Jesus had appeared to His disciples twice since rising from the dead, and now it’s the third time. Peter says, “I’m going fishing,” and the others join him. These lifelong fishermen work all night—nothing. Not a single catch.
Then Jesus calls from the shore:
John 21:5 (CSB)
“‘Friends,’ Jesus called to them, ‘you don’t have any fish, do you?’”
I love this! Jesus knows they’ve got zilch but asks anyway. He’d once said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people” (Matt. 4:19). Now He meets them—worn out, fishless—showing who He is.
“No,” they reply. Then:
John 21:6-7 (CSB)
“‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat,’ he told them, ‘and you’ll find some.’ So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. The disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’”
Ridiculous, right? Moving the net a few feet shouldn’t work, but it does—a miracle! They can’t even haul it in. John gasps, “It’s the Lord!”
Only Jesus. There He is, cooking fish and bread, ready to feed them, and care for His disciples. We can fish all night in our own strength—trying to reach people for Him—and come up empty. But Jesus knows where the fish are. He draws them. We just need to listen.
As we look to be fishers of men and to make disciples are we listening to His voice?
Are we trusting Him? Let’s obey His voice? Jesus, guide us to cast our nets Your way, bringing many to know and love you.
