John 21:7

My Notes

What Does John 21:7 Mean?

"Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea." John RECOGNIZES Jesus first — 'It is the Lord.' Peter ACTS first — he puts on his coat and THROWS himself into the water toward Jesus. The beloved disciple sees with PERCEPTION. Peter responds with IMPULSIVE DEVOTION. John identifies. Peter jumps. The recognition and the response come from two different people with two different temperaments — but both point the same direction: toward Jesus.

The phrase "that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord" (legei oun ho mathētēs hon ēgapa ho Iēsous tō Petrō ho Kyrios estin — the disciple whom Jesus loved says to Peter, 'It is the Lord') shows John RECOGNIZING first: the 'beloved disciple' has sharper spiritual PERCEPTION. He sees what the others can't — the figure on the shore is JESUS. The recognition comes from INTIMACY — the disciple who is closest to Jesus is the one who identifies Him first. The nearness of the relationship produces the quickness of the recognition.

The "he girt his fisher's coat unto him (for he was naked) and did cast himself into the sea" (ton ependytēn diezōsato, ēn gar gymnos, kai ebalen heauton eis tēn thalassan) is Peter's WILDLY IMPULSIVE response: he puts ON clothes (the opposite of what you'd do to swim) and THROWS himself into the water. The action is irrational and beautiful. Peter dresses UP to jump IN. The propriety of the clothing and the impropriety of the jumping capture Peter perfectly: he won't approach Jesus naked, but he'll swim a hundred yards to get to Him first.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What stands between you and Jesus — and are you willing to jump in?
• 2.What does intimacy producing perception (John recognizing first) teach about the relationship between closeness and discernment?
• 3.How does Peter dressing UP to jump IN describe the beautiful irrationality of devotion?
• 4.What does the immediate, throw-yourself-in response to 'It is the Lord' look like in your life?

Devotional

John sees it first: IT IS THE LORD. Peter hears it and JUMPS — into the sea, toward Jesus, clothes and all. John has the perception. Peter has the impulsiveness. John identifies. Peter throws himself. Two temperaments. One direction: toward Jesus.

The 'that disciple whom Jesus loved' RECOGNIZES first because INTIMACY produces perception: John — the disciple closest to Jesus, the one who leaned on His breast at supper — sees what the others miss. The figure on the shore? It's the LORD. The recognition isn't from better eyesight. It's from deeper RELATIONSHIP. The person who knows Jesus most intimately identifies Him most quickly. The nearness of the love produces the speed of the recognition.

Peter's response is PURE PETER: he hears 'It is the Lord' and PUTS ON HIS COAT (for he was naked — stripped for fishing) and then THROWS HIMSELF INTO THE SEA. The action is gloriously irrational: you REMOVE clothes to swim, not ADD them. Peter DRESSES UP to JUMP IN. The propriety (he won't approach Jesus undressed) and the impulsiveness (he'll swim a hundred yards to reach Him) exist in the same person in the same moment. Peter is MODEST and RECKLESS simultaneously.

The 'cast himself into the sea' is Peter's ENTIRE THEOLOGY summarized in one action: whatever stands between me and Jesus, I'm going through it. The sea is between them? Peter jumps in. The boat is too slow? Peter swims. The distance is too far? Peter goes anyway. The response to recognizing Jesus is MOVEMENT — immediate, total, swim-through-the-obstacle-if-necessary movement toward the Lord.

What stands between you and Jesus — and are you willing to throw yourself into it?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture