John 21:3 has been on my heart for a few days. My attention was drawn to the last clause: and that night they caught nothing.
Peter and a few of his fellow disciples had been out on the water fishing all night, yet they didn’t catch a thing. I’ve been marinating on the idea that it was never intended for them to catch anything that night. Through that seemingly wasteful event, they would again experience an incredible encounter with the resurrected Jesus. But that came through the all-nighter they pulled and walked away with nothing!
During their efforts, Jesus wasn’t visible. They weren’t in a place to see/feel/understand/sense that being out there fishing all night and getting nothing would lead to an encounter with Jesus. There were no signs. They chalked it up as a failed attempt.
When morning came and they were still out on the water, Jesus, unknown to them at the time, was on the shore. He asked them if they caught anything. They said, “No.” Then Jesus instructs them to throw the net on the right side of the ship, and they’d find fish. They followed, and sure enough, their net was filled with fish!
They didn’t know Jesus was on the shore, nor did they know that it was under divine design the fish were withheld from being caught – they weren’t supposed to catch anything that night. Their efforts brought about nothing, which was the point. They saw what their efforts produced versus the results obtained when following the Lord’s directive.
Peter and company had no idea when they started out on their fishing expedition that they would end up having an intimate encounter with Jesus on the seashore, dining with Him on the fish and bread He provided! They went out to catch fish, but in the end they had a powerful encounter with Jesus!
But it all started with “and that night they caught nothing.”
Could it be that the Lord is setting you up to have an experience with Him after you’ve tried your best to get results that He has deemed you will not receive on your own? You don’t know what the Lord has in store for you!!
21 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. John 21:1-13 (KJV)
In the Master’s Service,
Author/Pastor Michele D Robertson
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)