Post-Resurrection Appearances: Going Fishing; To Seven Disciples in Galilee

“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), Nathaniel of Cana of 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 the 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…Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.” –John 21:1-6,12, 14, ESV (Read John 21:1-14).

“After this” possibly refers to the two appearances to the disciples while they were still in Jerusalem and after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a week-long activity connected with the Feast of the Passover. Jesus had instructed the women to tell the disciples to go to Galilee where He would meet them. And here are seven of them, Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James and John, and two others whose names are not given. Peter, who had been called from his occupation of professional fisherman to follow and work for Jesus, said, “I'm going fishing!” Much supposition has been given about why Peter decided to go back to fishing again. The old and familiar was probably calling him, something he knew how to do. And like many in the course of life, he probably had bills to pay and support to seek. These with him might have been former fishermen, too. And their work for the Lord seemed not to be shaping up. How could they do what He had commanded them when He was no longer with them in the flesh, and His kingdom was not established? There they were at night with the fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee, but catching nothing for their efforts. Had they so soon forgotten that Jesus had said to them, “Without me you can do nothing?” (John 15:5).

Just at daybreak, Jesus was on the shore, but they did not recognize him at first. He asked a simple question: “Do you have any fish?” Why did he address them as ‘children’? Some scholars have seen in this the disciples’ status, like children tossed about, not knowing in which direction to go. Here to experienced fisherman, the Lord of the sea and all that is in it told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. Success was immediate. John even tells how many fish were in the net: 153!

Impetuous Peter, recognizing the Lord, plunges into the water to swim toward Him, leaving the others to tow the full net and bring the boat to shore. And then Jesus, who had already made a fire and had fish grilling and bread, invited the seven to breakfast. Imagine breakfast by the Sea of Galilee with Jesus! What a welcome respite after a hard night of work, sleeplessness and no luck with fishing until Jesus came on the scene! Jesus had told the fishermen disciples when He called them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). This rendezvous on the shore of the Sea of Galilee was needed by the disciples for new direction about their work of fishing for the souls of men. The conversation with the seven over breakfast is not recorded in the gospels, except that the Lord singled Peter out for special questions and instructions (which we will examine tomorrow). Here was Jesus with them, at Galilee, as He had promised. We can imagine how these seven men must have remembered, ever after, how the Lord fed them early in the morning, both physically with the bread and fish and spiritually with His presence and redirection. And what lessons for us to learn from the fishermen’s lives. They did not mind hard work. They have courage and faith to “go out into the deep.” If one method does not work to bring in the catch, they are willing to follow Jesus’ direction to “cast the net on the other side.” Thank God for the lessons we learn from this early morning meeting!