Alastair's Adversaria - John 21: A Fitting Epilogue

Starting point is 00:00:00 The conclusion of John's Gospel, the account of the miraculous catch of fish and Christ's resurrection appearance by the Sea of Tiberius, might seem to be a rather peculiar epilogue to the evangelist's account. The disciples returned to Galilee and to their fishing, perhaps a surprising development after the excitement of the resurrection, the extreme focus upon Jerusalem in the rest of the Gospel, especially in the events of Holy Week and the first resurrection appearances, and the absence of references to their fishing elsewhere in John. In the synoptics, by contrast, the Sea of Galilee is centre stage for much of the earlier parts of their accounts, and we are often reminded of the fact that several of the disciples were fishermen. Why would the text move its focus back to Galilee and to fishing at this final moment?

Starting point is 00:00:45 Is John Chapter 21 more than just an awkward appendix to the book? Here are a few reasons why John Chapter 21 is a perfect and fitting conclusion to the gospel. First, it is a restoration narrative. Peter and some of the other disciples were first called with a miraculous catch of fish in Luke chapter 5 verses 1 to 11. John likely presumes knowledge of such an account. The final appearance of Jesus and John recalls the first call of Peter as he has recalled to his task. The charcoal fire, as many have noted, recalls the charcoal fire at which Peter denied Jesus in John chapter 18, verse 18, and the three times Jesus asked him whether he loved him, recalls the three occasions of Peter's

Starting point is 00:01:30 denial. Second, in the initial call of the disciples, they were summoned to follow Jesus and to become fissures of men. John chapter 21 is a symbolic recommissioning and assurance of the success of their mission. The miraculous catch is a great sign of their success in the mission to come, the movement from Jerusalem and the land. Out toward Galilee and the sea is important here. The disciples' mission will lead them out into the wider world. Third, throughout the gospel, there is a running theme of the gift of living and healing water. Among other connections, the conversation at the well in John chapter 4, Jesus' speech on the last great day of the feast in John chapter 7, water and blood flowing from his peers side in John chapter 19. This gift of living water draws.

Starting point is 00:02:21 upon Old Testament imagery. Most notably, it recalls the living and healing water flowing from the side of the temple in Ezekiel chapter 47, water that healed brackish waters, so that many fish could be caught. See also Zachariah chapter 14 verse 8. It also recalls the struck rock in the wilderness, the opened garden fountain in Song of Songs,

Starting point is 00:02:45 Chapter 4 verses 12 to 16, and the rivers flowing down from Eden in Genesis chapter 2. Jesus, the living temple, gives from his pierce side the living water downstream of which the church will catch great quantities of fish. Richard Borkham has observed an allusion to Ezekiel chapter 47 in the 153 fish. It should also be recognised that, like John, Revelation concludes with allusions to the water flowing out from the temple in Ezekiel chapter 47. Once we recognise such features, the conclusion of John's Gospel could not be more fitting. It returns us to the beginning, recalling the first call of the disciples. It restores Peter from his denial so that he can lead the other disciples forward.

Starting point is 00:03:34 It is a promissory sign of the success of the church's gospel mission. It is a culmination of the threads of Old Testament's scriptural illusion that hold the book together. and in its allusions to Ezekiel chapter 47, it connects the conclusion of the Gospel of John to the conclusion of John's book of Revelation.

Alastair's Adversaria - John 21: A Fitting Epilogue

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