence; quent reviewing can ever diminish. For, as by and that, in the kingdom of the Messiah, the first often beholding the sun we do not find him less day in the week should be that solemn day, Christ's glorious or luminous than before, so this benefit, meeting his disciples in a religious assembly once which we celebrate after so many ages, is as fresh and again on that day was indication sufficient. and beautiful as ever, and will continue to be so, Add to this, it is highly probable, that in his former flourishing in the memories of all reasonable beings appearance to them he had ordered them to come through the endless revolutions of eternity."-Mack- together again that day seven-night, and had pronight. mised to meet them, and also that he appeared to them every first day of the week, (besides at some other times,) during forty days. And the religious observance of that day has been from thence transmitted down to us through every age of the church. This therefore is the day which the Lord has made sacred, and appointed for his peculiar worship and service. On this occasion also Christ said, Peace be unto you-Thus saluting them all in a friendly and affectionate manner, as he had done before. And this was no vain repetition, but significant of Verse 26. After eight days-That is, eight days after his resurrection, namely, the next Sunday; again his disciples were within-Were in a private room, as they were before; and Thomas with them -For though he had been absent once, yet he would not be absent a second time. When we have lost one opportunity of receiving good, we should give the more earnest heed to lay hold on the next. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, as before, and stood in the midst-And they all knew him; 28 And Thomas answered and said unto in the presence of his disciples, which are not him, My Lord and my God. written in this book. * Chap. xxi. 15. Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed-Thou hast believed my resurrection, because thou hast had it confirmed to thee by the united testimony of several of thy senses. Blessed are they who have not seen me themselves, and yet have believed—On the credible testimony of others. For they have manifested a greater degree of candour and humility, which renders the faith it produces so much the more acceptable: in other words, they are persons of a more pious and virtuous disposition, who, without the evidence of sense, are so candid as to yield to the proofs which the divine wisdom has thought sufficient for convincing the world. If it be queried why a greater blessedness is pronounced on those who believe on more slender evidence, it may be answered, that our Lord by no means intended to assert, that every one who believes without seeing, is happier than any one believing on sight; for then the meanest Christian now would be more happy than the greatest of the apostles: but only that, where the effects of that faith were equal, it argued greater simplicity, candour, and wisdom to yield to reasonable evidence without seeing, than could be argued merely from having believed on sight, after sufficient evidence of another kind had been proposed. It was therefore, in effect, telling Thomas, his faith would have been more acceptable, if he had not stood out so long: and it was doing it in such a manner as would be most calculated for the comfort and encouragement of believers in future ages, to whom, in many of his speeches to the apostles themselves, our Lord expresses a most obliging and affectionate regard. Let us then maturely con Verses 27-29. Then said he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, &c.—Thus our Lord lets them see, that he was not unacquainted with what had lately passed among them in his absence, and at the same time takes an effectual way to convince and satisfy his over-scrupulous disciple. Referring to what Thomas had said, he answers it word for word: for he had heard it, though unseen: and one would suppose that his telling him of it so particularly must surely have put him to the blush. Observe well, reader, there is not an unbelieving word in our tongues, no, nor thought in our minds at any time, but it is known to the Lord Jesus. And be not faithless, but believing-Believe on this evidence at least, which addresses itself to so many of thy senses. And Thomas-Overwhelmed at once with such abundant demonstration of the fact in question, and such condescending kindness of his Master, fell under the conviction in a moment, and, instead of entering on any further scrutiny, answered-In the utmost transport of astonishment and joy; My Lord and my God!-As if he had said, I now not only acknowledge thee to be Jesus my Lord, as || I have formerly done, and to be infallibly risen from the dead, as my fellow-disciples have affirmed, but I confess thy divine knowledge and power, and prostrate myself before thee as the great incarnate Deity, the glorious Immanuel. And this glorious confession he makes without putting his finger into the print of the nails, &c. The irrefragable argu-sider this declaration of our great Instructer and Sament arising from these words, in proof of the Deity of our blessed Lord, (which so many good writers have stated at large,) cannot be evaded by saying, that these words are only an exclamation of surprise, as if he had said, Good God! is it indeed thus? for it is expressly declared, he spoke these words to him: and no doubt Christ would severely have reproved him, if there had not been just reason to address him thus. It is worthy of observation here, that this slowness and backwardness in Thomas to believe, ought to strengthen and confirm our faith. For hereby it appears, that the witnesses of Christ's resurrection, who attested it to the world, and pledged their lives upon it, were not easy, credulous men, but very cautious persons, that suspended their belief till they saw the utmost evidence of it which they could desire. Jesus saith unto him, || viour. And though we have not those sensible manifestations which were granted to Thomas, let it suffice us, that the apostles were the appointed witnesses of all these things; and what they saw with their eyes, and their hands handled, of the word of life, that have they declared unto us, 1 John i. 1, 3. Let us thankfully receive so convincing a testimony. Let us show an upright and candid mind in accepting such evidence as the wisdom of God has seen fit to give us; remembering, that a truly rational faith is the more acceptable to God, in proportion to the difficulties which it is able to surmount; and that there are peculiar blessings in store for them who have not seen, and yet believed. Verses 30, 31. And many other signs truly did Jesus-That is, Jesus wrought many other miracles; which are not written in this book-In this gospel Jesus again appears to his disciples A M. 4037. CHAPTER XXI. at the sea of Tiberias. 31 But these are written, that ye || the Son of God; and that believing A. M. 4037. might believe that Jesus is the Christ, || ye might have life through his name. y Luke i. 4. Chap. iii. 15, 16; v. 24; 1 Pet. i. 9. A. D. 33. beloved by him before the world was, chap. xvii. 5, 24; and who was without beginning of days, as well as without end of life, Heb. vii. 3: and that of John, nor indeed in those of the other evangelists; but these are written that ye might believe-That ye, into whose hands soever this narrative shall fall, may believe, that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ- || believing-Applying to, and confiding in, him for The true Messiah; the Son of God-In a sense in salvation, as the only person in and through whom which no creature, man or angel, can be his son, it can be attained, (Acts iv. 12,) and receiving him (see Heb. i. 4-12,) being not only miraculously be- in all his characters and offices, chap. i. 12: ye might gotten, as to his human nature, on which account he || have life through his name-Spiritual life, the life is also termed the Son of God, (Luke i. 35,) but that of grace here, and eternal life, the life of glory, eternal Son, who had glory with his Father, and was || hereafter. CHAPTER XXI. In this chapter, (1,) Christ discovers himself to seven of his disciples at the sea of Tiberias, gives them a miraculous draught of fishes, and familiarly dines with them, 1–14. (2,) He thrice examines Peter touching the sincerity of his love to him, and as often commissions him to feed his people by gospel ministrations; and warns him of his future sufferings and martyrdom, 15-19. (3,) He checks Peter's curiosity about the life of John, and the time and manner of his death, 20–23. (4) The certainty of the gospel record, and the multitude of Christ's miracles, are declared, 24, 25. FTER these things Jesus showed || Thomas called Didymus, and himself again to the disciples at thanael of Cana in Galilee, and the the sea of Tiberias: and on this wise showed he himself. A. M. 4037. AF a Na- A. M. 4037. A. D. 33. sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fish 2 There were together Simon Peter, and ing. They say unto him, We also go with a Chap. i. 45. NOTES ON CHAPTER XXI. b Matt. iv. 21. as his disciples, and especially concerning the late events of which they had been eye-witnesses, namely, the death and resurrection of their Master. And Christ chose to manifest himself to them when they were assembled; not only to countenance Christian society, but that they might be joint witnesses of the same matters of fact, and so might corroborate one another's testimony. Here were seven together, to attest what follows. One of these was Thomas, who is named next to Peter, as if he now Verse 1. After these things, &c.-Grotius thinks this whole chapter was written by some of the elders of the church of Ephesus, and added to the rest of the book by the approbation of that society, as agreeable to the relations which they had heard from the mouth of St. John: and Le Clerc follows him in this conjecture; but Dr. Mill has taken pains to invalidate it; (Prolegom., p. 249 ;) and the beginning of verse 24, destroys the force of Grotius's arguments from the latter part of it. Jesus showed him-kept closer to the meetings of the apostles than ever, self again to the disciples, &c.-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. Wherefore when they were come to their respective homes, and were employed in their former occupation of fishing, Jesus showed himself to them, as is related in the following verses. in consequence of the rebuke and advice he had received from Christ. Another was Nathanael, whom we have not met with since we considered the first chapter of this gospel. Some, however, think he was the same with Bartholomew, one of the twelve. The two not named are supposed to be Philip of Bethsaida, and Andrew of Capernaum. Verses 3-6. Simon Peter saith, I go a fishing— They were now waiting for Christ's promised apVerse 2. There were together-Namely, in one pearance to them, and it was certainly commendable house; Simon Peter, and Thomas, &c.-Doubtless in Peter that he wished to redeem the time and not they often met and conversed together about the be idle; but endeavour to make some provision for great things which they had seen and heard during his own support, and for the entertainment of his the three years in which they had attended on Christ || friends. They say, We also go with thee-They Jesus appears to his disciples. A. D. 33. A. D. 33. A. M. 4037. thee. They went forth, and entered || saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now A. M. 4037 into a ship immediately; and that when Simon Peter heard that it was night they caught nothing. the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples с knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, 'Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. he was. || 8 And the other disciples came in a little ship, (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. 9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. v. 4, 6, 7. Chap. xiii. 23; xx. 2.—2 Or, one hundred yards. sion, renewed that miracle which he wrought in thy ship some years ago, when he first called us to attend him. Now when Peter heard, and saw, that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him— Or upper garment, as exevduτns properly signifies, reverencing the presence of the Lord. For he was naked-Or rather, was stripped of it; for the word yuuvos, here used, does not always, like the English word naked, signify having no clothes on, or being totally uncovered, but not having all the clothes usually worn. In this sense the word seems to be used Acts xix. 16, and in several passages of the Old Testament. And did cast himself into the sea-To swim to him immediately. The love of Christ draws men through fire and water. And the other disciples-Making the best of their way; came in a little ship-That is, in their small fishing vessel; dragging the net with fishes-Which doubtless considerably impeded their progress. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved Chap. xx. 14.-d Luke xxiv. 41. Or, sirs. Luke were as willing as he to labour for a maintenance, and not to eat the bread of idleness. They went forth, therefore, and entered into a ship immediately-A small vessel on the lake or sea of Tiberias; and that night—Though it was the properest time for fishing, and they were diligent in throwing their nets; they caught nothing-The providence of God so ordering it that the subsequent miracle might be the more illustrious. But when the morning was now come―After they had been toiling all night to no purpose; Jesus appeared and stood on the shore over against them; but the disciples-Who had no expectation of seeing him there, and also being at some distance from him, and it not being yet perfectly light; knew not that it was Jesus-They observed a person upon the shore, but knew not who || Then-As they approached within call; Jesus saith, Children, have ye any meat?-Have || you taken fish enough to furnish out a meal? They answered him, No-We have been toiling here this Verses 9-14. As soon as they were come to land, whole night in vain. And he said, Cast the net on they saw a fire of coals-The effect of Christ's the right side of the ship, and ye shall find—Reader, || wonder-working power; and fish laid thereon, and whether we would cast the temporal net with suc- bread-Which also he had prepared by a miracle, cess, and gain a maintenance for ourselves, and those that they might see how easily he could make prodependant upon us, or the spiritual net, so as to be vision for them, when they were destitute of the successful fishers of men, we have need of the di- ordinary means of supply. We need not be curious rection of Jesus, and ought to apply to him for it; in inquiring whence this fire, fish, and bread came, any which if we do aright we shall not do in vain; the more than whence the meat came which the ravens direction we need shall certainly be granted us. brought Elijah. He that could multiply the loaves They-Willing to try, at least, whether this stranger and fishes that were, could make new ones if he conjectured right, cast the net therefore as he had pleased, or turn stones into bread, fish, or flesh. We directed them; and now-To their great astonish- || may take comfort from this instance of Christ's care ment; they were not able to draw it-Into the ship of his disciples; persuaded he has wherewith to supagain; for the multitude of fishes-Which they had ply all our wants, and knows what things we have enclosed in it. This was not only a demonstration need of. It is especially encouraging to Christ's of the power of our Lord, but a kind supply for them ministers, whom he hath made fishers of men, to and their families. It was, likewise, an emblem of learn, by such an instance, that they may depend the great success which should attend them as fish-upon him who employs them to provide for them ers of men. Verses 7, 8. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved-Seeing such astonishing success after their preceding fruitless toil and disappointment; saith unto Peter, It is the Lord-Who has, on this occa what he sees to be needful. Jesus saith, Bring of the fish ye have now caught-Christ gave this order either because the fish already broiling on the fire was not sufficient for the company, or rather, perhaps, to show them the reality and greatness of the Jesus, in a familiar manner, A. D. 33. A. D. 33. A. M. 4037. 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew 13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh A. M. 4037, the net to land full of great fishes, bread, and giveth them, and fish likea hundred and fifty and three and for all wise. there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12 Jesus saith unto them, & Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Acts x. 41. || 14 This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, h Chap. xx. 19, 26. miracle, by making them attend to the number and ask him, tends to convey the notion that our Lord's largeness of the fish which they had caught, and to manner of conversing with his disciples was harsh the circumstance of the net's not being broken. and forbidding, than which nothing can be more Simon Peter went up, and—With the help of his contrary to truth. It is not said by the evangelist brethren; drew the net to land-As Peter in the here, that Jesus now ate with them; but his invitation former instance had showed a more zealous affection to them in this verse implies it. Besides, Peter testito his Master's person than any of them, so in this fies, (Acts x. 41,) that his apostles did eat and he showed a more ready obedience to his Master's drink with him after he rose from the dead; meancommands. Full of great fishes, a hundred and ing to tell Cornelius that that was one of the many fifty and three-These were many more than they infallible proofs by which he showed himself alive needed for their present supply; but they might sell after his passion. It is reasonable, therefore, to them, and the money would serve to bear their ex- think that he ate with his apostles on this occasion. penses on their journey back to Jerusalem, whither Thus Jesus proved to his disciples anew the reality they were shortly to return, and to support them of his resurrection, not only by eating with them, while they waited there. And for all there were so but by working a miracle like that which, at the many-And great fishes too; yet was not the net || beginning of his ministry, made such an impression broken-So that they witnessed miracle upon mira- upon them as disposed them to be his constant folcle wrought for them. Jesus saith, Come and dine lowers. This is the third time Jesus showed him-Or, come and eat; for the word apisnoare, here self to his disciples, &c.-The evangelist does not used, signifies sometimes to take meat in the morn- say that it was the third time Jesus appeared, but ing, which is the meaning of it here. Dr. Doddridge the third time that he appeared to his disciples; reads, Come and refresh yourselves; and Bishop that is, to his apostles in a body; for in reality it Pearce, Come and breakfast. "The ancients used was his seventh appearance. Besides, John himself regularly but two meals in a day; we use three. has taken notice of three appearances before this. As of our three, dinner and supper have been regarded as the two principal, it has obtained, not only with us, but all over Europe, to call the first meal of the ancients by the first of these two, which is dinner; and the second by the latter, which is supper. It is the order which has fixed the names of these meals, and not the precise time of the day at which they were eaten, which is commonly vari- || able."-Campbell. None of the disciples durst-Or rather, presumed, or ventured to ask him, Who art thou?-For, as the last-mentioned divine justly observes, "the verb eroλμa, which our translators render durst, does not always, in the use of Greek authors, sacred or profane, express the boldness or courage implied in the English verb to dare, by which it is commonly rendered. When joined with a negative, as in this place, it often expresses merely a disinclination, arising from modesty, delicacy, respect, or an averseness to be troublesome in putting unnecessary questions. And it may here be properly translated presumed, or ventured; an interpretation confirmed by the words immediately following. The sense then will be, They knew him to be the Lord, and therefore did not presume to ask him a needless question. To say they durst not Verse 15. When they had dined-On the kind provision wherewith Jesus had supplied them, and, it is likely, had been edified with such discourse as Jesus had generally used when eating with them; Jesus said to Simon Peter-Who, by his late denial of him, had given him great reason to call in question the sincerity of his love; Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?-He speaks to him by name, the more to affect him, as he did (Luke xxii. 31) when he warned him of a great approaching trial. He doth not call him Cephas, or Peter, a name signifying strength or stability, for he had lost the credit of that; but gives him his original name, Simon, adding, however, son of Jonas, as he had called him when he pronounced him blessed, Matt. xvi. 17. And the question he asked him is, of all others, one of the most important, and on which we should frequently and especially ask ourselves: for, on the one hand, if any man love not the Lord Jesus he is anathema, that is, exposed to the wrath and curse of God, 1 Cor. xvi. 22; whereas the grace and blessing of God is the portion of all those who love him in sincerity, Eph. vi. 24. Observe, reader, the question is not, Dost thou know me? Dost thou believe in me? Dost thou admire, honour, or fear me? but, |