John 21:4
But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
John 21:4 · King James Version
Meaning
This verse from the Gospel of John describes the moment when Jesus appears to his disciples on the shore, but they do not recognize him at first. The disciples had been out fishing all night and had caught nothing. As morning approached, Jesus stood on the shore, but his appearance may have been different after his resurrection, leading the disciples to not immediately realize it was him. This moment serves as a powerful reminder of how Jesus can appear in unexpected ways in our lives. It demonstrates the disciples' need for spiritual discernment to recognize the presence of Jesus, even when he may not look as they expect. It also highlights the theme of faith and trust in Jesus, as the disciples eventually come to recognize him and experience his grace and guidance in their lives. This verse ultimately teaches us to remain open and receptive to the presence of Jesus in our lives, even in moments when we may not readily recognize him.
Theological Overview
In this verse from the Gospel of John, we see Jesus standing on the shore after His resurrection, but the disciples did not recognize Him at first. The theological interpretation of this scene can be seen as a representation of how sometimes, even when Jesus is present in our lives, we may not immediately recognize Him. It is a reminder to always be open to seeing Him at work in our lives, even in unexpected ways. Additionally, this verse can also be linked to themes of faith and trust in Jesus, as the disciples eventually came to see and recognize Him. Word studies on this verse may focus on the different nuances of 'morning,' which can symbolize a new beginning or revelation, and 'knew not,' indicating a lack of awareness or understanding. These insights can deepen our understanding of the spiritual significance of the disciples' encounter with Jesus on that morning.
John 21:4 in other translations
American Standard Version
But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
World English Bible
But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.
Douay-Rheims
But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
Geneva Bible (1599)
But when the morning was nowe come, Iesus stoode on the shore: neuerthelesse the disciples knewe not that it was Iesus.