Context No. 3227 of 4322 · John
Context · Reflection
John 21:1-5: in context
1After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way. 2Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing. 4But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
After the resurrection, Jesus shows himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. Peter says, I am going fishing, and the others go with him. They fish all night and catch nothing. Then, as day breaks, Jesus stands on the shore, though the disciples do not recognize him. He calls out, children, do you have any fish? And they answer, no.
The disciples, in the strange in-between after the resurrection, return to what they know, fishing, and toil all night for nothing. And at dawn Jesus stands on the shore, though they do not know it is him. There is something tender here. The risen Christ meets his disciples in the middle of their ordinary, fruitless labor, at the site of their first calling. His first word is gentle, children, and his question, do you have any fish?, meets them in their emptiness, no. Jesus comes to us even in our ordinary and unsuccessful moments, standing on the shore, ready, as the next verses show, to fill our empty nets.
Does the risen Christ meet me in my ordinary work and my empty-handed failures, standing on the shore even when I do not yet recognize him?