Jesus met the Disciples in their Emptiness and Despair;
so too, He meets us in our Emptiness and Despair today
In both Luke 5 and John 21 Jesus helped Peter and his companions with their fishing.
Exhausted after a fruitless night at sea. The fishermen’s nets were empty, their spirits probably low.
Yet in both moments, Jesus stepped into their failure and transformed it into an abundance.
And these aren’t just stories of miraculous catches—they reveal Jesus’ power and purpose.
And this power and purpose is still alive in the world today.
Luke 5:1-11
In Luke 5, Jesus taught from Peter’s boat, then instructed him to cast their nets again.
Although Peter protested, he did as Jesus said and caught so many fish that the nets began to break.
And this was symbolic of the ministry Jesus was calling Peter to.
The fish represented the volume of people who would join the Church headed up by him.
Jesus told Peter; ‘From now on you will catch men.’
So Peter left everything—fish, boat, livelihood—to follow Him.
This was a moment of transformation.
Jesus didn’t just fill Peter’s nets; He filled his life with purpose.
Jesus often meets us today too, in our emptiness. When our efforts fall short, his power can begin.
The question is: are we willing to get aboard the boat?
John 21:1-14
Then in John 21, after Jesus had been crucified, Peter denied knowing Him, not once but three times.
He then returned to his fishing—perhaps out of guilt or confusion. But again, the nets were empty.
Then amazingly, the risen Christ appeared again on the shore.
He told the fishermen to cast their nets onto the right-hand side.
And again, an abundance of fish was caught.
But this time, the miracle was more personal.
Jesus cooked breakfast, and asked Peter three times;
‘Do you love me?’—one for each denial—and then restored him with a new commission:
‘Feed my sheep’ He told Peter, meaning lead my Church.
Peter, The Rock of the Church and The Shepherd
Peter was totally transformed by these events; and was no longer just a fisherman.
He has become a shepherd now, refined by failure, restored by God’s grace, and prepared for the weight of ministry.
So too, when we allow Jesus to shape us, we become vessels of spiritual abundance.
Today, Christians are the Fishermen; Fishing for Souls
Modern-day theologians interpret the sea, in these two visits by Jesus, as the world; the fish as humankind, and the boat as the Church.
Peter, the rock upon which the Church was to be built, would be the shepherd at the helm, teaching others how to fish for people.
Today, we continue this mission as we fish from the boat, now called the Church.
Like the disciples, we are casting out for people; but it is to explain to them the hope we have in Jesus.
The Church Today Depicts this in a Unique Way
The two encounters Jesus had with the fishermen, were visually depicting biblical truths.
This continues in the Church still today.
For instance, the Latin word for ship is Nave.
The main place of worship for the Congregation in the church is also called the Nave.
If you look up at the ceiling of many older church naves, you will see they are shaped like upside-down boats; symbolising the Church as an Ark of Salvation.
This reminds us that we are all in the vessel together and are called to bring others aboard.
Because it is there, in the Nave, where we share our faith, our stories, and the hope we have of life eternal.
Which is something beyond comprehension for many,
but can be felt within the hearts of the faithful.
And whether our nets are empty or full,
Today, Jesus is still nearby on the shore—calling us,
providing for us, and restoring our spirits –
as we carry on in the gathering of the faithful,
as Jesus taught during his ministry on earth,
and then handed the work over to Peter his Rock, the disciples;
and us today as well, to help bring Christ’s Church to it’s ultimate triumphant fulfillment.
