*John 20:24-21:14
Jesus appears to his disciples, including the skeptical Thomas, who ultimately declares him Lord and God.
- Doubting Thomas:
- Thomas, one of the Twelve, is not present when Jesus first appears to the other disciples.
- When they tell him that they have seen the Lord, Thomas expresses skepticism, stating he will not believe unless he sees the nail marks in Jesus’ hands and places his finger where the nails were.
- Eight days later, Jesus appears again with the disciples present, including Thomas. Jesus invites Thomas to touch His wounds.
- Thomas responds with a declaration of faith, “My Lord and my God!”
- Jesus comments on the blessedness of those who believe without seeing.
- The Third Appearance to the Disciples:
- Jesus appears to seven of His disciples who are fishing in the Sea of Tiberias but catching nothing.
- At Jesus’ instruction to cast the net on the right side of the boat, they catch a large number of fish, 153 in total, and yet the net does not break.
- Recognizing Jesus, Peter swims to shore while the others follow in the boat, towing the net full of fish.
- They find Jesus with a fire of burning coals with fish on it and some bread. Jesus invites them to bring some of the fish they have caught.
- He then serves them bread and fish, marking this as His third appearance to the disciples after His resurrection.
20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD.
But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
21:1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
21:7 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.
21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.