John 21:6
He told them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish.
He told them
This phrase indicates the authority and direct communication of Jesus with His disciples. The Greek word used here is "εἶπεν" (eipen), which is a common term for speaking or saying. In the context of the Gospel of John, Jesus' words carry divine authority and purpose. This moment is significant as it shows Jesus' continued guidance and instruction to His followers even after His resurrection, emphasizing His role as the Good Shepherd who leads His flock.

Cast the net
The instruction to "cast the net" is both literal and symbolic. The Greek word for "cast" is "βάλλω" (ballō), which means to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls. This action requires faith and obedience, as the disciples had been fishing all night without success. Symbolically, it represents the call to evangelism and the spreading of the Gospel, where believers are to cast the net of God's Word into the world.

on the right side of the boat
The specificity of "the right side" is intriguing. In biblical symbolism, the right side often represents power, authority, and favor. The Greek word for "right" is "δεξιός" (dexios), which can also imply a place of honor. This instruction suggests that success comes from following Jesus' guidance, aligning with His will, and positioning oneself in His favor.

and you will find some
This promise of finding fish is a direct result of obedience to Jesus' command. The Greek word for "find" is "εὑρίσκω" (heuriskō), which means to discover or come upon something. It implies that the disciples' efforts, when aligned with Jesus' instructions, will be fruitful. This serves as a reminder that spiritual and practical success is found in following Christ's directives.

So they cast it
The disciples' immediate response to Jesus' command demonstrates their trust and willingness to act in faith. The Greek word "ἔβαλον" (ebalon) is the aorist tense of "βάλλω," indicating a completed action. This reflects the importance of prompt obedience in the life of a believer, showing that faith is not just belief but also action.

and they were unable to haul it in
The overwhelming success of their obedience is highlighted here. The Greek word for "unable" is "ἴσχυσαν" (ischysan), meaning they did not have the strength. This phrase underscores the abundance of God's provision when His instructions are followed. It also illustrates the idea that God's blessings can exceed human capacity and expectations.

because of the great number of fish
The "great number of fish" symbolizes the abundant life and spiritual harvest that comes from following Jesus. The Greek word for "great" is "πολλῶν" (pollōn), indicating a multitude or large quantity. This abundance is a testament to the effectiveness of divine guidance and the potential for a bountiful spiritual harvest when believers are obedient to Christ's call.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The resurrected Christ who appears to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, providing guidance and performing a miracle.

2. Disciples
Specifically, Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee (James and John), and two other disciples are present during this event.

3. Sea of Tiberias
Also known as the Sea of Galilee, this is the location where the disciples are fishing and where Jesus appears to them.

4. Miraculous Catch of Fish
The event where Jesus instructs the disciples to cast their net on the right side of the boat, resulting in a large catch of fish.

5. Boat
The vessel used by the disciples for fishing, symbolizing their return to their former way of life before Jesus' intervention.
Teaching Points
Obedience to Christ's Command
The disciples' success came from following Jesus' specific instructions. This teaches the importance of listening to and obeying Christ's guidance in our lives.

Trust in Divine Provision
The miraculous catch illustrates that when we rely on Jesus, He provides abundantly, often beyond our expectations or understanding.

Recognizing Jesus' Presence
Initially, the disciples did not recognize Jesus. This reminds us to be attentive to Christ's presence and work in our daily lives, even when it is not immediately apparent.

Returning to First Love
The disciples returned to fishing, their former occupation, but Jesus redirects them to their true calling. This encourages believers to remain focused on their spiritual mission.

Community and Cooperation
The disciples worked together to haul in the catch, emphasizing the importance of unity and cooperation in the body of Christ.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the disciples' obedience to Jesus' instruction in John 21:6 challenge us to respond to His guidance in our own lives?

2. In what ways can we be more attentive to recognizing Jesus' presence and voice in our daily activities?

3. How does the miraculous provision in this passage encourage us to trust God with our needs and challenges?

4. What are some areas in our lives where we might need to "cast our nets" on the other side, seeking Jesus' direction for a different approach?

5. How can we foster a spirit of cooperation and unity within our church or community, as demonstrated by the disciples working together to bring in the catch?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Luke 5:1-11
This passage describes a similar miraculous catch of fish at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, highlighting the call to discipleship and the power of obedience to Jesus' word.

Matthew 4:19
Jesus calls His disciples to be "fishers of men," connecting the physical act of fishing with their spiritual mission.

Philippians 4:19
This verse speaks of God's provision, paralleling the abundant catch of fish as a symbol of God's ability to meet needs beyond expectation.
Fishing for SoulsH. W. Beecher.John 21:6
Ministerial EncouragementsDean Vaughan.John 21:6
Old InstrumentalitiesD. Thomas, D. D.John 21:6
The Two Draughts of FishesC. H. Spurgeon.John 21:6
A Night and a Morning by the Lake of GalileeO ,Stanford, D. D.John 21:1-14
The Appearance of Christ At the Sea of TiberiasBp. Ryle.John 21:1-14
The Relation of Christ to the Secular Rife of His DisciplD. Thomas, D. D.John 21:1-14
The Reward of FaithJ. McNeil.John 21:1-14
The Risen Christ and His DisciplesEdward N. Packard.John 21:1-14
The Risen Christ and His DisciplesHistory, Prophecy, and GospelJohn 21:1-14
The Sea of TiberiasJohn 21:1-14
The Second Miraculous Draught of FishesW. M. Taylor, D. D.John 21:1-14
The Second Miraculous Draught of FishesJ. Laidlaw, D. D.John 21:1-14
The Second Miraculous Draught of FishesJohn 21:1-14
The Seven Who Saw the Risen LordA. Maclaren, D. D.John 21:1-14
TiberiasDixon's "Holy Land."John 21:1-14
People
Didymus, Jesus, John, Jonah, Jonas, Nathanael, Peter, Simon, Thomas, Zabdi, Zebedee
Places
Cana, Galilee, Sea of Tiberias
Topics
Able, Along, Boat, Cast, Catch, Drag, Draw, Fish, Fishes, Haul, Large, Longer, Multitude, Net, Quantity, Right-hand, Scarcely, Ship, Threw, Throw, Unable, Weren't
Dictionary of Bible Themes
John 21:6

     5425   net

John 21:1-13

     4420   breakfast

John 21:2-6

     5113   Peter, disciple

John 21:4-6

     8021   faith, nature of
     8454   obedience, to God

John 21:5-6

     4642   fish

Library
November 20. "The Disciple whom Jesus Loved Leaned on his Breast" (John xxi. 20).
"The disciple whom Jesus loved leaned on His breast" (John xxi. 20). An American gentleman once visited the saintly Albert Bengel. He was very desirous to hear him pray. So one night he lingered at his door, hoping to overhear his closing devotions. The rooms were adjoining and the doors ajar. The good man finished his studies, closed his books, knelt down for a moment and simply said: "Dear Lord Jesus, things are still the same between us," and then sweetly fell asleep. So close was his communion
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

'Lovest Thou Me?'
'Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My lambs.'--JOHN xxi. 15. Peter had already seen the risen Lord. There had been that interview on Easter morning, on which the seal of sacred secrecy was impressed; when, alone, the denier poured out his heart to his Lord, and was taken to the heart that he had wounded. Then there had been two interviews on the two successive Sundays
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

An Eloquent Catalogue
'There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples.'--JOHN xxi. 2. This chapter, containing the infinitely significant and pathetic account of our Lord's appearance to these disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, is evidently an appendix to the Gospel of John. The design of that Gospel is complete with the previous chapter, and there is a formal close, as of the whole book, at the end thereof. But whilst
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

The Beach and the Sea
'When the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.'--JOHN xxi. 4. The incident recorded in this appendix to John's Gospel is separated from the other appearances of our risen Lord in respect of place, time, and purpose. They all occurred in and about Jerusalem; this took place in Galilee. The bulk of them happened on the day of the Resurrection, one of them a week after. This, of course, to allow time for the journey, must have been at a considerably
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

'It is the Lord!'
'Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.--JOHN xxi. 7. It seems a very strange thing that these disciples had not, at an earlier period of this incident, discovered the presence of Christ, inasmuch as the whole was so manifestly a repetition of that former event by which the commencement of their ministry had been signalised, when He called them to become 'fishers of men.' We are apt to suppose that when once again they embarked on the lake, and went back to their
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

Youth and Age, and the Command for Both
Annual Sermon to the Young '... When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.... And when He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow Me.'--JOHN xxi. 18, 19. The immediate reference of these words is, of course, to the martyrdom of the Apostle Peter. Our Lord contrasts the vigorous and somewhat self-willed youth and the mellowed
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

'They Also Serve who Only Stand and Wait'
'Peter, seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do! Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me.'--John xxi. 21, 22. We have seen in a former sermon that the charge of the risen Christ to Peter, which immediately precedes these verses, allotted to him service and suffering. The closing words of that charge 'Follow Me!' had a deep significance, as uniting both parts of his task in the one supreme command of imitation of his Master.
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

November the Thirteenth a Transformed Fisherman
"Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing." --JOHN xxi. 1-14. Simon Peter had often gone a fishing, but never had he gone as he went in the twilight of that most wonderful evening. He handled the ropes in a new style, with a new dignity born of the bigger capacity of his own soul. He turned to the familiar task, but with a quite unfamiliar spirit. He went a fishing, but the power of the resurrection went with him. This action of Simon Peter's is the only true test of the reality of any spiritual
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Love and Service.
TEXT: JOHN xxi. 16. "He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep." THERE is no more important charge than that which the Lord gave to His apostle in these words. He calls Himself the Shepherd of His flock; therefore what He here committed to the charge of the apostle was to do the Lord's own work in His name, and under His oversight and ruling direction as Chief Shepherd. But
Friedrich Schleiermacher—Selected Sermons of Schleiermacher

On the Same Words of the Gospel of John. xxi. 15, "Simon, Son of John, Lovest Thou Me More than These?" Etc.
1. Ye remember that the Apostle Peter, the first of all the Apostles, was disturbed at the Lord's Passion. Of his own self disturbed, but by Christ renewed. For he was first a bold presumer, and became afterwards a timid denier. He had promised that he would die for the Lord, when the Lord was first to die for him. When he said then, "I will be with Thee even unto death," and "I will lay down my life for Thee;" the Lord answered him, "Wilt thou lay down thy life for Me? Verily I say unto thee, Before
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On the Words of the Gospel, John. xxi. 16, "Simon, Son of John, Lovest Thou Me?" Etc.
1. Ye have observed, beloved, that in to-day's lesson it was said by the Lord to Peter in a question, "Lovest thou Me?" To whom he answered, "Thou knowest, Lord, that I love thee." This was done a second, and a third time; and at each several reply, the Lord said, "Feed My lambs." [4317] To Peter did Christ commend His lambs to be fed, who fed even Peter himself. For what could Peter do for the Lord, especially now that He had an Immortal Body, and was about to ascend into heaven? As though He had
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Lovest Thou Me?
Without preface, for we shall have but little time this morning--may God help us to make good use of it!--we shall mention three things: first a solemn question--"Lovest thou me?" secondly, a discreet answer, "Yes, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee;" and thirdly, a required demonstration of the fact, "He saith unto him, Feed my lambs;" or, again, "Feed my sheep." I. First, then, here was A SOLEMN QUESTION, which our Saviour put to Peter, not for his own information, for, as Peter said, "Thou knowest
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Christ among the Common Things of Life
William James Dawson, Congregational preacher and evangelist, was born in Towcester, Northamptonshire, in 1854. He was educated at Kingswood School, Bath, and Didsbury College, Manchester. He has long been known as an author of originality and pure literary style. In 1906 he received the pastorate of Highbury Quadrant Congregational Church, London, and accepted an invitation to do general evangelistic work under the auspices of the National Council of the Congregational churches of the United States.
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume 10

Erroneous Opinions Imputed to the Apostles.
A species of candour which is shown towards every other book is sometimes refused to the Scriptures: and that is, the placing of a distinction between judgment and testimony. We do not usually question the credit of a writer, by reason of an opinion he may have delivered upon subjects unconnected with his evidence: and even upon subjects connected with his account, or mixed with it in the same discourse or writing, we naturally separate facts from opinions, testimony from observation, narrative from
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

Of Avoiding of Curious Inquiry into the Life of Another
"My Son, be not curious, nor trouble thyself with vain cares. What is that to thee? Follow thou Me.(1) For what is it to thee whether a man be this or that, or say or do thus or thus? Thou hast no need to answer for others, but thou must give an answer for thyself. Why therefore dost thou entangle thyself? Behold, I know all men, and I behold all things which are done under the sun; and I know how it standeth with each one, what he thinketh, what he willeth, and to what end his thoughts reach.
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Instructions to Converts.
Text.--Feed my lambs.--John xxi. 15. YOU, who read your Bibles, recollect the connection in which these words are found, and by whom they were spoken. They were addressed by the Lord Jesus Christ to Peter, after he had denied his Lord, and had professed repentance. Probably one of the designs which Christ had in view, in suffering Peter to sin so awfully as to deny his master, was to produce a deeper work of grace in him, and thus fit him for the peculiar duty to which he intended to call him, in
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion

Synopsis. --Arbitrary Criticism of the Biblical Narratives of the Raising of the "Dead. " --Facts which it Ignores. --The Subject Related to the Phenomena of Trance
III SYNOPSIS.--Arbitrary criticism of the Biblical narratives of the raising of the "dead."--Facts which it ignores.--The subject related to the phenomena of trance, and records of premature burial.--The resuscitation in Elisha's tomb probably historical.--Jesus' raising of the ruler's daughter plainly a case of this kind.--His raising of the widow's son probably such.--The hypothesis that his raising of Lazarus may also have been such critically examined.--The record allows this supposition.--Further
James Morris Whiton—Miracles and Supernatural Religion

Seventh Appearance of Jesus.
(Sea of Galilee.) ^D John XXI. 1-25. ^d 1 After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and he manifested himself on this wise. 2 There was together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee [see p. 111], and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. [As usual, Peter was the leader.] They say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat;
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Harmony of the Gospels
36. The church early appreciated the value and the difficulty of having four different pictures of the life and teachings of the Lord. Irenaeus at the close of the second century felt it to be as essential that there should be four gospels as that there should be "four zones of the world, four principal winds, and four faces of the cherubim" (Against Heresies III. ii. 8). 37. Before Irenaeus, however, another had sought to obviate the difficulty of having four records which seem at some points to
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

Feeding the Lambs.
Some years ago when attending to the work to which the Lord had called me in one of the sunny Southern States it was my happy privilege to enjoy for a few days the kind hospitality of a generous Christian farmer. One balmy afternoon while walking over the pleasant fields of his large farm, with my heart in sweet communion with God, I came upon the most beautiful flock of sheep it had ever been my privilege to behold. They were quietly grazing in a rich green pasture, near by which silently flowed
Charles Ebert Orr—Food for the Lambs; or, Helps for Young Christians

The Fall of the Empire and of the Papacy
[Sidenote: Urban IV (1261-4).] The date of Alexander's death marks the beginning of a new episode in the history of the mediaval Papacy. His successor, Urban IV, was a Frenchman. With more vigour than his predecessor he pursued the policy of the destruction of the Hohenstaufen. Since the English prince had proved a useless tool and no more money could be wrung from the English people, he obtained the renunciation of the claims of Edmund to the Sicilian crown and turned to his native country for a
D. J. Medley—The Church and the Empire

Epistle xx. To Mauricius Augustus.
To Mauricius Augustus. Gregory to Mauricius, &c. Our most pious and God-appointed lord, among his other august cares and burdens, watches also in the uprightness of spiritual zeal over the preservation of peace among the priesthood, inasmuch as he piously and truly considers that no one can govern earthly things aright unless he knows how to deal with divine things, and that the peace of the republic hangs on the peace of the universal Church. For, most serene Lord, what human power, and what strength
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

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