Jesus the Provider
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 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. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Word Study: The sea of Tiberius is also called the sea of Galilee (John 6:1)
Comment: Verse 1 indicates to us that these disciples Simon, Thomas, The sons of Zebedee (John and James Math 4:21), Nathaniel and two other unnamed disciples, had gone back to Galilee, since Jesus revealed Himself to them at the sea of Galilee. Peter, as was his work before Jesus met him, decided to go fishing and the others decided to join him. John tells us that night, they caught nothing. John also tells us that just as the day was breaking, in other words, just at first light, Jesus stood on the shore and yet they did not know that it was Him. Just like when Mary Magdalene was at the grave and could not recognize Him. We also see the disciples here not been able to recognize Him.
Message: How many of us are failing to recognize our Lord Jesus? How many of us disregard everything that points towards Him because we love our sin too much? It is now time to stop and recognise Jesus for, only through Him, will you enter heaven.
5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on 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 of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
Comment: John tells us that Jesus asked them if they had any fish, and after they said no, He told them to cast the net on the right side of the boat and they will find some. Just like in Luke 5:1-11, at Jesus’s word, they cast the net and again they were not able to haul the net in because of the quantity of the fish. This is the same thing that happened in Luke 5 where they could not haul the nets and had to get help. In Luke, Peter, John and James were present and when the same thing happened, John was able to recognize what had just happened and remembered what happened in Luke, and then realized that it was indeed Jesus. This to me is the most convincing proof that the disciple Jesus loved the most was John. Just like when he climbed off the boat and walked on the sea towards Jesus, on hearing John say that it was Jesus, Peter once more jumped off the boat and swam about 90m to the shore. The other disciples hauled in the fish and brought it to shore.
Message: Peter did not need an invitation to go to Jesus. On hearing, he ran towards him, on hearing, will you?
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Comment: When they got on land, John tells us that they saw charcoal fire in place with fish laid out on it and bread. It is more likely that Jesus created all of these. Jesus asked for some of the fish they had caught and John tells us although there were so many, 153, the net was not torn. This is unlike in Luke 5, where the net was torn. I don’t know what the significance of the net being torn in Luke 5 and not being torn here is but, I know that there is one significant difference between then and now, Jesus has died and rose from the dead. Jesus invited them to come and eat and since it was clear that it was Jesus, no one asked Him who He is. Another indisputable proof that the Lord has risen indeed.