John 21:1-6
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 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 after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to 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 there were so many fish.
I can’t believe it was all that enjoyable for the disciples to receive fishing advice from a by-stander after a fruitless night of effort.
Maybe we should back up a bit and set the scene.
Sometime after the events of the Sundays of and just following Jesus’ resurection, Peter and the disciples decide to go fishing. Actually, Peter decides and the others follow. They fish all night but apparently don’t catch anything.
Keep in mind, these are experienced fisherman. No doubt this was not the first night in their careers that they’d fished all night with little to show for it. And then someone on the beach calls out to them with the sage counsel to throw their net on the right side of the boat.
Again, keep in mind, these are experienced fishermen. So I have a feeling that they had not fished exclusively on the left side of the boat all night. Hence my guess that the advice shouted to them from the shore was less than welcome. But whatever their reaction to the advice of this on-looker, they indeed throw the net on the right side and immediately bring in a haul so full their nets threaten to break.
If this scene feels familiar, it’s probably because each of the other Gospels has a similar encounter between Jesus and some disciples while fishing, and in Luke’s version there is also an abundant catch of fish after a night of fruitless toil (Lk. 5:1-7). But whereas the other evangelists place this scene near the beginning of their accounts and connect it with the calling of Jesus’ first disciples, John places this scene at the very end.
But while coming at a different part of the story, this scene is also, as we’ll see, something of a “call story,” one that applies to Jesus’ disciples then…and now.
Prayer: Dear God, give us ears to hear your voice calling us and hearts to follow it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Post image: The Miraculous Catch of Fish, Ludolf of Saxony, 15th century.
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