The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

by John MacArthur

  20:11–13 weeping. Mary’s sense of grief and loss may have driven her back to the tomb. She apparently had not crossed paths with Peter or John and thus did not know of Jesus’ resurrection (see v. 9).

  20:12 two angels. Luke (24:4) describes both. Matthew (28:2, 3) and Mark (16:5) report only one. John’s reason for the mention of angels is to demonstrate that no grave robbers took the body. This was an operation of the power of God.

  20:14 did not know that it was Jesus. The reason for Mary’s failure to recognize Jesus is uncertain. She may not have recognized Him because her tears blurred her eyes (v. 11). Possibly also, the vivid memories of Jesus’ bruised and broken body were still etched in her mind, and Jesus’ resurrection appearance was so dramatically different that she failed to recognize Him. Perhaps, however, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, she was supernaturally prevented from recognizing Him until He chose for her to do so (see Luke 24:16).

  20:16 “Mary!” Whatever the reason for her failure to recognize Jesus, the moment He spoke the single word, “Mary,” she immediately recognized Him. This is reminiscent of Jesus’ words “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (10:27; cf. 10:3, 4).

  20:17 Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended. Mary was expressing a desire to hold on to His physical presence for fear that she would once again lose Him. Jesus’ reference to His ascension signifies that He would only be temporarily with them and though she desperately wanted Him to stay, He could not. Jesus was with them only for 40 more days and then He ascended (Acts 1:3–11). After He went to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit (“The Helper”) so that they would not feel abandoned (see note on 14:18, 19). My brethren. Disciples have been called “servants” or “friends” (15:15), but not “brothers,” until here. Because of Jesus’ work on the cross in place of the sinner, this new relationship to Christ was made possible (Rom. 8:14–17; Gal. 3:26, 27; Eph. 1:5; Heb. 2:10–13).

  20:19 the same day. See note on v. 1. the doors were shut. The Gr. word indicates the doors were locked for fear of the Jews. Since the authorities had executed their leader, they reasonably expected that Jesus’ fate could be their own. Peace be with you. See notes on 14:27; 16:33. Jesus’ greeting complements His “It is finished,” for His work on the cross accomplished peace between God and His people (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:14–17).

  20:20 Jesus proved that He who appeared to them was the same One who was crucified (cf. Luke 24:39).

  20:21 This commission builds on 17:18. See Matt. 28:19, 20.

  20:22 Since the disciples did not actually receive the Holy Spirit until the day of Pentecost, some 40 days in the future (Acts 1:8; 2:1–3), this statement must be understood as a pledge on Christ’s part that the Holy Spirit would be coming.

  20:23 See notes on Matt. 16:19; 18:18. This verse does not give authority to Christians to forgive sins. Jesus was saying that the believer can boldly declare the certainty of a sinner’s forgiveness by the Father because of the work of His Son if that sinner has repented and believed the gospel. The believer with certainty can also tell those who do not respond to the message of God’s forgiveness through faith in Christ that their sins, as a result, are not forgiven.

  20:24–26 Thomas has already been portrayed as loyal but pessimistic. Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for his failure, but instead compassionately offered him proof of His resurrection. Jesus lovingly met him at the point of his weakness (2 Tim. 2:13). Thomas’ actions indicated that Jesus had to convince the disciples rather forcefully of His resurrection, i.e., they were not gullible people predisposed to believing in resurrection. The point is they would not have fabricated it or hallucinated it, since they were so reluctant to believe even with the evidence they could see.

  20:28 “My Lord and my God!” With these words, Thomas declared his firm belief in the resurrection and, therefore, the deity of Jesus the Messiah and Son of God (Titus 2:13). This is the greatest confession a person can make. Thomas’ confession functions as the fitting capstone of John’s purpose in writing (see vv. 30, 31).

  20:29 Jesus foresaw the time when such tangible evidence as Thomas received would not be available. When Jesus ascended permanently to the Father, all those who believe would do so without the benefit of seeing the resurrected Lord. Jesus pronounced a special blessing on those who believe without having Thomas’ privilege (1 Pet. 1:8, 9).

  20:30, 31 These verses constitute the goal and purpose for which John wrote the gospel (see Introduction: Background and Setting).

  John 21

  21:1–25 The epilogue or appendix of John’s gospel. While 20:30, 31 constitute the conclusion of the body of the fourth gospel, the information here at the end of his work provides a balance to his prologue in 1:1–18. The epilogue essentially ties up 5 loose ends that were unanswered in chap. 20. 1) Will Jesus no longer directly provide for His own (cf. 20:17)? This question is answered in vv. 1–14. 2) What happened to Peter? Peter had denied Christ 3 times and fled. The last time Peter was seen was in 20:6–8 where both he and John saw the empty tomb but only John believed (20:8). This question is answered in vv. 15–17. 3) What about the future of the disciples now that they are without their Master? This question is answered in vv. 18, 19. 4) Was John going to die? Jesus answers this question in vv. 20–23. 5) Why weren’t other things that Jesus did recorded by John? John gives the answer to that in vv. 24, 25.

  21:1 Sea of Tiberias. An alternate name for the Sea of Galilee, found only in John (see 6:1).

  21:2 Simon Peter. In all lists of the apostles, he is named first, indicating his general leadership of the group (e.g., Matt. 10:2).

  21:3 “I am going fishing.” The most reasonable explanation for Peter and the others to go to Galilee in order to fish was that they went in obedience to the Lord’s command to meet Him in Galilee (Matt. 28:16). Peter and the others occupied themselves with fishing, which was their former livelihood, while they awaited Jesus’ appearance.

  21:4 This could be another instance in which the Lord kept His disciples from recognizing Him (20:14, 15; cf. Luke 24:16).

  21:7 that disciple whom Jesus loved. John immediately recognized that the stranger was the risen Lord, for only He had such supernatural knowledge and power (v. 6). Peter impulsively jumped in and headed to see the Lord.

  21:8 two hundred cubits. Approximately 300 ft. from the shore.

  21:9 fish…and bread. Apparently, the Lord created this breakfast as He had created food for the multitudes (6:1–13).

  21:11 one hundred and fifty-three. John’s recording of the precise number reinforces the fact that he was an eyewitness author of the events he recorded (1 John 1:1–4). Jesus’ action here in providing the fish also indicated that He would still provide for His disciples’ needs (see Phil. 4:19; Matt. 6:25–33).

  21:14 the third time. The reference to the “third time” refers only to the appearances reported in John’s gospel, i.e., the first being in 20:19–23 and the second in 20:26–29.

  21:15–17 The meaning of this section hinges upon the usage of two synonyms for love. In terms of interpretation, when two synonyms are placed in close proximity in context, a difference in meaning, however slight, is emphasized. When Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, He used a word for love that signified total commitment. Peter responded with a word for love that signified his love for Jesus, but not necessarily his total commitment. This was not because he was reluctant to express that greater love, but because he had been disobedient and denied the Lord in the past. He was, perhaps, now reluctant to make a claim of supreme devotion when, in the past, his life did not support such a claim. Jesus pressed home to Peter the need for unswerving devotion by repeatedly asking Peter if he loved Him supremely. The essential message here is that Jesus demands total commitment from His followers. Their love for Him must place Him above their love for all else. Jesus confronted Peter with love because He wanted Peter to lead the apostles (Matt. 16:18), but in order for Peter to be an effective shepherd, his overwhelming drive must exemp
lify supreme love for his Lord.

  21:15 more than these. This probably refers to the fish (v. 11) representing Peter’s profession as a fisherman, for he had gone back to it while waiting for Jesus (see v. 3). Jesus wanted Peter to love Him so supremely as to forsake all that he was familiar with and be exclusively devoted to being a fisher of men (Matt. 4:19). The phrase may refer to the other disciples, since Peter had claimed he would be more devoted than all the others (Matt. 26:33). “Feed My lambs.” The word “feed” conveys the idea of being devoted to the Lord’s service as an undershepherd who cares for His flock (see 1 Pet. 5:1–4). The word has the idea of constantly feeding and nourishing the sheep. This served as a reminder that the primary duty of the messenger of Jesus Christ is to teach the Word of God (2 Tim. 4:2). Acts 1–12 records Peter’s obedience to this commission.

  21:17 Peter was grieved. The third time Jesus asked Peter, He used Peter’s word for love that signified something less than total devotion, questioning even that level of love Peter thought he was safe in claiming (see note on vv. 15–17). The lessons driven home to Peter grieved his heart, so that he sought for a proper understanding of his heart, not by what he said or had done, but based on the Lord’s omniscience (cf. 2:24, 25).

  21:18, 19 A prophecy of Peter’s martyrdom. Jesus’ call of devotion to Him would also mean that Peter’s devotion would entail his own death (Matt. 10:37–39). Whenever any Christian follows Christ, he must be prepared to suffer and die (Matt. 16:24–26). Peter lived 3 decades serving the Lord and anticipating the death that was before him (2 Pet. 1:12–15), but he wrote that such suffering and death for the Lord brings praise to God (1 Pet. 4:14–16). Church tradition records that Peter suffered martyrdom under Nero (ca. A.D. 67–68), being crucified upside down, because he refused to be crucified like his Lord.

  21:20–22 Jesus’ prophecy regarding Peter’s martyrdom prompted Peter to ask what would happen to John (“the disciple whom Jesus loved”—see 13:23). He may have asked this because of his deep concern for John’s future, since he was an intimate friend. Jesus’ reply, “You follow Me,” signified that his primary concern must not be John but his continued devotion to the Lord and His service, i.e., Christ’s service must be his all-consuming passion and nothing must detract from it.

  21:22, 23 till I come. Jesus’ hypothetical statement for emphasis was that, if John lived until His second coming, it was none of Peter’s concern. He needed to live his own life in faithfulness, not compare it with any other.

  21:24 the disciple who testifies. John is a personal witness of the truth of the events that he recorded. The “we” most likely is an editorial device referring only to John (see 1:14; 1 John 1:1–4; 3 John 12), or it may include the collective witness of his apostolic colleagues.

  21:25 John explained that he had been selective rather than exhaustive in his testimony. Although selective, the truth revealed in John’s gospel is sufficient to bring anyone to faith in the Messiah and Son of God (14:26; 16:13).

  John 1

  1:1 a Gen. 1:1; (Col. 1:17); 1 John 1:1

  1:1 b (John 1:14); Rev. 19:13

  1:1 c (John 17:5; 1 John 1:2)

  1:1 d (1 John 5:20)

  1:2 e Gen. 1:1

  1:3 f Ps. 33:6; (Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:16, 17; Heb. 1:2)

  1:4 g (1 John 5:11)

  1:4 h John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46

  1:5 i (John 3:19)

  1:5 1 Or overcome

  1:6 j Mal. 3:1; Matt. 3:1–17; Mark 1:1–11; Luke 3:1–22

  1:7 k John 3:25–36; 5:33–35

  1:7 l (John 3:16)

  1:8 m Is. 9:2; 49:6

  1:9 n Is. 49:6

  1:9 2 Or That was the true Light which, coming into the world, gives light to every man.

  1:10 o Acts 13:27; 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2

  1:11 p Is. 53:3; (Luke 19:14)

  1:11 3 His own things or domain

  1:11 4 His own people

  1:12 q (John 11:52); Gal. 3:26

  1:12 5 authority

  1:13 r (John 3:5); James 1:18; (1 Pet. 1:23; 1 John 2:29; 3:9)

  1:14 s Matt. 1:16; Rev. 19:13

  1:14 t Rom. 1:3; Gal. 4:4; Phil. 2:7; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 1:1; 4:2; 2 John 7

  1:14 u Heb. 2:11

  1:14 v Is. 40:5; 2 Pet. 1:16–18

  1:14 w (John 8:32; 14:6; 18:37); Col. 1:19

  1:15 x Mal. 3:1; John 3:32

  1:15 y (Matt. 3:11)

  1:15 z (Col. 1:17)

  1:15 6 ranks higher than I

  1:16 a (Eph. 1:23; 3:19; 4:13; Col. 1:19; 2:9)

  1:16 7 NU For

  1:17 b (Ex. 20:1)

  1:17 c John 1:14; (Rom. 5:21; 6:14)

  1:17 d (John 8:32; 14:6; 18:37)

  1:18 e Ex. 33:20; Matt. 11:27; 1 Tim. 6:16

  1:18 f Ps. 2:7; John 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9

  1:18 8 NU God

  1:19 g John 5:33

  1:20 h Luke 3:15; John 3:28; Acts 13:25

  1:21 i Deut. 18:15, 18; Matt. 21:11; John 6:14; 7:40

  1:23 j Matt. 3:3

  1:23 k Is. 40:3; Mal. 3:1

  1:26 l Matt. 3:11; (Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; Acts 1:5)

  1:26 m Mal. 3:1; John 4:10; 8:19; 9:30; Acts 13:27

  1:27 n (John 3:31); Acts 19:4; (Col. 1:17)

  1:27 9 ranks higher than I

  1:28 o Judg. 7:24

  1:28 10 NU, M Bethany

  1:29 p (Ex. 12:3); Acts 8:32; (1 Pet. 1:19); Rev. 5:6–14

  1:29 q (Is. 53:11; 1 Cor. 15:3; Gal. 1:4; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 John 2:2; Rev. 1:5)

  1:30 11 ranks higher than I

  1:31 r Mal. 3:1; Matt. 3:6

  1:32 s Is. 42:1; 61:1; Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22

  1:33 t Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; Acts 1:5

  1:34 u Ps. 2:7; Luke 1:35; John 11:27

  1:36 v John 1:29

  1:37 w Matt. 4:20, 22

  1:40 x Matt. 4:18; Mark 1:29; 13:3; John 6:8; 12:22

  1:41 12 Lit. Anointed One

  1:42 y Matt. 16:18

  1:42 13 NU John

  1:42 14 Gr. Petros, usually translated Peter

  1:43 z Matt. 10:3; John 6:5; 12:21, 22; 14:8, 9

  1:44 a John 12:21

  1:45 b John 21:2

  1:45 c (Gen. 3:15; Deut. 18:18); Luke 24:27

  1:45 d (Is. 4:2; 7:14; 9:6; Mic. 5:2; Zech. 6:12); Luke 24:27

  1:45 e (Matt. 2:23); Luke 2:4

  1:45 f Luke 3:23

  1:46 g John 7:41, 42, 52

  1:47 h Ps. 32:2; 73:1

  1:49 i Ps. 2:7; Matt. 14:33; Luke 1:35

  1:49 j Matt. 21:5

  1:51 k Gen. 28:12; (Luke 2:9, 13); Acts 1:10; 7:55, 56

  1:51 15 NU omits hereafter

  John 2

  2:1 a (Heb. 13:4)

  2:1 b John 4:46

  2:1 c John 19:25

  2:4 d John 19:26

  2:4 e 2 Sam. 16:10

  2:4 f John 7:6, 8, 30; 8:20

  2:6 g Matt. 15:2; (Mark 7:3; Luke 11:39); John 3:25

  2:9 h John 4:46

  2:11 i John 4:54

  2:11 j (John 1:14)

  2:11 1 revealed

  2:12 k Matt. 4:13; John 4:46

  2:12 l Matt. 12:46; 13:55

  2:13 m Ex. 12:14; Deut. 16:1–6; John 5:1; 6:4; 11:55

  2:14 n Mal. 3:1; Matt. 21:12; Mark 11:15, 17; Luke 19:45

  2:14 2 Lit. sitting

  2:16 o Luke 2:49

  2:17 p Ps. 69:9

  2:17 3 NU, M will eat

  2:18 q Matt. 12:38; John 6:30

  2:19 r Matt. 26:61; 27:40; (Mark 14:58; 15:29); Luke 24:46; Acts 6:14; 10:40; 1 Cor. 15:4

  2:21 s (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Col. 2:9; Heb. 8:2)

  2:22 t Luke 24:8; John 2:17; 12:16; 14:26

  2:22 4 NU, M omit to them

  2:23 u (John 5:36; Acts 2:22)

  2:24 v Matt. 9:4; John 16:30; Rev. 2:23

  2:25 w 1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Chr. 28:9; Matt. 9:4; (Mark 2:8); John 6:64; 16:30; Acts 1:24; Rev. 2:23

  John 3

  3:2 a John 7:50; 19:39


  3:2 b John 9:16, 33; Acts 2:22

  3:2 c (Acts 10:38)

  3:3 d (John 1:13; Gal. 6:15; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23; 1 John 3:9)

  3:3 1 Or from above

  3:5 e Mark 16:16; (Acts 2:38)

  3:6 f John 1:13; 1 Cor. 15:50

  3:8 g Ps. 135:7; Eccl. 11:5; Ezek. 37:9; 1 Cor. 2:11

  3:9 h John 6:52, 60

  3:11 i (Matt. 11:27)

  3:11 j John 3:32; 8:14

  3:13 k Deut. 30:12; Prov. 30:4; Acts 2:34; Rom. 10:6; 1 Cor. 15:47; Eph. 4:9

  3:13 2 NU omits who is in heaven

  3:14 l Num. 21:9

  3:14 m Matt. 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:33; John 8:28; 12:34; 19:18

  3:15 n John 6:47

  3:15 o John 3:36

  3:15 3 NU omits not perish but

  3:16 p Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:4; 2 Thess. 2:16; (1 John 4:9, 10; Rev. 1:5)

  3:16 q (Is. 9:6)

  3:17 r Matt. 1:21; Luke 9:56; 1 John 4:14

  3:18 s John 5:24; 6:40, 47; 20:31; Rom. 8:1

  3:19 t (John 1:4, 9–11)

  3:20 u Job 24:13; Eph. 5:11, 13

  3:21 v (John 15:4, 5); 1 Cor. 15:10

  3:22 w John 4:1, 2

  3:23 x 1 Sam. 9:4

  3:23 y Matt. 3:5, 6

  3:24 z Matt. 4:12; 14:3; Mark 6:17; Luke 3:20

  3:26 a John 1:7, 15, 27, 34

  3:26 b Mark 2:2; 3:10; 5:24; Luke 8:19

  3:27 c (Rom. 12:5–8); 1 Cor. 3:5, 6; 4:7; Heb. 5:4; (James 1:17; 1 Pet. 4:10, 11)

  3:28 d John 1:19–27

  3:28 e Mal. 3:1; Mark 1:2; (Luke 1:17)

  3:29 f Matt. 22:2; (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25, 27); Rev. 21:9

  3:29 g Song 5:1

  3:30 h (Is. 9:7)

  3:31 i John 3:13; 8:23

  3:31 j Matt. 28:18; John 1:15, 27; 13:13; Rom. 9:5; (Col. 1:17, 18)

  3:31 k 1 Cor. 15:47

  3:31 l John 6:33; 1 Cor. 15:47; Eph. 1:21; Phil. 2:9

  3:32 m Is. 53:1, 3; John 3:11; 15:15

  3:33 n Rom. 3:4; 1 John 5:10

  3:34 o Deut. 18:18; John 7:16

  3:34 p John 1:16