By the Sea Once More
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they caught nothing. All night they toiled, without success. Through
the weary hours they talked of their absent Lord, and recalled the
wonderful events they had witnessed in His ministry beside the sea.
They questioned as to their own future, and grew sad at the prospect
before them.
All the while a lone watcher upon the shore followed them with
His eye, while He Himself was unseen. At length the morning dawned.
The boat was but a little way from the shore, and the disciples saw a
stranger standing upon the beach, who accosted them with the question,
“Children, have ye any meat?” When they answered, “No,” “He said
unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.
They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the
multitude of fishes.”
John recognized the stranger, and exclaimed to Peter, “It is the
Lord.” Peter was so elated and so glad that in his eagerness he cast
himself into the water and was soon standing by the side of his Master.
The other disciples came in their boat, dragging the net with fishes.
“As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there,
and fish laid thereon, and bread.”
They were too much amazed to question whence came the fire
and the food. “Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye
have now caught.” Peter rushed for the net, which he had dropped,
and helped his brethren drag it to the shore. After the work was
done, and the preparation made, Jesus bade the disciples come and
dine. He broke the food, and divided it among them, and was known
and acknowledged by all the seven. The miracle of feeding the five
thousand on the mountainside was now brought to their minds; but a
mysterious awe was upon them, and in silence they gazed upon the
risen Saviour.
Vividly they recalled the scene beside the sea when Jesus had
bidden them follow Him. They remembered how, at His command,
they had launched out into the deep, and had let down their net, and the
catch had been so abundant as to fill the net, even to breaking. Then
Jesus had called them to leave their fishing boats, and had promised to
make them fishers of men. It was to bring this scene to their minds,
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and to deepen its impression, that He had again performed the miracle.
His act was a renewal of the commission to the disciples. It showed
them that the death of their Master had not lessened their obligation to