John 21:5 Commentary and Bible Study

He says to them, ‘Children,’ or as it might be translated today – and indeed is by some – ‘Lads’. It is a familiar, friendly sound, but it is not the word that Christ usually uses for them. He does not wish to be recognised just yet, so there is not a familiar greeting, but nevertheless a kindly one. ‘[Lads], have ye any meat?’ Well, the word translated ‘meat’ is the general word that refers to whatever is in hand, whether it is meat or whether it is fish. It is of course fish in this case. But the Greek actually is so expressed that a negative answer is expected. It would be a little better to translate it: ‘You haven’t got anything, have you?’ Of course, that is appropriate because the Lord knows all things. He does not have to ask them, he just seeks their affirmation: ‘No, we have nothing.’This post-resurrection miracle parallels so closely the event described in Luke 5:4: ‘Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it [this was really the moment of his repentance] he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.’ This miracle of the great catch of fish in John’s Gospel is going to remind them very powerfully of that very similar event way back in the beginning of their following of Christ, when Christ had brought in that great shoal of fishes and they had toiled all the night and caught nothing. This is going to parallel that earlier miracle in many respects but with significant differences and it is these differences that help us to understand the lesson of this particular miracle.