John 21:3
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. 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.
After the Passover the seven disciples gathered as directed in a secluded place by the Sea of Galilee, where the sea, the beach, and nearby Capernaum reminded them of Christ's words and mighty works. On a pleasant evening Peter from his old love for boats and fishing proposed returning to their former work, and the others agreed because they were poor and needed food and clothing, so they toiled in the boat through the entire night and caught nothing while talking sadly about their absent Lord and their uncertain future. Their night of empty labor sets the scene for Jesus to appear on the shore and direct them where to cast the net for the repeated miraculous catch. The failure contrasts with the success that comes when Christ's divine power works with human effort, teaching that every effort made under God's direction succeeds through his power joined with their effort. The catch renewed Christ's commission that his death did not end their duty to carry on his work without his visible companionship, assuring them the risen Saviour would care for and provide for them, and it prepared the way for Peter to show sincere repentance for denying Jesus and regain his brothers' confidence before resuming his apostolic work.
Historical Setting in Galilee
After the Passover the disciples made their journey to Galilee to meet Jesus as He had directed them. Seven of them were together there, Peter with six others. They were fishermen, poor in worldly goods but rich in the knowledge and practice of the truth, whom Jesus had trained for three years to teach others.
They had gathered in a secluded place near the Sea of Galilee where much of Christ's ministry had been spent, where they would not be disturbed. The surroundings reminded them of Jesus and His mighty works. It was the same sea where He had walked on the waves to rescue them when terror-filled and hurried toward destruction in the fierce storm, and where He had hushed the tempest by His word. The beach was in sight where more than ten thousand persons had been fed from a few small loaves and fishes, and nearby was Capernaum with its many miracles, so that looking on the scene filled their minds with the words and deeds of their Saviour.
On a pleasant evening Peter, from his old love for boats and fishing, proposed that they return to their former familiar work of fishing by going out on the sea and casting their nets. The other disciples readily agreed, for they were poor and needed food and clothing that a successful catch and a successful night's fishing would supply. They went forth and entered into the boat immediately to return to their old work and earn a living. They toiled through the entire night and caught nothing. Through the long weary hours they talked of their absent Lord, recalled the wonderful events they had witnessed in His ministry beside the sea in that place, questioned their own future, and grew sad at the prospect before them as they wondered about their own uncertain future.
Spiritual Lessons and Commission
That night of catching nothing set the scene for Jesus to appear on the shore and direct them where to cast the net, beginning the repeated miraculous catch of fish and the events that followed. The disciples went fishing and labored empty through the night, and their failure was then contrasted with success when Christ's divine power worked with their human effort. Their labor was to succeed through His power joined with their effort, when every effort is made under God's direction.
That repeated miraculous catch renewed Christ's commission to the disciples and showed that His death did not end their duty and obligation to do the work He had assigned them and to carry on His work. It recalled the beginning of their ministry, teaching that though they would lack His visible companionship and their usual means of support, the risen Saviour would care for and provide for them as they served Him. Peter's place in the event prepared for his restoration after his shameful denial of Jesus, for he needed to show sincere repentance and regain his brothers' confidence before resuming his apostolic work.
The lesson is to consecrate oneself wholly to God and, trusting to see His salvation, make every effort under His direction.