An Unbound Book

After this Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and He revealed Himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered Him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” and he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This He said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this He said to him, “Follow Me.”

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against Him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray You?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is My will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is My will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

John 21:1-25

My nephew picks the same few books to read during his bedtime routine. He almost always asks for Where the Wild Things Are, Little Blue Truck, or Curious George (the one where George makes pancakes). He chooses the same books night after night. I’m sure his parents wouldn’t mind something new. But I read Persuasion by Jane Austin for the fourth time this summer, so who am I to judge? Maybe my nephew likes re-reading because he knows the books. He knows their rhythms. He knows he will come across his favorite things in them (trucks and pancakes). And he knows the parts where his parents make silly sounds when the story calls for them. I re-read for comfort, too. I also read great books again because I find newness each time. God’s story works like this, too.

When John tells the story of Jesus’ life on earth, he ends with this:

"Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written (John 21:25)."

Jesus lived more life than we know. He did so many things that all the libraries in the world can’t hold the story’s volumes. But John tells us his account of the story. That seems like a good start, and God tells us the story of redemption through Christ in so many ways. He wrote it in the Scriptures. He shows hints of it in the changing seasons and in our gardens. And He reveals it in the testimonies of our friends and family. At the end of his account of the story, John reminds readers that we can’t wrap our arms around the whole story. God knows the parts we need to hear. And He tells us the story again and again.

John tells his readers in his final lines that he cannot tell the whole story in any ordinary book. This helps us realize our smallness and God’s greatness. He brings his Gospel back to the start. In the story’s opening pages, John says, “the true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9). Jesus steps into the world and offers hope. This hope comes from the essential story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. But parts of the story remain hidden. John tells readers that more powerful works of Jesus remain a mystery. We cannot know it all. In one of his letters to the early Church, the Apostle Paul says, “now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Both Paul and John lead us to wonder at all the good parts that we haven’t heard yet. The wondering blesses us with humility and awe.

And as we sit close to the story’s end, John leaves us wondering. This might make us feel melancholy. We want to explore all the great stories about Jesus that exist. We don’t want God to withhold anything, but He does withhold. He knows our limits better than we do.

But God gives this story. The parts of the story He knows we need most. So, in the meantime, while we wonder about what we do not know, we listen again. We live in the story God gives us. God wants us to hear it over and over. Jesus tells His disciples that the Holy Spirit will “bring to remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). The psalmist writes, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on what You have done; I ponder the work of Your hands” (Psalm 143:5). The story grows richer the more we hear it. We grow to love its rhythms and ask God to tell it again.

In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C. S. Lewis captures a scene about a beloved story. This scene reminds me of how I feel finishing John's Gospel. In this moment, the young Lucy must find a spell in a magician’s book. As she reads, she comes across a beautiful story. She loves the story and forgets about the words on the page. She lives in the story. She says:

"'That is the loveliest story I have ever read or ever shall read in my whole life. Oh, I wish I could go on reading it for ten years. At least I’ll read it over again.' But here part of the magic of the book came into play. You couldn't turn back… 'Oh, what a shame!' said Lucy, 'I did so want to read it again. Well at least I must remember it. Let’s see, it was about…about a cup, and a sword, and a tree and a green hill. I know that much. But I can’t remember. And what shall I do?' And she never could remember. And ever since that day what Lucy means by a good story is a story which reminds her of the forgotten story in the Magician’s Book."

A few minutes later, Lucy encounters Aslan, the powerful, all-knowing lion. She asks him if he knows the story if he could tell it to her again. He says, "Indeed, yes. I will tell it to you for years and years." I hope to love the gospel as much as Lucy loves the forgotten story. And I find comfort and newness in the re-reading, even if the whole of it remains unknown. I look forward to hearing it again soon. I want to know it as well as my nephew knows Little Blue Truck.