John 21 14

John 21:14 kjv

This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

John 21:14 nkjv

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

John 21:14 niv

This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

John 21:14 esv

This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

John 21:14 nlt

This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.

John 21 verses

John 21 14 Meaning

This verse marks a significant event: the third instance where Jesus explicitly revealed Himself to a gathered group of His disciples subsequent to His bodily resurrection. It underscores the undeniable reality of His physical return from death, providing tangible evidence and consolidating their faith in the new life He offered. This particular manifestation also sets the stage for the pivotal restoration of Peter that follows.

John 21 14 Context

John 21 functions as a distinct appendix to the Gospel, narrating events that occurred after the initial post-resurrection encounters in Jerusalem (Ch 20). The disciples, notably Peter, are back in Galilee by the Sea of Tiberias, seemingly having returned to their former livelihood of fishing, which could suggest a sense of uncertainty or a hiatus from their commission. This particular manifestation happens after a night of fruitless labor, climaxing in a miraculous catch of fish at Jesus' instruction—an echo of Peter's first call (Lk 5). The preceding appearances to the gathered disciples were: the evening of Resurrection Day (Jn 20:19-23) and eight days later, including Thomas (Jn 20:26-29). John's emphasis on this "third" time highlights a conclusive phase of Jesus' post-resurrection interaction with His key followers before His ascension. It sets the scene for Jesus' direct interaction with Peter, restoring him to ministry after his three denials.

John 21 14 Word analysis

• Τοῦτο (Touto) - "This": A demonstrative pronoun. It directly refers to the preceding event: Jesus revealing Himself by the Sea of Tiberias and the miraculous catch of fish. It acts as a clear pronouncement, summarizing and underscoring the significance of this particular manifestation.

• ἤδη (ēdē) - "now" / "already": An adverb emphasizing the current state or completion. It implies a point of arrival in a sequence. The "already" highlights that this is a recognized stage, marking a progression in the resurrection narrative.

• τρίτον (triton) - "third": An ordinal numeral. While a simple count, "three" often holds biblical significance of completeness, establishment, or divine action (e.g., Jesus' resurrection on the third day, Peter's three denials balanced by three restorations). In John, it marks a significant culmination of group appearances to the disciples.

• ἐφανερώθη (ephanerōthē) - "was manifested" / "showed himself": Aorist passive indicative of φανερόω (phaneroō). It signifies an intentional, visible self-revelation. It implies that Jesus made His presence and identity clear, moving beyond mere physical appearance to a state of making His reality undeniable to those present, dispelling any doubt or uncertainty about His resurrected form.

• ὁ Ἰησοῦς (ho Iēsous) - "Jesus": The definite article "ὁ" ("the") combined with the personal name emphasizes the specific, well-known individual—the same Jesus who was crucified and buried. There is no ambiguity regarding His identity.

• τοῖς μαθηταῖς (tois mathētais) - "to the disciples": The dative case and definite article ("the") specify the recipients. This refers to the core group of apostles, highlighting that these were direct, collective revelations meant to establish their foundational faith and prepare them for future ministry. This numbering is specifically for the gathered group, not individual encounters (like Mary Magdalene or Emmaus disciples).

• ἐγερθεὶς (egertheis) - "after being raised" / "having been raised": Aorist passive participle of ἐγείρω (egeirō). This participle immediately follows "to the disciples," emphasizing that the "manifestation" occurred in His post-resurrection state. It stresses the active, divine agency involved in His rising (He was raised) and firmly grounds the appearance in the context of His triumph over death.

• ἐκ νεκρῶν (ek nekrōn) - "from the dead": The preposition "ἐκ" ("from/out of") with the genitive plural "nekrōn" ("dead ones") explicitly defines the source of Jesus' raising. It emphasizes His emergence from the state and realm of death, distinguishing Him from any resuscitation and underscoring the radical nature of His new life.

• "Τοῦτο ἤδη τρίτον ἐφανερώθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς" (This is now the third time Jesus was manifested): This phrase group underlines the significance and sequence of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to the collected group of disciples. It solidifies the evidence and leaves no room for doubt about His identity and reality.

• "ἐγερθεὶς ἐκ νεκρῶν" (after being raised from the dead): This phrase group clearly delineates the timeframe and context of these manifestations. It differentiates these appearances from pre-crucifixion interactions and fundamentally links them to the completed and verified event of the resurrection, which is the cornerstone of Christian faith.

John 21 14 Bonus section

The specific counting of "third" by John highlights a literary and theological emphasis unique to this Gospel regarding appearances to the group of disciples. Other Gospels (e.g., Matthew, Luke) and Paul's account (1 Corinthians 15) list numerous appearances, but John intentionally frames this set to convey a progression of conviction among the core apostles. This focus serves John's overarching purpose of demonstrating Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and convincing readers to believe that they "may have life in His name" (Jn 20:31). The location in Galilee, returning to their old fishing lives, reflects a common human tendency to retreat to familiarity after profound trauma or uncertainty. Jesus meets them there, reinstating their call, symbolically repeating the miraculous catch, thus reaffirming their commission to "fish for people" but now with the added authority and power of the resurrected Christ. This demonstrates Jesus' enduring commitment to His followers despite their failures or backsliding, calling them back into service.

John 21 14 Commentary

John 21:14 serves as a declarative statement affirming the reality and intentionality of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to His disciples. The explicit numbering ("third time") is crucial; it anchors this final interaction, especially with Peter, in a consistent and cumulative pattern of revelation, dispelling any notion of singular or isolated events. The choice of "manifested" (ἐφανερώθη) over a simple "appeared" signifies an active and purposeful revelation of Himself, confirming His physical presence and enduring identity to those who had experienced deep despair. This specific manifestation, coming "after being raised from the dead" (ἐγερθεὶς ἐκ νεκρῶν), underscores the unique, glorified body of Christ, not merely a ghost or a reanimated corpse, but One who has conquered death definitively. The scene in Galilee, following a miraculous catch of fish, brilliantly combines familiar elements (fishing, the disciples' call) with the extraordinary reality of their resurrected Lord. This moment not only provides comfort and confirmation but also strategically prepares the disciples, especially Peter, for their future mission by reaffirming the bedrock truth of Christ's resurrection. It is a powerful validation of their past experiences and an impetus for their future testimony.