Need help with John 21:12

[bly]

[12] 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.

What is the traditional interpretation of this verse? Can’t the disciples see Jesus’ face at this time?

Thanks in advance…

 

[Robbinson]

[12] 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.

What is the traditional interpretation of this verse? Can’t the disciples see Jesus’ face at this time?

Thanks in advance…

There are actually several similar instances like this in the scriptures (e.g., when Jesus first appears to mary after the resurrection she at first thinks he is the gardener; when Jesus appears besides several disciples and they mistake him for a stranger, and he tells them about the scriptures and they do not recognize him until he breaks bread with them).

I think the message here is that until they truly have faith in the resurrection, they remain spiritually blind to the presence of Christ. Also, some view it as very significant that his presence is not fully revealed until he brakes bread with them as a symbol of the Eucharist (Christ is the bread of eternal life and also the way to spiritual awareness).

Blessings,

Brian

 

[SF3CHURCH]

Another way of looking at it, is that just as His disciplines did not recognize the resurrected Jesus, we do not recognize Jesus in the Eucharist, but like the Apostles we know that it is Him through faith.

 

[Nita]

St. Augustine says: “No one dared to doubt that it was He, much less deny it; so evident was it. Had any one doubted, he would have asked.”

St. John Chrysostom says: He means that they had not confidence to talk to Him, as before, but sat looking at Him in silence and awe, absorbed in regarding His altered and now supernatural form, and unwilling to ask any question. Knowing that it was the Lord, they were in fear, and only ate what, in exercise of his great power, He had created. …"

(Source of the two quotes is Aquinas’ “Caatena Aurea”)

 

[bly]

Thanks a lot guys, you’ve been of great help!
A short verse with deep meaning… Faith, Resurrection and Eucharist.

 

[thistle]

[12] 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.

What is the traditional interpretation of this verse? Can’t the disciples see Jesus’ face at this time?

Thanks in advance…

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 12. And none of them who were at meat, durst ask him, who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. It is likely he appeared to them with a countenance different, and brighter than before his death; yet they were presently so convinced it was Jesus, that they were ashamed to ask or doubt of it. (Witham)

 

[tobinatorstark]

from the Haydock Commentary
Ver. 12. This verse is spoken to the apostles alone; and was verified, by most of them having been martyred and put to death, before the destruction of Jerusalem. (Calmet)