John 21:1-5: a reflection

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, the disciples return to their fishing, and Peter leads them out; but the night's labor comes to nothing. That night, they caught nothing, the account says. They toiled through the dark hours, skilled fishermen doing what they knew, and yet their nets came up empty. Then, at dawn, Jesus stands on the shore, though they do not yet recognize him, and asks, Children, have you anything to eat? No, they answer. Their own effort, however skilled, had produced nothing; the fruitful catch that follows will come only at Christ's direction. This is a gentle picture of a deeper truth: that our own labor, however skilled or hard-working, can come to nothing apart from Christ, and that he can make fruitful what our own efforts could not. The empty nets of the night give way, at Christ's word, to abundance. Our efforts alone can come to nothing; Christ can make them fruitful. The fruitless night points to fruitfulness found only in Christ. What our own labor cannot produce, Christ can.

Notice the emptiness of the disciples' night, and what it points to. They were experienced fishermen, doing what they knew best, working hard through the night; and yet they caught nothing. Their skill and effort, on their own, produced nothing. And then Christ appears, and the fruitful catch that follows comes at his direction, not from their own strength. This is a quiet lesson: that our own labor, however skilled and diligent, can come to nothing apart from Christ; and that what our efforts cannot produce, Christ can. We can toil hard and skillfully and find our nets empty, our efforts fruitless, when we work in our own strength alone; but Christ can make fruitful what we could not. This does not mean our effort does not matter, but that it is not, by itself, enough; fruitfulness comes finally from Christ. The empty night teaches the disciples their dependence, and points them to the One who can fill their nets. Apart from Christ, our labor can come to nothing; with him, it becomes fruitful. Our own strength is not enough; Christ makes the difference. Fruitfulness is finally his gift, not our achievement.

That is worth taking to heart, for our own labor can come to nothing apart from Christ, but he can make fruitful what our efforts cannot. We can toil hard and skillfully in our own strength, and find our efforts fruitless, our nets empty, as the disciples fished all night and caught nothing; but Christ can make fruitful what our own labor could not. Our effort matters, but it is not, by itself, enough; fruitfulness comes finally from Christ. When your own efforts come to nothing, remember that Christ can make fruitful what you could not, as he filled the disciples' empty nets. Remember that our own labor can come to nothing apart from Christ, but he can make fruitful what our efforts cannot, as the disciples fished all night in their own strength and caught nothing, until Christ came and their empty nets gave way to abundance at his word; for our labor, however skilled and diligent, is not by itself enough, and can come to nothing when we work in our own strength alone, but Christ can make fruitful what we could not, so that fruitfulness is finally his gift rather than our achievement, and when our own efforts come to nothing we can look to him who can fill the empty nets.

Lord Jesus, after the resurrection, the disciples return to their fishing, and Peter leads them out; but the night's labor comes to nothing. That night, they caught nothing, the account says. They toiled through the dark hours, skilled fishermen doing what they knew, and yet their nets came up empty. Then, at dawn, you stand on the shore, though they do not yet recognize you, and ask, Children, have you anything to eat? No, they answer. Their own effort, however skilled, had produced nothing; the fruitful catch that follows will come only at your direction. Show me the emptiness of the disciples' night, and what it points to. They were experienced fishermen, working hard through the night; and yet they caught nothing. Their skill and effort, on their own, produced nothing. And then you appear, and the fruitful catch that follows comes at your direction, not from their own strength. This is a quiet lesson: that my own labor, however skilled and diligent, can come to nothing apart from you; and that what my efforts cannot produce, you can. I can toil hard and find my nets empty when I work in my own strength alone; but you can make fruitful what I could not. Take that to my heart, for my own labor can come to nothing apart from you, but you can make fruitful what my efforts cannot. I can toil hard and skillfully in my own strength, and find my efforts fruitless, as the disciples fished all night and caught nothing; but you can make fruitful what my own labor could not. My effort matters, but it is not, by itself, enough; fruitfulness comes finally from you. When my own efforts come to nothing, help me remember that you can make fruitful what I could not, Lord, as you filled the disciples' empty nets, and look to you rather than to my own strength.