Jesus Helps Catch Fish

Again. “After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias” (John 21:1). The risen Lord kept coming to His friends. The lake. The Sea of Tiberias is another name for the Sea of Galilee. Peter, James and John had worked as fishermen on this lake before Jesus called them (Mark 1:16-20). Seven friends. “Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together” (21:2). Thomas, who had said, “My Lord and my God!” was there too. Going fishing. “Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We are going with you also’” (21:3). The friends stayed together. Nothing. “They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing” (21:3). Some of these men had worked on this lake as fishermen, and still the net came up empty all night. Ordinary work. Jesus did not wait for a special day or a holy building. He came to His friends at their everyday work, after a long night that went wrong. Not forgotten. An empty net did not mean Jesus had forgotten them. He was about to show them His care in a new way. What this means for you. Jesus is Lord of your ordinary days too: school, chores, practice and play. When you try hard and things still go wrong, He has not forgotten you. Talk to Him about it, and keep following Him.

After these things. “After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself” (John 21:1). These things are His two visits to the disciples behind shut doors in Jerusalem (20:19, 26). Tiberias. The lake is also called “the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias” (John 6:1). Herod Antipas built a city on its western shore and named it Tiberias, after the Roman emperor Tiberius. Back in Galilee. On the morning He rose, the women were told that Jesus was going before the disciples into Galilee, where they would see Him (Mark 16:7). Now some of them were back by the lake where they had once worked as fishermen. Seven named. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana, the sons of Zebedee (James and John) and two other disciples were together (21:2). The trip. “Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We are going with you also’” (21:3). Fishing was work these men knew well, and Peter led the way. All night. “They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing” (21:3). Skill and effort filled the hours, but not the net. In the ordinary. The risen Lord met these men in the middle of their trade. A failed night did not keep Him away. He came to them in it. For you. Jesus is not only Lord of church services. He is Lord of the classroom, the kitchen and the ball field. A long, empty night is not the end of the story when Jesus is standing on the shore.

Jesus had risen from death. He had already visited His followers two times. Now seven of His followers were together by Lake Galilee. Thomas was there, and so was Nathanael from Cana. Peter said, “I am going out to fish.” The others said, “We will go with you.” Peter, James and John had worked as fishermen before. But that night they caught nothing at all. They worked hard, and the net stayed empty. Have you ever tried hard and things still went wrong? Jesus cares about days like that. He came to meet His friends at their work. He cares about your ordinary days too.

Jesus’ friends went fishing in a boat. They worked all night and caught nothing. But Jesus did not forget them!

Morning. “But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus” (John 21:4). After the long, empty night, Jesus was already there. Known by Him. They did not know Him yet, but He knew them. Jesus knows His people even before they know it is Him. Children. “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Children, have you any food?’” (21:5). Jesus spoke to these grown fishermen the way a caring parent speaks to his own family. An honest answer. “They answered Him, ‘No’” (21:5). They had nothing to show for their night, and Jesus' question let them say so. His word. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some” (21:6). He told them where to throw, and He promised what they would find. They obeyed. “So they cast” (21:6). They did what He said before they even knew who was speaking. Too many to pull. “And now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish” (21:6). The Maker of the sea knew exactly where the fish were, for “All things were made through Him” (John 1:3). Once before. Years earlier, on this same lake, Jesus had filled Peter's nets after a night of catching nothing (Luke 5:5-6). What this means for you. Jesus knows what you need before you tell Him, and He wants you to tell Him anyway. When He speaks in His Word, do what He says, even when you do not see how it will work.

Morning had come. “But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus” (John 21:4). They were on the water; He was on the land, waiting for them. Seen, not yet known. Like Mary at the tomb, who saw Jesus standing there and did not know Him at first (John 20:14), the disciples looked at the risen Lord and did not yet know Him. Paidia. “Children, have you any food?” (21:5). Children is paidia (say: pie-DEE-ah), a warm word for little children. Jesus spoke to grown fishermen with the tenderness of a parent. Expecting no. In Greek the question is worded to expect the answer no, and “They answered Him, ‘No’” (21:5). Jesus brought their need into the open before He met it. Command and promise. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some” (21:6). He gave an order and a promise in one sentence. Obeying a stranger. “So they cast.” They obeyed while they still did not know it was Jesus, and His word proved true the moment they did what He said. The multitude. “And now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish” (21:6). The One through whom “All things were made” (John 1:3) rules the fish of the sea. An echo. Near the start of his time with Jesus, Peter had said, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing” (Luke 5:5). Now, after the cross and the empty tomb, the risen Lord filled the net again on the same lake. For you. Jesus brings our needs into the open so that He can meet them. Admit your emptiness to Him. Then obey His Word, even before you understand all He is doing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore. The followers did not know it was Jesus. He called them “Friends.” Then He asked, “Have you caught any fish?” They had to tell Him, “No.” It is good to be honest with Jesus about what we need. Jesus said to throw the net “on the right side.” They still did not know who He was. But they did what He said. Then the net was full of fish! Jesus made the sea and every fish in it. Years before, He had filled Peter’s nets on this same lake. When Jesus speaks, it is good to obey.

In the morning, Jesus stood on the shore. He told His friends where to put the net. They did what Jesus said!

Therefore. “Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’” (John 21:7). He spoke right after the net filled. The catch told him who was on the shore. Which disciple? He is called the disciple whom Jesus loved. Christians have long understood him to be John. Known by His work. John knew Jesus by what He had done. Only the Lord could fill an empty net with one word. Our memory verse. “It is the Lord!” Those four words are good news. The Man on the shore was Jesus, alive from the dead. Peter could not wait. “Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea” (21:7). He did not wait for the boat to reach land. The others came too. “But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish” (21:8). Two hundred cubits is about a hundred yards. Two ways, one Lord. Peter came through the water. The others came in the boat, pulling the full net. All of them came to Jesus. What this means for you. Learn to see what Jesus does for you, and thank Him: “It is the Lord!” Then come to Him. Some people come running and some come step by step, but Jesus welcomes everyone who comes to Him.

Therefore. “Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’” (John 21:7). The word therefore ties his words to the catch. The full net told him who was speaking. The beloved disciple. This disciple leaned on Jesus at the last supper (John 13:23) and stood near the cross (John 19:26). Christians have long understood him to be John. Seeing and knowing. All seven saw the Man and the net. John was the first to say who had done it. The Lord. On the shore stood the One who had died and risen. John did not say a teacher or a prophet was there. He said, “It is the Lord!” Peter's answer. “Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea” (21:7). He had been working without it, and he put it on, most likely to come properly before his Lord, and then went into the water. Two hundred cubits. “But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish” (21:8). A cubit was about a foot and a half, so the boat was about a hundred yards out. Different, not divided. Peter came at once through the water; the others brought in the catch. Both were ways of coming to the Lord, and neither was wrong. For you. The more you learn what Jesus has done, the sooner you will see His hand in your own life and say, “It is the Lord!” Then do not stay at a distance. Come to Him.

The net was full of fish. Then the follower whom Jesus loved spoke to Peter. He said, “It is the Lord!” Christians have long understood him to be John. John knew Jesus by what Jesus had done. Peter heard that it was the Lord. He wrapped his coat around himself and jumped into the water! Peter did not wait for the boat. He most likely wanted to be with Jesus right away. The other followers came in the boat with the net. Peter came through the water, and the others came by boat. They all came to Jesus. This is our memory verse: “It is the Lord!”

One friend said, “It is the Lord!” Peter jumped into the water to get to Jesus. You can come to Jesus too!

Breakfast was ready. “Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread” (John 21:9). Jesus had a meal ready before they arrived. Bring some. “Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish which you have just caught’” (21:10). He asked for some of their own catch. The net held. “Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken” (21:11). Come and eat. “Jesus said to them, ‘Come and eat breakfast’” (21:12). The risen Lord of all creation invited His friends to breakfast. They knew. “Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, ‘Who are You?’—knowing that it was the Lord” (21:12). They were quiet before Him, and they were sure. He served them. “Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish” (21:13). Jesus handed them their food Himself. Really alive. The risen Jesus stood by a real fire and held real bread in His hands. He was not a ghost or a dream. The third time. “This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead” (21:14). What this means for you. The Lord who rose from the dead still cares about His people's everyday needs. He gives before we bring anything. Thank Him for your food, and trust Him to take care of you.

Ready on land. “Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread” (John 21:9). Fish here is opsarion (say: op-SAR-ee-on), fish prepared to eat with bread. It is the word for the boy's two small fish when Jesus fed the five thousand (John 6:9). Before they brought anything. The fire was burning and the fish were on it before one fish from their net reached the shore. The Lord provided first. “Bring some.” “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught” (21:10). The catch was His gift, and yet He asked for some of it. Large fish. “Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken” (21:11). The net held every fish. Aristao. “Come and eat breakfast” (21:12) is one Greek word, aristao (say: ah-ris-TAH-oh), to eat the first meal of the day. After a long night on the water, the risen Lord fed them. Awe and certainty. “Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, ‘Who are You?’—knowing that it was the Lord” (21:12). They were full of holy awe, and they were sure. He served. “Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish” (21:13). The Lord who once washed their feet (John 13:5) now handed them breakfast. A real body. He stood on the shore in a real body, beside a real fire, and handed out real bread. The resurrection was not a vision. The third time. “This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead” (21:14). The first two were behind shut doors (20:19, 26). For you. The risen Lord still gives before we bring, and He still welcomes what we bring. Come to Him hungry, receive from His hand, and give Him your thanks.

The followers came to the shore. A fire was already burning there. There were fish on the fire, and there was bread. Jesus had breakfast ready before they came! Jesus asked them to bring some of their fish too. Peter pulled the net to the shore. There were 153 big fish, and the net did not tear. Then Jesus said, “Come and eat.” No one asked who He was. They knew it was the Lord. Jesus gave them the bread and the fish. The risen Lord served His friends breakfast. Jesus takes care of His people.

Fish and bread were ready on a fire. Jesus said, “Come and eat.” Jesus gave His friends bread and fish.