The Bible tells us that after Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to His disciples several times. During one of these appearances, He gave them a command to go and make disciples of all nations. But not all of His followers remained in the ministry.
Which disciples went back to fishing?
According to the Gospel of John, seven of Jesus’ disciples went fishing after His resurrection. The group included Peter, Thomas, Nathanael (also known as Bartholomew), James and John (the sons of Zebedee), and two other unnamed disciples.
Why did they go back to fishing?
It’s not entirely clear why the disciples returned to their old profession. Some scholars suggest that they may have been struggling with doubt or uncertainty about their future after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Others speculate that they were simply trying to make ends meet.
Regardless of their reasons, the fact that they went fishing is significant because it shows that even Jesus’ closest followers were not immune to doubts and struggles.
The miraculous catch
While the disciples were out on the sea, they had a miraculous encounter with Jesus. According to John 21:4-6:
“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.”
This event is reminiscent of an earlier encounter between Jesus and Peter recorded in Luke 5:1-11 where Jesus tells Peter to cast his nets into deep water for a catch. This time too he catches an abundance of fish.
Peter’s restoration
After the miraculous catch, Jesus had breakfast with His disciples on the shore. During this meal, He asked Peter three times if he loved Him and commanded him to feed His sheep. This was a significant moment for Peter because it represented his restoration after denying Jesus three times before His crucifixion.
Lessons for us today
The story of the disciples going back to fishing after Jesus’ resurrection has several lessons for us today. Firstly, it shows that even those closest to Jesus may struggle with doubt and uncertainty about their future. Secondly, it reminds us that Jesus is always present in our lives, even when we don’t recognize Him.
Finally, the story emphasizes the importance of obedience and faithfulness in our lives as believers. Just as Jesus commanded His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, we too are called to be obedient to His commands and faithful in carrying out His mission.
- We should not give up on our calling just because we face setbacks or difficulties.
- We should trust in God’s provision even when things seem uncertain.
- We should be willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads us.
In conclusion, the story of the disciples going back to fishing after Jesus’ resurrection is a powerful reminder of our need for faithfulness and obedience as believers. May we all strive to follow Jesus with steadfastness and trust in His provision for our lives.