Empty Nets

In the days following the Resurrection, Jesus appeared many times to His disciples.

But In John 21 I absolutely love this snapshot:

John 21:3-7 (ESV) "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.

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered him, "No."

He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea."

Peter says "I'm going fishing."

The guys say "Yeah, us too."

I love it.

Even though they had seen the Resurrected Lord a couple of times, they still didn't know exactly what that meant for them.

So they just fell into default mode.

We know fishing.

I mean really know fishing.

So they try and try to catch some fish.

Nada.
Nothing.
Zippo.

"Maybe we're a little out of practice."

"This is tougher than I remember."

And then Jesus shows up and tells them to try again.

This sounds oddly familiar.

"Hey guys.. remember?"

Luke 5:3-7 (ESV) "Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."

And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink."

The ultimate catch of the day twice in one lifetime.

Been toiling?

Working hard to make it happen?

"I don't know what else to do!"

"Where do I go now?"

"I'll just retreat into my comfort zone."

And fish.

The empty net mocks you.

But that's okay.

Empty nets can hold a much bigger miracle.