The Call to the Shore: When Disobedience Leads to Empty Nets

"After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias." (John 21:1)
Imagine the scene: It's sometime within those miraculous forty days after Jesus' resurrection. Acts 1:3 tells us He "presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." It wasn't a daily presence, but a series of powerful, unmissable appearances.
The first five happened on Resurrection Day itself: to Mary Magdalene, the other women, Simon Peter, and the two on the road to Emmaus, concluding with the ten apostles that evening. A week later, He appeared again, this time with Thomas present. And now, at the Sea of Tiberias (what was once the familiar Sea of Galilee, renamed by the Romans), we find Jesus showing Himself for a third time since His resurrection.
A New Body, Still Unrecognized
The Gospel of John sometimes uses the word "manifested" for these appearances, implying a sudden, almost out-of-nowhere arrival. This happened with Mary Magdalene, the Emmaus disciples, and the apostles in a locked room. Jesus was alive, resurrected, in a new and special body. Yet, despite being truly present, they didn't always recognize Him immediately. His glorified form was simply different. Mary Magdalene mistook Him for the gardener. The Emmaus disciples walked and talked with Him for hours, even shared a meal, before their eyes were opened. And here, again, at the shore, they don't know Him.
Back to Galilee, Back to the Mountain
This appearance in Galilee makes perfect sense. Jesus had specifically instructed them in Matthew 28:10, "Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me." And in Matthew 28:16, we read, "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them."
Now, with Judas gone, there were eleven disciples left. Seven of them are found here at the sea: Simon Peter, Thomas (who learned his lesson after missing a crucial earlier appearance!), Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee (James and John), and two others. This core group, many of whom Jesus first called as His disciples back in John chapter 1, the ones who had "found the Messiah," were together.
Imagine them on that appointed mountain, fresh from hearing the monumental commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." This is their new purpose, their divine calling.
The Detour: "I Am Going Fishing"
But somewhere between day 8 and day 40, Peter, a man of action and perhaps impatience, makes a decision. "Simon Peter said to them, 'I am going fishing.' They said to him, 'We are going with you also.'" (John 21:3).
Peter, seeing no immediate "action" on the commission front, decides to revert to his old career. When he says, "I'm going fishing," he's essentially saying, "I'm going back to what I used to do." This is a significant act of disobedience from a leader. And, as leaders often do, he pulls others along with him. The problem? Three years earlier, Jesus had called these very men from their nets to be "fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19-22). That was their calling. That was the commission.
The Bitter Fruit of Disobedience
Here, we see multiple acts of disobedience:

• They were supposed to stay on the mountain in Galilee, where Jesus told them He would meet them. They left.
• They were supposed to embrace the commission He'd given them, the one He had spent three years preparing them for. Instead, they decided to go back to being mere fishermen.

As it's often said, if you step away from the calling God has placed on your life and go in the opposite direction, if you choose the path of self-will and self-effort, you might think you can accomplish a lot, but you're headed for failure. Disobedience leads to failure. It's a simple, undeniable principle. When God calls you, gifts you, prepares you, and places you into ministry in His kingdom – whether professionally or as a lay person – if you turn your back on that opportunity because it doesn't fit your immediate desires, you will fail at what you do.
And that's precisely what happened: "They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing" (John 21:3). These expert fishermen, after a night of toil, caught absolutely nothing. Their disobedience had led directly to failure.
The Gentle, Persistent Call
"But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus" (John 21:4). His glorified body, combined with the distance, kept His identity hidden.
"Then Jesus said to them, 'Children, have you any food?' They answered Him, 'No.'" (John 21:5). Notice the less endearing term: "Children." Perhaps a subtle acknowledgment of their disobedience. And imagine Jesus shouting this across the water! They, in their humility, had to admit their failure with a resounding "NO!"
"And He said to them, 'Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.'" (John 21:6). If you had fished all night and caught nothing, you might have some "choice words" for a stranger yelling advice from the shore. Yet, they cast the net.
And "now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish." (John 21:6). At that moment, John, "that disciple whom Jesus loved," recognized Him: "It is the Lord!" (John 21:7). He remembered a similar miraculous catch three years earlier (Luke 5:4-9) that had astonished them and led to their initial calling.
Upon hearing it was the Lord, Peter, ever impulsive, put on his outer garment and plunged into the sea to reach Jesus. The others followed, dragging the overflowing net to shore. And there, Jesus had breakfast waiting for them – a fire of coals, fish, and bread. "Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.'" (John 21:10).
Notice how Jesus had made breakfast, but He wanted them to participate with what they had caught. That's how God often works in our lives: He provides for our needs, but He expects us to participate, to use the gifts and opportunities He's given us.
The Unmistakable Message for Us Today
The lesson from the Sea of Tiberias is clear: God does not reward disobedience.
This message might sound familiar, especially if you've been listening to the preaching here. For three years, we've walked through the Gospel of John, and this theme isn't "picked" arbitrarily; it's woven into the very fabric of God's Word. Even our new Youth Pastor delivered a similar message last week. I believe God is speaking to us, and we desperately need to be listening.
As followers of Jesus, each of us has been given special gifts and opportunities by God. To make it personal: You have been gifted. You have been called. You have been given spiritual chances by God. But if you turn away from what He's placed before you, if you revert to what you want to do instead of what He calls you to do, don't expect His blessing. You could be pouring all your energy into temporary things that hold no eternal value. If that describes you, it's time to wake up!
God has given a commission for all of us to be "fishers of men." It's time for you to redirect your energy into the only thing that truly matters: the Kingdom of Christ. "Fishing for men" looks different for everyone – it's God's work, and it uses all of our unique gifts.
But here is some truth in love today: If you find yourself "too busy" for Sunday school, "too busy" for church, "too busy" for prayer, "too busy" for truly living out your faith, "too busy" using your God-given gifts... then the truth is, just like Peter, you might be on a road to failure. You risk losing the deep joy and intimacy you could have with your Lord.
It's time to cast your nets on the right side, according to His word, and find the abundant catch He has waiting for you.