John 21 1

John 21:1 kjv

After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

John 21:1 nkjv

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

John 21:1 niv

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:

John 21:1 esv

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.

John 21:1 nlt

Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened.

John 21 verses

John 21 1 Meaning

John 21:1 introduces the final resurrection appearance of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John. After a series of initial post-resurrection encounters in Jerusalem, Jesus deliberately revealed His living presence once more to His disciples, choosing the familiar setting of the Sea of Tiberias. This act underscores His continuing, tangible reality after death and serves as a preparatory scene for significant interactions concerning their mission and future. It confirms His active role in gathering and re-commissioning His followers.

John 21 1 Context

John 21:1 begins an epilogue to John's Gospel. Chapters 1-20 conclude with a definitive statement that "these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God" (Jn 20:31), implying an ending. Chapter 21, however, functions as a narrative coda, offering a further account of a post-resurrection appearance specifically aimed at restoring Peter and clarifying the mission of the beloved disciple. Following the traumatic events of Jesus' crucifixion and the initial, often fearful, joy of His resurrection appearances in Jerusalem, many of the disciples had returned to Galilee. This return might have been an act of obedience to Jesus' earlier instructions (Mt 28:10) or a natural reversion to their former lives while awaiting further direction. The setting, the Sea of Tiberias (also known as the Sea of Galilee), brings Jesus and His disciples back to the locale of much of their initial ministry and calling, providing a familiar backdrop for the significant interactions that follow.

John 21 1 Word analysis

• After these things (μετὰ ταῦτα, meta tauta)

  • This phrase indicates chronological succession. It links the events of chapter 21 to the preceding resurrection appearances in Jerusalem described in chapter 20, but not necessarily immediately.
  • It functions as a narrative transition, implying a slight pause or passage of time since the last recorded event.

• Jesus (Ἰησοῦς, Iēsous)

  • The central figure, emphasized as the resurrected Lord. His identity as Jesus, the same one they knew, is critical for understanding the reality of the resurrection.

• manifested himself (ἐφανέρωσεν ἑαυτὸν, ephanerōsen heauton)

  • ephanerōsen comes from phaneroō, meaning "to make visible," "to reveal," "to make plain." It denotes a deliberate, observable, and unambiguous appearance, not a spiritual apparition or subjective experience.
  • heauton ("himself") highlights Jesus' initiative and self-revelation. He chose to appear, demonstrating His living will and active presence.
  • This choice of word combats any notion that Jesus' resurrection was merely symbolic or hallucinatory. It insists on a tangible, physical manifestation that could be perceived by human senses.

• again (πάλιν, palin)

  • Signifies a repetition, pointing back to previous manifestations (Jn 20:19, 26).
  • In verse 14 of John 21, it is explicitly stated that "this was now the third time Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after he was raised from the dead."

• to the disciples (τοῖς μαθηταῖς, tois mathētais)

  • Refers to a specific, intimate group of His followers, indicating the ongoing nature of His relationship and teaching to them. These are His chosen representatives.

• at the Sea of Tiberias (ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης τῆς Τιβεριάδος, epi tēs thalassēs tēs Tiberiados)

  • This is an alternative, Roman-influenced name for the Sea of Galilee. Tiberias was a city founded by Herod Antipas on its western shore.
  • Using this name might suggest John's writing for a broader audience familiar with Roman nomenclature, or it might subtly connect to the earlier mention in Jn 6:1, maintaining continuity.
  • Its significance lies in its connection to the initial calling of many disciples (fishermen) and Jesus' public ministry there, grounding the renewed encounter in familiar territory.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "After these things Jesus manifested himself again": This phrase firmly establishes a sequential, recurring event. Jesus is not distant; He is actively engaged in revealing Himself post-resurrection, confirming the reality of His physical body. It demonstrates divine agency and deliberate choice.
  • "to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias": This pinpoints the audience and location. The meeting place being Galilee (their old stomping grounds) and not just Jerusalem, signals a broader reach for His post-resurrection ministry and an eventual recommissioning from the roots of their previous calling. The intimacy of "to the disciples" ensures this is a private, yet impactful, encounter for the leadership of the nascent church.
  • "and in this way he manifested himself": This is an emphatic reiteration, unique to John's writing style. It highlights the deliberate, undeniable nature of this particular appearance and implicitly sets the stage for the specific manner of revelation that unfolds in the subsequent verses (the miraculous catch of fish). John wants the reader to fully grasp that Jesus truly and unmistakably appeared.

John 21 1 Bonus section

• The repetition of "manifested himself" in a single verse (ephanerōsen heauton... ephanerōsen heauton) is a stylistic feature in John's writing that demands attention, underscoring the objective and undeniable nature of the event. It acts as a divine authorial assertion.
• While verse 1 says "manifested himself again," it is verse 14 that explicitly calls this the "third time Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after he was raised from the dead." This backward reference indicates a careful literary structure, framing the post-resurrection encounters in distinct, progressively more communal phases.
• The choice of "Sea of Tiberias" could subtly hint at a gentile-leaning audience for John, as Tiberias was a largely Hellenistic city, compared to the more Jewish "Sea of Galilee." This geographical specificity grounds the divine manifestation in a tangible, cross-cultural context.

John 21 1 Commentary

John 21:1 opens an impactful narrative with purposeful brevity. It sets the scene for Jesus' third recorded post-resurrection appearance to His assembled disciples, marking a transition from the initial, intense joy and confirmation of the Jerusalem appearances. The simple declaration that Jesus "manifested himself again" (a phrase emphatically repeated for literary and theological emphasis) is crucial. It asserts the ongoing, deliberate, and perceptible reality of the resurrected Christ against any attempts to spiritualize or deny His bodily presence. By returning to the Sea of Tiberias, a familiar site of their early calling and daily lives, Jesus not only fulfills earlier prophecies to meet in Galilee but also signifies a powerful full-circle moment for the disciples, preparing them for a re-engagement with their vocational call under new terms of discipleship. This return to Galilee also brings a measure of normal activity, indicating the ongoing need for faithfulness even as the miraculous unfolds. The brevity of the verse belies its profound significance in establishing continuity, reality, and setting the stage for restoration and commissioning crucial for the early church.