The appearance to the seven disciples
JESUS revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
REFLECTION THAT NIGHT THEY CAUGHT NOTHING. Scholars agree that chapter 21 of John’s Gospel was not written by the evangelist but by a redactor or editor and was added before the Gospel was published because the ancient manuscripts carry this chapter. The scene by the Sea of Tiberias is reminiscent of the Synoptic story of the call of the first disciples as they were fishing.
Their discipleship proved to be a failure since they abandoned Jesus in Gethsemane when he was arrested by the Temple police and the Roman soldiers. But the grace and power of the risen Lord is stronger than human weakness and failure. And so, in John 21, we have the rehabilitation of Peter and his companions at the very place they were first called.
The failure of the disciples to catch fish after laboring the whole night reminds them of what Jesus said at the Last Supper: “Without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). When it comes to catching men for the Kingdom or shepherding souls, they cannot rely on their own strength, but on Jesus. Then, from Jesus’ conversation with Simon Peter, they will be reminded that their source of strength will be their love for Jesus (cf Jn 21:15-19).