volume 6, issue 1, 2014, pages 81-111

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64438/sbsGFRC7106
Published online: 2014-06-01
Published in print: 2014-06-30

Abstract: John’s Gospel features three predictions of Jesus being lifted up as a circumlocution for his death and resurrection (3,14; 8,28; 12,32-34). The wording of these predictions implies an elevation of the crucified/risen Jesus from the earth. The ending of the gospel, however, creates a remarkable contrast to those announcements as it strikingly situates the risen Jesus on the shore by the lake of Tiberias. The final pericopes take place on the ground, an element highlighted four times in 21,1-14. As the story unfolds, Jesus stands on the shore (21,4), the disciples who are not far from the shore disembark on the land (21,8-9), and, finally, Peter hauls the net full of fish symbolizing human beings on the shore. The episode depicting the encounter between the risen Jesus and the disciples on the shore of Tiberias has been scrutinized from different angles. This essay aims to contribute to an ongoing debate on John 21 by focusing on the element of the land as the place uniting the risen one with his disciples.