John 21:7 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

Navigator

John 21:7

Comments

The apostle John knows, he discerns, he realises who it is. ‘Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) – the experts are inclined to read this as meaning that he was simply stripped to the waist and he put on his fisherman’s blouse, as they call it – ‘and did cast himself into the sea.’ He went over the side of the vessel. It was not far out, he could probably wade in from where he was and he knew that. Was it his impetuosity that led him to do that? No, they were expecting an appearance of the Lord. He had told them he would see them in Galilee. He had told them to proceed there, and they did. This was all part of the wait. It is what they hoped for, it is what they expected, and now he is here, and Peter was out of that vessel as quickly as he could be.The fish no longer mattered to Peter. It is the Lord and he must get there, he must reach him. See how his affection for Christ has grown since the last time they were given a miraculous catch, when on that occasion he had beckoned those in the other boat to help. But now he abandons the catch. What about the other disciples? What did they think? Perhaps they thought they should not lose what the Lord had given them. But Peter with characteristic initiative and zeal and love for the Lord went straight over the side to get to him. And the others in verse 8 came in that vessel, for they were just 100 yards from land, ‘dragging the net with fishes’ in the water, or perhaps along the floor of the lake it was so full.

Application

We should react like John and always keep our sense of wonder. This was a tremendous catch of fish – they were going to count them out shortly, the large ones – but John says, It is the Lord. It could be none other. This is just such an amazing miracle. It is characteristic of the Lord Jesus Christ. If only we would say things like that to ourselves and to one another. Somebody is saved – what do you say? ‘It is the Lord.’ Give the glory and credit to him as early as you can. You get a great provision and a great answer to prayer. You thank him, of course, but you just say, ‘It is the Lord.’ It is absolutely in line with what he does. It is his characteristic handiwork. You have assurance, strong assurance? ‘It is the Lord’, say and give thanks. Even sometimes you have a set-back, quite a big set-back. Say to yourself, ‘Well, it is the Lord, his providence has permitted this, either to teach me, or may be even to reprove me of something, or to help me to look to him more. It is the Lord.’ That is John and it ought to be our response and our expression very often.

Questions

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

John 21:7 Commentary and Bible Study