Introduction

After Jesus rose from the dead, He continued to appear to His disciples over the next forty days. The disciples remained in Jerusalem for at least eight days after the resurrection (Jn 20:26) and then traveled north to the Galilee region, just as Jesus and the angels had instructed them to do (Mt 26:32; 28:7, 10; Mk 16:7). They stayed in Galilee for an undisclosed amount of time and returned to Jerusalem at least ten days before Pentecost (Ac 1:3-4). Perhaps Jesus sent them north for their safety or simply just to be with family before the explosive growth of the church began (Ac 2:41; 4:4; 5:14). It was during this time in Galilee that John takes us to another appearance of Jesus. Chapter 21 begins with Jesus revealing Himself to a group of His disciples, which carried a symbolic miracle of provision and calling. They had gone back to fishing; after all, it was what they were good at, and it provided for their families. Jesus shows up on the shore with a familiar promise. Jesus provides and seeks intimacy even when we lack direction.

Returning to Work (vs. 1-3)

• We are told that there are seven of them: Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel (Bartholomew, Mt 10:3), James, John, and two unnamed disciples.
• These men had followed the Lord’s instruction to return to Galilee, but it seems that once they arrived there and didn’t encounter Jesus immediately, they felt uncertain about what to do while waiting.
• At some point, Peter decides to generate income for his family while waiting. So, he said to the others, “I am going to fish” (literal), and they replied, “We are also coming with you” (literal).
• John tells us they all went to the lake and got into a fishing boat.
• Some people point to this moment and view it as Peter going astray. He isn’t. He is simply doing what he knows how to do and what he ought to do: provide for his family.
• Things had not played out how they thought they would. Even though Jesus was resurrected, they did not understand that the call had not changed. Jesus’ original call remained. What was that call? “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men (Mt 4:19, Mk. 1;17).
• There time of working with Jesus seems to have come to an end. They are still waiting for Him. They still want to follow Him but do not understand how this will look going forward.
• So, they go back to what they know. They must make a living, and fishing is how they do it.

Jesus’ Direction (vs. 4-7)

• As the sun started rising, the disciples were nearing the end of their fishing trip. They had caught nothing.
• Someone calls to them from the shore. They were about a hundred yards offshore, so they could see the shape of a man, but there was not enough light to recognize who it was. The stranger called out to them, “Boys, you haven’t anything to eat, have you?” (literal), and they replied, “No.”
• Jesus tells them to cast the net on the other side of the boat. They did as they were told.
• As soon as they obeyed, the net trapped so many fish it became too heavy to draw toward the boat.
• John is the first to realize that it is Jesus. Perhaps he recalls that first miracle of fish the day He called them (Lk. 5:4-9).
• The fish in the net was not only meant to be a provision for the moment but a promise for the future. Jesus assured them that He would provide for their families when they went forth as His apostles.
• He had called them to be fishers of men, and He would provide for them.
• Despite Peter’s weakness and confusion, his love for Jesus was unquestionable.
• So, once he realized who it was who was standing there, he longed to be near Him as soon as possible. He had no intention of waiting while the boat dragged that load of fish to shore.
• At the directions of Jesus, the disciples listened, and as a result, they received the provision they needed and, at the same time, a reminder of their call, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” This must have felt like they had a fresh wind in their sails after a time when they felt directionless.

The Haul and the Call (vs. 8-11)

• The other disciples got into a small boat and slowly towed that heavy net about one hundred yards to shore.
• When they reached land, they saw a campfire that had already burned down to hot coals. It had a fish (Greek singular) cooking with bread waiting nearby. Then Jesus spoke. He said, “Now bring some of the fish you caught” (literal).
• Peter went back to the boat and drew the net closer to land. John tells us the fish were large—most likely Tilapia.
• We can see in Peter’s actions that something had lit up in him. He had a newfound motivation that the night before was not there. Peter was experiencing firsthand God’s provision to fulfill his calling. This motivation came from a God-given miracle providing for him and his family.
• John explains the magnitude of this miracle. When the fish were counted, there were one hundred and fifty-three. Enough so each of those men could take some home to their families. Even with all the weight and pressure of so many fish being towed to shore, the net was not torn. Not one fish was lost. That, too, was a miracle.
• However, the disciples never lost track of who they were and what they had been called to.
• We can confuse our provision (the haul) for our call. The disciples did not take the miracle as a sign that they now only needed to focus on fishing; in fact, the fish were a symbol of God’s provision for their ministry.
• Jesus’ miraculous provision will be available for the things He ask.
• God’s call did not change: “Follow me and I will make you fisher of men.”

Conclusion

Jesus provides and seeks intimacy even when we lack direction. The disciple’s vision of what their future would look like was uncertain. They did not understand the bigger picture. Even though they now believed that Jesus had risen from the dead and was alive, they could not see their role in the greater mission. Perhaps they didn’t even fully understand what Jesus had told them in the upper room when He first revealed Himself to them. He had already given them their assignment (Jn. 20:21), a promise for empowerment (Jn. 20:22), and the spiritual authority to preach a gospel full of forgiveness and warning (Jn. 20:23), but there was still another promise they would need. They needed to Him assure them that He would provide for them if they became His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth (ac. 1:8). Jesus had called them to be fishers of men and He would supply their needs. Every step of obedience will require us to trust that where He guides, He provides, and this is where the impossible becomes possible.

Discussion Questions

Have you ever experienced God’s miraculous provision? When? How?
Describe a time God asked you to do something that seemed impossible? Did you do it? What did God do?
The right job is often part of God’s miraculous provision. Do you have a job you believe God gave you? Why did God give you that job?