Daybreak on the Sea of Galilee

Daybreak on the Sea of Galilee
By Jan Ciągliński

“After this Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Galilee, and He revealed Himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 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. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’”
John 21:1-7

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It is fitting that, of all the places the risen Lord might have appeared to His apostles, He chose the shores of Galilee. Not in the temple courts or Holy City, but at the quiet edge of the lake the apostles knew best. Many had grown up beside it and learned their fathers’ trade upon it. It was here that Jesus had first called them to leave their nets and follow Him. Here that He calmed the storm and walked upon the waves and strengthened a sinking Peter’s faith. Galilee was not merely a backdrop; it was woven into the fabric of their discipleship from the very beginning.

After the agony of the cross and the miracle of the empty tomb, perhaps unsure of what to do next, the apostles returned to what they knew. The Gospel of John records that Peter said simply, “I am going fishing,” and that the others followed him. They toiled all night and had caught nothing. Then, in Alfred Edersheim’s beautiful description of the scene, “early morning was breaking, and under the rosy glow above the cool shadows were still lying on the pebbly beach” when a figure that the apostles did not immediately recognize called out to them, advising them to cast out their nets once more. The nets instantly filled to bursting, a repeat of the miracle that first began their ministry, and they knew it was the Savior. Peter, irrepressible as ever, threw himself into the sea to reach Him.

What met them on the shore was not a sermon but a meal. Jesus had kindled a fire of coals and prepared bread and fish for His exhausted friends. There is something profoundly tender in this image—the Creator of the universe kneeling over a small fire, cooking breakfast for tired fishermen. As Jeffrey R. Holland observed, though the first great commandment of all eternity is to love God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength, “the first great truth of all eternity is that God loves us with all of His heart, might, mind, and strength.” That love was visible in every detail of this scene—in the quiet fire, the waiting bread, and the patience of a Lord who meets us where we are.

Then came the repeated question, “Lovest thou me?” And with each answer came the renewed commission: “Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep” (John 21:15–17). On the same shore where the apostles had first been called, the Savior renewed their purpose. He did not scold them for returning to their nets. He simply gently reminded them that they had been called to something greater.

So it is with each of us. We return, sometimes, to old harbors and familiar doubts. We toil through dark nights and come up empty. But if we will look toward the shore, we may find that He is already there—waiting in the early light, calling us by name, ready to help fill our nets and our hearts once more.

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