Verse by Verse

18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”

19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”

21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

Jesus prophesied (v. 18) that Peter, when he was old, would be crucified (stretch out your hands). Peter referred to this in his second epistle. Knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me (2 Peter 1:14).

follow Me (v. 19) = tense means “keep on following” — to the end.

Back in John 13:36-37, Peter wanted to follow Christ but couldn’t. Now Jesus tells Peter to follow Him (v. 19). Peter couldn’t follow in his own strength, but God would will him to follow in God’s strength.

Church tradition states that Peter was crucified in Rome under Nero in 65-70 A.D. (upside down at his request because he said he wasn’t worthy to die as Christ had, but this isn’t known for sure).

Jesus’ statement about John’s death (v. 22) wasn’t a prophecy but a statement of His sovereignty.

Verse 25 is the only place in John’s Gospel where the writer refers to himself as “I.”

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."He said to him, "Feed My lambs."

16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."

17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?"And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.

Jesus was asking Peter exactly what he had claimed back in John 13:37-38 (and Luke 22:31-33), after which the Lord had prophesied the three denials.

The first two times the Lord asked Peter if he loved Him, He used the word agapao (total unselfish love). Peter responded with phileo (like, affection, brotherly love). Peter probably wasn't as confident after his denials. He didn't dare brag about his love. Jesus used agapao the first two times He asked, but the third time, He used Peter's word phileo.

Perhaps the Lord asked Peter three times to counteract the three denials?

Jesus used Simon (v. 15), Peter's natural birth name, not Stone (Peter) as he'd been renamed (John 1:42).

more than these (v. 15) — probably "more than these other disciples love Me"

lambs (v. 15) — believers young in the faith

sheep (v. 16) — more mature believers (1 Peter 5:2-3)

grieved (v. 17) — sorrow, contrition — not anger

You know all things (v. 17) — Peter knew Jesus knew more than he himself did about Peter's love. Earlier, Peter had claimed total devotion, but Jesus knew he would betray Him. Now Peter was humbled.

Self-confidence not only makes it likely that we will fall, but often puts us in a condition where falling is the only remedy.

1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself:

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 are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

5 Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?"They answered Him, "No."

6 And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.

8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.

9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught."

11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.

12 Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?" — knowing that it was the Lord.

13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

Some theologians think John added chapter 21 sometime after writing the rest of the book, perhaps to clear up confusion that Christ would return before John died and/or to show Peter's restoration to favor.

Sea of Tiberias (v. 1) = Sea of Galilee

Nathanael (v. 2) — first mention since chapter one.

Peter may have been impatient (v. 3), waiting for, he didn't know what. So to do something, he went fishing. Not that this was wrong, but simply that as a man of action, he felt the need to do something.

morning had now come (v. 4) — literally "first light," still probably quite dark

The disciples did not recognize Jesus at first (v.4) either by sight or by voice.

children (v. 5) — should be "boys" or "sirs"

Jesus' question (v. 5) expects a negative answer (in Greek). He knew they hadn't caught any, but perhaps wanted to point out their emptiness before He met their needs.

John recognized Jesus first (v. 7)

Peter and seen and been privately reconciled with the Lord before this (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5).

200 cubits (v.8) — about 100 yards

The fire (v. 9) with the bread and fish, was a miracle.

152 (v. 11) — Some commentaries say this was the number of known Gentile nations at that time, making this a type of the kingdom when the Gentiles are blessed through Israel.

Verse 11 is a bookend with Peter's first meeting with Jesus in Luke 5:1-11 when he had another miraculous catch of fish.

Verse 12 is evidence that Jesus' appearance had changed.

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book;

31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

These verses are John's purpose statement.

John indicates that he was selective in what he wrote. He only mentions six miracles specifically, although he states that there were others (John 2:23; 3:2; 4:45). He selected, with the guidance of the Spirit, the signs that prove Jesus is the Son of God.

The "many other signs" (v. 30) may be referring to post-resurrection signs done in the presence of just His disciples.

John was probably writing to those who already believed, encouraging them to continue in the faith. The verb tense of "believe" (v. 31) indicates an ongoing action.

24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord."So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"

27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"

29 Jesus said to him,  "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

The disciples first opportunity to witness to the risen Christ was to Thomas (v. 25). It was a failure. He did not believe.

nails (v. 25) — This is the only New Testament reference to the nails. (Some crucified persons were tied to the cross.) This fulfills Psalm 22:16.

Jesus' words to Thomas (v. 27) show that He was aware of what Thomas had said earlier. This shows His omniscience.

My God (v. 28) — This is the only place in the Gospels where Jesus was addressed directly as God.

"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou has seen Me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." These were His words to adoring Thomas. Here we must consider, in explanation of these words, the dispensational aspect of the occurrence. Thomas is a type of the Jews in our days, who have cast off every bit of the faith of their fathers, but of that remnant which is coming to the foreground during the last years of the present age. Like Thomas, they are still unbelieving; they know Him not who is risen from among the dead and who is the King of Israel. They, too, like Thomas, want to see first, before believing. It is constitutional with the Jew that he asks for a sign, and does not want to believe till he sees. As it was with Thomas, the Lord appeared the second time, so will He appear the second time unto them that look for Him (this expecting Jewish remnant) unto salvation. When He comes again, He will, as it was with Thomas, display the nail prints in His hands and feet and His pierced side, so that it might be fulfilled "They shall look upon Me whom they pierced, and they shall mourn for Him," for they learn then that He was wounded in the house of His friends, wounded for their transgressions and bruised for their iniquities. And, like Thomas, they will cry out "My Lord and My God." Thus they will confess Him, when He comes for their final deliverance, their restoration and spiritual blessing.

"Lo, this is our God, we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is Jehovah, we have waited for Him, we will be glad, and rejoice in His salvation" (Isaiah 25:9). 

When our Lord said "Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed," He did not mean the Old Testament saints, but He meant the believers from among the Gentiles, gathered into the Body of Christ during this age. This is the age of faith and not of sight. We, who love Him, though we have never seen Him, and rejoice in Him with joy unspeakable and full of glory, have a greater blessedness, than the Jew who will see Him in the day of His visible coming, and then believe. — The Gospel of John, by Arno Clemens Gaebelein, page 400-401

19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you."

20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

doors were shut (v. 19) = in Greek, barred

fear of the Jews (v. 19) — A report was circulating that the disciples had taken the body (Matthew 28:13).

Peace be with you (v. 19) — the standard greeting for Jews

peace (v. 19) — The disciples' failures, abandonment of Jesus and denials had all been forgiven

His hands and His side (v. 20) — This was no ghost or illusion. The disciples were finally convinced the resurrection was true (John 16:16, 20).

The commentaries are all over the place regarding verse 22. I think this is where the disciples were indwelled. In Acts 2, they were filled and given special powers. We, today, can be indwelled (and are at salvation) but not filled.

11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.

12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?"She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away."

16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!"She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).

17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Perhaps angels had been guarding the body ever since it was first laid in the tomb (Psalm 91:11) but were invisible to Peter and John. Their presence should have convinced Mary that all was well.

Jesus evidently hid His identity at first, as He did on the road to Emmaus. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer (2 Corinthians 5:16).

Whom are you seeking? (v. 15) — This is perhaps a gentle rebuke. Why search for God among the dead?

brethren (v. 17) — after His resurrection, Jesus called His disciples brothers (Hebrews 2:11-14).

1 Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."

3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb.

4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.

6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there,

7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.

8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.

9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

Mary Magdalene visited the tomb before sunrise (Mark 16:2) with other women (as recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke). John 20:2 says "we." This was after Christ rose, after the earthquake rolled away the stone and after the soldiers had fled.

The women went to the tomb to anoint the body with spices (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1).

Magdalene — from Magdala, a town near Capernaum (Luke 8:1-3)

John looked in and saw the clothes (v. 5) and probably thought it was the body. Peter went into the tomb and saw the head cloth lying separately (v. 6) and called John in.

John saw (v. 5) = in Greek, glanced

Peter saw (v. 6) = in Greek, observed — passive, without understanding

John saw (v.8) = in Greek, understood — John was the first to grasp the truth of the resurrection, but he still didn't understand everything (v. 9).

The grave clothes were in order (v. 7), proof that no thief had taken the body. They were still in the shape they would have been in if a body had been inside.

All three members of the Trinity were involved in the resurrection — Father (Romans 6:4); Son (John 10:17); Spirit (Romans 8:11).

38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.

39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.

40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.

41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.

42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

Crucified criminals were often left unburied, hanging on the cross. Joseph had opposed the council's decision to crucify Jesus (Luke 23:50-51).

And they made His grave with the wicked — but with the rich at His death … (Isaiah 53:9) — literally, His grave was appointed with the wicked" (what the Jews wanted) "but with the rich man in His death" (Joseph was rich — Matthew 27:51).

Nicodemus (v. 39) — He is mentioned in John 3, in John 7:10 and here. Perhaps he believed after seeing "the Son of Man lifted up."

myrrh and aloes (v. 39) — a hundred pounds was a large and expensive amount, as would be used for a king's burial.

Christ's body didn't corrupt — Psalm 16:10: For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

tomb (v. 41) — sepulcher carved out of rock

31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him.

33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.

36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken."

37 And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."

Preparation Day (v. 31) — Friday, the day before Passover Sabbath

might be taken away (v. 31) — If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God (Deuteronomy 21:22-23).

It often took two or three days for a crucified person to die. Christ was dead after six hours. The other two were almost certainly still alive (Mark 15:44).

break (v. 33) — shiver to pieces, probably with a mallet or heavy bar

blood and water (v. 34) — the vitals, the pericardium. If Christ hadn't already been dead, this thrust would have killed Him. (1 John 5:6) This is proof that He died as a human.

blood = justification

water = sanctification by the Word (Psalm 119:9)

his testimony is true (v. 35) — John is stating that he, with his own eyes, saw definite evidence that Jesus was dead.

No bones of the Passover lamb were broken (v. 36) — Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20

With broken legs, a crucified person could not lift himself up to breath air into his collapsed lungs and would soon suffocate.

quote (v. 37) — Zechariah 12:10 — The fulfillment of the rest of the verse is still future, looking to His second coming.

whom they pierced (v. 37) — The Jews cannot escape their guilt (Acts 2:23; Revelation 1:7). They will look at Him in the future also — John does not say that this prophecy was fulfilled.