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John 21:1. After this, Jesus again appeared to His disciples at the Sea of ​​Tiberias. He appeared like this: With the words “Jesus appeared,” the evangelist expresses the idea that if He had not wanted and, out of condescension, had not revealed Himself, then with an incorruptible body He would not have been visible. Why did he mention the place - the Sea of ​​​​Tiberias? In order to show that they were no longer afraid of the Jews as before, but they rejected great fear. They no longer sat locked up, but left the house, which they had not dared to do before, and walked everywhere, so that they even reached Tiberias, which is not a short distance from Jerusalem. This is the sea in Galilee. John 21:2. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, who is called the Twin, and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples. John 21:3. Simon Peter says to them: I am going to fish. They say to him: you and I are going too. They went and immediately got into the boat, and did not catch anything that night. The disciples fished because they had nothing else to do. Jesus Himself was not constantly with them, the Spirit had not yet been given to them, and the teaching was not finally entrusted to them; Therefore, they took up their former craft. Peter, being very active, cannot remain idle, but eagerly strives for work, and the others follow him, because they were no longer separated from each other. John 21:4. And when morning had already come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Having appeared to them when they were working and tired, He does not immediately reveal Himself, but first wants to enter into conversation with them. John 21:5. Jesus says to them: children! do you have any food? They answered Him: no. As if wanting to buy something from them, he asks: “Children, do you have anything edible?” John 21:6. He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat and catch it.” They cast, and could no longer pull out the nets from the multitude of fish. When they answered that they were not, and, at His command, casting the net on the right side of the boat, they received the catch, then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter: “It is the Lord.” John 21:7. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “This is the Lord.” Simon Peter, hearing that it was the Lord, girded himself with clothing - for he was naked - and threw himself into the sea. Here we again find an indication of the characteristics of the disciples: John was more insightful, and Peter was more fiery. Therefore, John was the first to recognize the Lord, and Peter was the first to hasten to Him. Having girded himself, Peter expressed respect for Jesus, and by throwing himself into the sea, he showed his love. For he could not hold on like the others, but set off swimming, although they were about two hundred cubits from the shore. “Ependytis” (Slavic “ependit”, Russian “clothing”) is a garment made of linen, which is used to girdle Phoenician and Syrian fishermen, either over the naked body, or over clothing, just to say how painters depict the apostles girded over their clothes. Since Peter was naked while fishing, he girded himself with ependytus out of respect (for this is signified by girding) and was the first to rush to the Lord. John 21:8. And other disciples sailed in a boat - for they were not far from the land, about two hundred cubits - dragging a net with fish. This is not a small event, but it is important, because a lot of fish were caught, and then the net did not break. John 21:9. When they came to the ground, they saw a fire laid out and fish and bread lying on it. The coals, fish and bread that the disciples now see also constitute a miracle. For He fed so many people with them, not from a ready-made substance, as before in the desert with five loaves (John 6:9-12) and two fish, but simply, from nothing. John 21:10. Jesus says to them: Bring the fish that you have now caught. He orders them to bring the fish they caught in order to show that what they saw was not a ghost. It does not say that He ate with them, but Luke says that He ate together (Luke 24:30, 43). How He ate we cannot explain, for it happened in an extraordinary way. Not because His nature needed food, but it was a matter of condescension, to prove the resurrection. John 21:11. Simon Peter went and brought down to the ground a net filled with large fish, of which there were one hundred and fifty-three; and with such a multitude the network did not break through. Understand this, perhaps, in a contemplative sense: when the darkness of idolatry prevailed, then it was night. The prophets who worked then, before the appearance of Christ the Sun, did not catch anything. Although they apparently had only the people of Israel in their net, but just as they often fell into idolatry, we can say that they did not catch anything. When the Sun of righteousness has risen in the morning, and the apostolic net has been spread out, a truly right teaching, in comparison with which the law and the prophets appear to be on the left side, then this net is pulled out, and not only the pagans, who can be called “one hundred,” but also the Israelites, who can be understood by “fifty,” are brought to Christ. For “when the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, then Israel also will be saved” (Rom. 11:25, 26). Three fish mean faith in the Holy Trinity. For the hundred and the fifty, that is, the pagans and the Jews, were not caught without three, since without faith in the Trinity no one is called caught. John 21:12. Jesus says to them: Come, have dinner. None of the disciples dared to ask Him: Who are you? knowing that it is the Lord. When the Lord said “come and dine,” no one asks or dares to ask. They no longer had the same courage, but in silence and with fear they marveled at Him; They knew it was the Lord, so they didn’t ask. Seeing that His image had changed and was filled with amazing grandeur, they were greatly amazed. They would at least like to ask about this, but the fear in the consciousness that it was no other person, but Him, kept them from asking the question, and they only tasted what He had created for them. How did you create it? With full power. For He no longer looks at heaven and calls on the Father, for this was done then out of condescension. The command “come, dine” serves as a hint that the saints, after their labors, receive peace, contentment and pleasure. For everything that was done or said then was filled with mystery. For example, the fact that Mary considered Him to be a gardener is apparently simple, but there is also something hidden in this. For He truly was the true worker of the garden, in the garden of the tomb, as if in paradise, correcting the female race, and turning the deceiving first gardener - Adam, from deception and unbelief. For the conversion of Mary and the doctrine of the resurrection indicate that the female race is converted and raised to perfection. John 21:13. Jesus comes, takes the bread and gives them fish as well. John 21:14. This was the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection from the dead. The Evangelist says: “This is the third time he has appeared,” and this shows that He did not treat them constantly and not in the same way as before. John 21:15. While they were having dinner, Jesus said to Simon Peter: Simon the Jonah! Do you love Me more than they? Peter says to Him: Yes, Lord! You know that I love You. Jesus says to him: Feed my lambs. Since the dinner had a purpose for Him, He entrusts Peter with the care of the sheep of the entire universe, entrusts the care to no one else, but to him, firstly, because he was chosen from all and was the mouth of the entire face of the apostles; then in order to show that he must have boldness, since his renunciation has been atoned for. He does not remember the renunciation, does not blame it for it, but says: “If you love Me, take care of your brothers and now prove that ardent love for Me, about which you said that you are ready to die for Me.” John 21:16. Another time he says to him: Simon the Jonah! do you love me? Peter says to Him: Yes, Lord! You know that I love You. Jesus says to him: Feed My sheep. John 21:17. He says to him for the third time: Simon the Jonah! do you love me? Peter was saddened that he asked him for the third time: Do you love Me? He asks him three times in part in order to show that He cares so much about the believers and loves His sheep so much that caring for His sheep serves as a sign of love for Himself; partly by threefold questioning and confession, he heals threefold renunciation and with words corrects the fall that happened in words. From now on, a custom arose - requiring those wishing to be baptized to confess three times. and said to Him: Lord! You know everything; You know that I love You. After the first and second questions, Peter calls Himself, the Knower of hearts, as a witness; he no longer relies on himself, does not answer hastily, but every time he adds: “You know.” When Peter was asked for the third time, he was confused whether he was mistaken in thinking about himself that he loved, when, perhaps, in reality he did not love, because before he had thought a lot about himself and his strength, however, the consequences refuted him. And now he was afraid of the same thing. That’s why he answers with reverence: “Lord! You know everything, both the present and the future; You know that now I love You, as it seems to me, but whether my love will endure in the future, You know that, and I don’t stand up for myself.” Jesus says to him: Feed My sheep. Another, perhaps, will find a difference between the names: “lambs” and “sheep,” between the words “nourish” and “feed.” By “lambs” perhaps we mean beginners, and by “sheep” we mean more advanced ones. So, whoever loves Christ must have care for the lambs and sheep, must “feed” the lambs, that is, have simpler supervision over them, and “feed” the sheep, which indicates higher leadership. Sometimes, however, even the most perfect need tender care, and the sheep handlers must feed them. “Shepherd” expresses stricter supervision, and “nourish” – more gentle. What shall we render to the Lord, who loved us so much that He made His care for His sheep a sign of love for Himself? John 21:18. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and went where you wanted; and when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and lead you where you do not want to go. The Lord, having told Peter about his love for Himself, also predicts to him about the torment that he will endure. He says this in order to show that if He asks him about love, he asks not out of distrust of him, but out of confidence that he loves, for how can he not love who will be tortured for Him? He asked in order to further reveal the love of Peter himself and to teach everyone else that if we want to love Him, we must prove our love for Him by caring for the brethren. How does martyrdom portend for him? Listen. “When you were young, you girded yourself,” and so on. “Since,” he says, “you love Me and have more than once promised to lay down your life for Me in danger, then be calm; I will fulfill your desire, so that what you did not tolerate in your youth, you will tolerate in your old age.” Reminds him of his previous life in order to show that the spiritual and the carnal are in an inverse relationship. In everyday affairs the young are useful, but the old are useless; in spiritual matters, on the contrary, the feat is more brilliant when old age comes. He says this in order to arouse his love and inflame him to martyrdom. It also hints to him that he too will be crucified. For the words “stretch out your hands, and another will gird them” indicate nothing more than prostration on the cross and bonds. The words “when you were young” and again “and when you are old” show that Peter was then neither young nor old, but a perfect man. Why did the Lord tell him that “another will gird you and lead you where you do not want”? Although Peter desired martyrdom, and desired it ardently, the words of the Lord indicate the sympathy of our nature for life and the fact that the soul is reluctant to be separated from the body. For God arranged it this way, and arranged it for our benefit, so that we would not kill ourselves. That is why no one, even if he were holy, lays down his body dispassionately. John 21:19. He said this, making it clear by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. The evangelist, according to his custom, adds to the explanation of the words: “He said this, making it clear by what death Peter would glorify God.” Jesus said to Peter, “Stretch out your hands,” and so on, meaning that he would suffer torment for Him. He calls Petrov’s death the glory of God, because suffering for Him to the point of death truly is the glory of God. For if the soul is not completely convinced that He is the true God, then a person will not die for Him. Therefore, the death of the saints is a confirmation of the glory of God. And having said this, he said to him: follow me. The Lord entrusted Peter with the care of all believers. For if James received the throne in Jerusalem, then Peter received the throne in the whole universe. After this, the Lord says to him: “Follow Me,” showing concern for him and His great disposition towards him. By following here we mean diligence in all deeds and words. For those follow Him who follow in the footsteps of His life and imitate His correctness in everything. Perhaps He commands Peter to follow Him sensually, revealing, as I said, His special disposition towards him. For we make our followers those who are close to us. John 21:20. Peter, turning, sees the disciple following him, whom Jesus loved, and who at the supper, bowing to His chest, said: Lord! who will betray you? Why does the evangelist mention that he bowed to his chest and asked who would betray You? Not simply and not by chance, but to show that Peter, even after his denial, had boldness before the Lord. For the one who before the Cross did not dare to ask about the traitor, but entrusted the question to another, namely John, is now entrusted with the care of everyone, and he not only does not entrust the question about himself to another, but also about that very disciple who enjoyed special love before everyone, asks the Lord and becomes, as it were, an intercessor before Him. John 21:21. When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus: Lord! what about him? When Peter heard this and was rewarded with the fact that the universe would be handed over to him and that he would be crowned with martyrdom, then, out of strong love for John, he asked about him: “What is he? Will he also go the same way as us? Will he not also be a partner in the care and care of the sheep?” For the words “follow me” almost mean the same thing as go, receive the sheep, go out into the universe. John 21:22. Jesus says to him: If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? you follow Me. Knowing that Peter cares about John and does not want to be separated from him, the Lord, in order to end their untimely union and affection for each other, says: “You have been entrusted with a task; do it and follow Me, when I take you out to preach, I entrust you with the whole universe. If I want him to stay here, in the outskirts of Galilee, and I don’t want to send him with you, what is that to you?” Some understood the words “until I come” as follows: until I come against the Jews who crucified Me, to punish them through the Romans and destroy their city. For they say that this apostle (John) almost until the reign of Vespasian was in the mountainous places, preaching and staying there, and before the capture of Jerusalem he withdrew from there. So, since they were entrusted with a great task - preaching, they should no longer be together with each other, but separately go one to those, the other to others. John 21:23. And this word spread between the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but: if I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? – Marvel, perhaps, at the modesty of the evangelist with which he corrects the erroneous understanding of many who did not understand what the Lord said about him, but thought that he would not die. This did not happen, the Lord did not say that he would not die, but that he would not preach at the same time as Peter, but would remain after him. “Until I arrive,” that is, until I want to bring him out to preach. I am now bringing you out into the care of the universe, and you follow Me, and let him remain here until I come again and bring him out as well as you. Some understand it this way: Peter, hearing that he would die for Christ, said: “What about John? Will he also die? Christ did not reject this, for everyone who is born will die, but said: “If I want him to remain, that is, to live until the end of the world and then become a martyr for Me.” Hence they say that he is alive, but will be killed by the Antichrist when, together with Elijah, he begins to preach Christ. If they indicate his coffin, what's the matter? He entered it alive, and then was put to death, like Enoch and Elijah. So, the evangelist refutes the false opinion of those who thought that this disciple would not die, but would be immortal: for it is a complete lie for a person to be immortal. Although Enoch and Elijah did not die, they are nevertheless mortal. So, although he did not die, he will die. Therefore, the understanding of the word “will not die” in the sense that he will be immortal is false. Others claim that he died, and the words “if I want him to remain” are understood as we explained above. We have expressed all opinions so that none is unknown to the curious. In our opinion, the words “so that he may remain until I come” are better understood not about life, but about separation from Peter, as the illustrious and golden-mouthed John understood it. John 21:24. This disciple testifies to this and wrote this; and we know that his testimony is true. Of the other evangelists, not one testified about himself. They say that he, after everyone else, began to write the Gospel, having been moved and excited to do so by Christ. That is why he constantly mentions His love for himself, showing the reason why he began to write, and that Christ entrusted this work to the one whom He loved more than others. And I know that he speaks the truth, that is: “What I wrote, I wrote with complete confidence, since I was present with everything, with deeds and words, with suffering and circumstances after the resurrection. Therefore, I boldly say about myself that I am true, and challenge you to consider and examine each individual event.” We humans, when we are absolutely sure of the truth, have a habit of not giving up our own testimony about it. So the apostles said: “We are his witnesses in what we say, and the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him” (Acts 5:32). How can it be seen that I am telling the truth and not to please the Teacher? From the fact that I left a lot, it is clear that I did not want to please Him. For I exposed all that was reproachful, without hiding the fact that He was called a lawless man and a deceiver, and even possessed by a demon. Obviously, I wasn't trying to please Him. For whoever flatters does the opposite: he omits what is shameful, and puts on display what is honorable. John 21:25. Jesus did many other things; but if we were to write about it in detail, then I think the world itself would not be able to accommodate the books written. Amen. Do not be surprised at what was said, that if books were written about the deeds of Jesus, the world would not contain them; but think about the ineffable power of God the Word and accept what is said with faith. For just as it is easy for us to speak, so it is easy for Him, and even much easier, to do whatever He pleases. Some say that this, according to the custom of Scripture, is said hyperbolically; for Scripture is in the habit of using hyperbole. For example: “we saw cities reaching to heaven” (Num. 13:29), “we saw sons, and were like locusts in our eyes” (Num. 13:34) and the like. In the same sense, it is said here that the world could not contain written books. Otherwise, by “world” we mean a person who philosophizes about worldly things; But the divine and mysterious works performed by Jesus in the invisible and visible world, and in the dispensation of the last time, which is full of secrets, a worldly person cannot understand, according to what was said: “I have many things to tell you; but now you cannot contain it” (John 16:12). But let us pray that the works and words of the Lord never fall into oblivion among us, but that we always open this book of the Beloved and seek the treasure contained in the miracles and teachings of Jesus; so that we, having been purified in word and life, on the day of revelation, may be worthy of the most ineffable works and mysteries, which now, being in the world, we cannot contain, and become perfect in Christ Himself, who loved us, and through His beloved disciple, enlightened us with theology and knowledge of Him - the Son, and the Father, and the Holy Spirit, to whom be glory forever.