Chapter XXI.
Concerning the third manifestation, two things are noted.
1. Afterwards he manifested etc. Here the third manifestation is treated, which was made for Peter's confirmation: and this part is divided into two. In the first, the manifestation is treated: in the second, Peter's confirmation, at the passage: When therefore they had dined etc.
The first into two, because for the description of the manifestation it is necessary to describe the surrounding circumstances: therefore first those are touched upon: second, the manifestation itself, at the passage: But when morning had come etc.
The circumstances surrounding the manifestation are the place, in which he manifests himself: and the persons, to whom he manifests himself; and the act or affair, by reason of which he manifests himself.
2. (Verse 1.). First therefore the place is described, in which this manifestation was made, when it is said: Afterwards Jesus manifested himself again at the Sea of Tiberias: behold, the place. "The Sea of Tiberias is the same as the Lake of Gennesaret and as the Sea of Galilee"; and it is called Tiberias from the city of Tiberias, which is situated near that lake: and it is called the Sea of Galilee from the region in which it is: it is called the Lake of Gennesaret from the proper nature of the lake itself, so that Gennesaret is said as if generating breezes.
And he manifested thus. Here the persons are touched upon, to whom he manifests himself: whence he says:
3. (Verse 2.). There were together Simon Peter and Thomas, who is called Didymus, and Nathanael, who was from Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples. And thus there were seven, because such a number is fitting and sufficient for every kind of testimony. And in this the sevenfold grace of the Holy Spirit is commended, which ought to be in those who go to fish, that is, to gather the people for the Lord: concerning which sevenfold number it is said in Isaiah 4: "Seven women shall take hold of one man" — without these women there is no spiritual propagation — and in Isaiah 11: "The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and piety, and the spirit of the fear of the Lord shall fill him."
4. (Verse 3.) Simon Peter says to them. Here is touched upon the act or occupation, on the occasion of which he manifests himself; and this indeed was the act of fishing, in which all had come together. But Peter was the principal one, because on account of him especially this manifestation was made; whence he says: Simon Peter says to them: I am going fishing, as the principal one, because he had been a fisherman: Matthew 4: "Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen." And the others accompany him; whence he says: They say to him: We also come with you. And therefore, united in one accord, they went out and boarded the boat, to fish, and on that night they caught nothing, and so they labored in vain: Luke 5: "Master, laboring through the whole night, we have caught nothing"; Gregory: "A great difficulty of fishing befell the disciples, so that, when the Master came, there might arise a great height of admiration."
5. Now when morning had come. Here is treated the manifestation of the Lord; and this part is divided into two, because first the manifestation itself is described, then it is compared to the preceding manifestations, at the words: This is now the third time, etc.
In the manifestation itself, because he manifests himself in two ways — both with respect to the divine nature through the working of a miracle, and with respect to the human nature through eating — therefore there are two sections there. In the first is described the manifestation made through the catching of fish; in the second, through eating, at the words: When therefore they came down to land, etc.
The manifestation, therefore, with respect to the wondrous catching of fish, is described in this order. For first is noted the appearance of Christ; second, his address; third, the wondrous catching of fish; fourth, the recognition of the Lord; fifth, the fervent love of Peter.
6. (Verse 4.) The appearance of the Lord, therefore, is touched upon when it says: Now when morning had come, Jesus stood on the shore. In the literal sense, he stood in the morning, because at night they could not see him; according to the spiritual sense, because morning signifies the time of grace, in which Christ appeared: Romans 13: "The night has passed, and the day has drawn near. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." And although he appeared, nevertheless the disciples did not recognize him; therefore he says: Yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Chrysostom: "He did not immediately show himself, so that through the miracle which he was about to perform, they might recognize him."
7. (Vers. 5.). Jesus therefore says to them. Here the second point is noted, namely the Lord's address: and he asks them the reason for so much labor: Children, have you any food? Food here refers to everything by which bread is seasoned, whether it be fish or something else, which we commonly call relish, as if the Lord were asking them whether they have or have caught fish, from which they might season their meal, so that bread joined to it might have flavor. They therefore answered him: No; as if to say: we are still laboring, because we do not yet have any.
8. (Vers. 6.) He said to them: Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find. Here the third point is noted, namely the wondrous catching of fish. And it was wondrous: because, when they could catch nothing, by obeying the divine command they caught so many: whence: They therefore cast the net , according to the Lord's command, and now they were unable to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Something similar occurred in Luke 5: "When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish"; therefore in great abundance, so that the divine generosity might be shown, which, according to that passage in James 1, "gives to all abundantly and does not reproach."
9. (Vers. 7.). That disciple therefore says etc. Here the fourth point is noted, namely the recognition of the Lord by John: whence: That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved, that is John, says to Peter: It is the Lord. He therefore calls him Lord, because he showed himself powerful, and one whom all things obey, even the fish: and therefore to be feared, according to that passage in Malachi 1: "If I am the Lord, where is my fear?" For the disciples called him Lord: above in chapter 13: "You call me Master and Lord ."
10. Simon Peter therefore. Here the fifth point is noted, namely Peter's fervent love, in this, that he could not restrain himself from immediately running to him: therefore it says: But Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girded his tunic about him, lest he appear naked before the Lord: for he was naked: and cast himself into the sea, namely, to swim. He did something similar in Matthew 14: "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you upon the waters."
11. (Vers. 8.). But the other disciples came by boat: because they were not so fervent, not daring to enter the sea: Wisdom 14: "Men entrust their lives to a small piece of wood," etc. And another reason: For they were not far from land, and therefore they could come quickly: but about two hundred cubits away, dragging the net of fish.
12. According to the spiritual understanding: fishermen fishing by night caught nothing; when morning came, Jesus appeared, and they filled the nets, and being two hundred cubits distant from land, they drew in the nets. — The fishermen are preachers; Jeremiah 16: Behold, I will send many fishers, and they shall fish them; and Matthew 4: Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.
The time of night is the time of the Law on account of the shadow of the letter of the figures of the Law: Hebrews 10: The Law having a shadow of good things to come, not the very image of the things.
Those who fish by night, that is, in the time of the Law, catch nothing, because, as is said in Hebrews 7, The Law brought no one to perfection.
When morning came, that is, in the time of grace, Christ appears: 2 Corinthians 3: Until this day a veil is upon their heart. But we, beholding the glory of the Lord with unveiled face, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Then the nets are filled, because after the coming of Christ in the flesh the truth is manifested, and fish are caught in the net of the Church: on account of which the Lord said above in chapter 12: If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all things to myself. — These fish, namely the faithful, preachers draw, because through good examples they lead them to life: concerning which manner of drawing it is said in Song of Songs 1: Draw me after you; we will run in the fragrance of your ointments.
And this at a distance of two hundred cubits, in which is intimated a twofold perfection that ought to be in a preacher, namely of life and doctrine; concerning which, Matthew 5: Whoever shall do and teach men thus, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
QUESTIONS.