Breaking the Word

After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We also will come with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?" They answered him, "No." So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something." So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you just caught." So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast." And none of the disciples dared to ask him, ^“Who are you?" because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.  This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead. (Jn 21: 1-14)

In the beginning of this passage the author writes that the Lord revealed himself to the disciples. At the end of the passage again the author writes that he revealed himself for the third time. It is a revelation by the lord himself to his disciples. The disciples had lived with him while he was on the earth. They knew him very well. They knew his humanity well. It is a revelation because it is about his divinity. The risen lord revealed himself to them.

The disciples and in particular Peter wanted to go fishing. Did he want to take his old job? Was he disappointed? It could be anything. But he had the following of the disciples including the disciple whom Jesus loved. The situation is bad because they caught nothing that day. The situation was created in such a way for the lord to reveal himself.

The disciples realized that it was the lord. They did not dare to ask him who he was. They recognized him in his doings. He prepared breakfast for them, he could fish for them, and he waited on them. His care and concern for them was the same. He continued to be to them as he was to them while on earth. This was what he revealed to them and they recognized him to be the lord.

Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have." And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them. He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (Lk 24:35-48)

Jesus reveals himself to his disciples. He talks to them as he would do with them while he was on earth doing his ministry. He realizes their incredulity. He gives them physical proofs. He asks them to touch and see and he even asks them give him food to eat. He is only trying to prove that he is the very same person. So the resurrection experiences of the disciples are of the very same Jesus and someone else.

Jesus also confirmed their faith in his resurrection by using scriptures. He quotes from Moses and the prophets to prove that his life of suffering and death and resurrection were foretold by the prophets and the law. His life was for the forgiveness of sin and hence he is the messiah for the people of Israel. Jesus after his resurrection uses scriptures as well to make his disciples to realize that he was the same person whom they have lived with earlier.

Now they are asked to be his witnesses. Witnesses to the whole world and witnesses of all these things. They are to be witnesses of everything that has taken place for Jesus: his suffering, death and resurrection. They are to bear witness by preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins.