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John 21
John 21
As you read chapter 20, it seems as if you come to the end of the book. You come to the end of the resurrection story, and then John has what would be a good ending: “ Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).
While scholars have debated whether that is the actual ending (and thus chapter 21 is a later addition to the book) or whether chapter 21 is part of the original book. It is routinely pointed out in commentaries that there is no extant Greek manuscript that does NOT include chapter 21.
Bob Utley wrote concerning this chapter: Though not an integral part of the Gospel of John, chapter 21 was certainly from the hand of the Apostle. It answers two questions of the early church: 1. was Peter re-instated? 2. what about the legend concerning John’s longevity?”
In addition, you have one more appearance of Jesus after the resurrection to a group (the apostles) and it is a prolonged one that includes actual physical events: fishing, seeing Jesus, hearing Jesus (a remarkable conversation), and eating with Him. Did the apostles just ‘think’ they saw Jesus? NO – they KNEW they did. They wrote about what they saw, observed (looking with comprehension), and touched!
Hence John wrote at the end of his life: “1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” (1 John 1:1-4)
While there doesn’t seem to be any good reason for removing this chapter from the book, it does add another solid brick in the foundation of the fact of the resurrection of Jesus. The question yet stands, with all of this evidence presented, do YOU believe that Jesus is the Son of God?
Hugh DeLong
