catching nothing

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.

John 21:3

The disciples had seen Jesus crucified and buried. And now twice they have encountered Him in His resurrection body. Returning to Galilee, it appears that they were ready to return to their old occupations. Peter makes up his mind to return to the old nets and six others decide to go fishing with him. And the revived Simon, Zebedee & Sons Fishing Company strikes out on their first new expedition in three years. They are blanked. Zilch. No fish. No fun. Their nets are empty after an entire night of fishing. This never puts fishermen in a happy place.

Yet right at dawn, Jesus appears on the shore, tending a coal fire with fish and bread for breakfast. He gives them the world’s most obvious fishing advice. Jesus suggests that they fish the right side of the boat, and when they do so, they catch such a net load of fish that they could not even bring the ridiculously heavy net up into the boat! That’s when they finally recognized Jesus.

Simon dives right into the lake and swims the hundred yards to shore while the rest of the crew slowly make their way back in the boat, dragging the miraculous haul of fish in with them. Once Peter knew it was Jesus, he gladly chose his Master over a net filled with fish. He caught nothing without Jesus. But the full net with Jesus still did not satisfy. He was done being a fisherman. Peter wanted to be with Jesus. Catching nothing, then catching more than he had ever expected, both paled in comparison to his Savior. It took these experiences to restore Peter from failed fisherman to committed, gospel-preaching disciple.