Finishing some thoughts from Sunday

During my teaching yesterday morning, I read out of John 21. It's the fascinating story of Peter's restoration as a disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ.

A couple of interesting things happened that needed further explanation and we didn't have the time to do that. I was asked several times to give that explanation so I thought that I would put it on my blog.

The two questions were:

1. Why did Peter put on his clothes before he jumped into the water?
2. Why were the number of fish (153) specifically mentioned?

Here is the passage and then some possible theories.

John 21:

7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[b]

9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."

11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.

Why did Peter put on his clothes before he jumped into the water?

Peter put on his fisher's coat (in the Greek ependuten) before jumping in the water. This is the only place this word appears in the New Testament, and there is some discussion as to what is involved. Some believe the ependuten was a lined blouse, and others identify it as a heavier outer garment. Regardless of what it was, it would certainly have made it more difficult for Peter to swim to shore. Why then did Peter put on this additional garment?

Three interpretations:

1. According to Jewish custom, to offer a greeting to someone was a religious act, and to carry out any religious act a man had to be fully clothed. That Peter reached for his coat before jumping into the water clearly shows his intent to be the first to greet the Lord.

2. Some think Peter might have again tried to walk on the water. However, the word ebalen (cast) implies diving into the sea not stepping out onto the water.

3. Psychological reason. Peter was impetuous, and there were many other occasions when Peter acted without thinking; this was another one of those occasions.

Let's go on to the next question: why 153 fish?

There are at least four explanations as to why the number 153 appears. Cyril of Alexander saw the number as representing God and the church. According to this early church leader, one hundred was the number of the fullness of the Gentiles (Matthew 18:12), fifty represented the remnant of Israel, and three signified the Trinity to whose glory all things were done.

In a somewhat more creative vein, Augustine interpreted this number in light of ten, the number of the law, and seven, the number of grace. Ten plus seven equals seventeen, and the sum of all the numbers from one through seventeen inclusive totals 153. Therefore, argued Augustine, 153 stands for all who by law or grace have been moved to come to Jesus.

Jermone and other early church leaders saw the significance of this number in the ancient belief that there were 153 basic kinds of fish in the sea. They argued, therefore, that the miraculous catch included every kind of fish.

Someday, all men of all nations will be gathered together to Christ.

A fourth suggestion is that 153 appears in the text because that happened to be the exact number of fish caught in the net at that time. Other than being an accurate count, there is no hidden spiritual meaning in the number.

Hope that helps everyone. Thanks for asking. God's Word is good, isn't it!