Daily Devotion 13 November 2025

When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognise him. John 21: 4

READING: John 21: 1-11

In this story, set after the resurrection, seven of the disciples were out fishing. The resurrected Jesus had made at least three specific appearances to His disciples (John 20:19, 26); in Matthew 28, we read that the angel at the resurrection said that Jesus was heading to Galilee, thus the disciples were in Galilee waiting for Christ to arrive.

So they went fishing. However, think about the context: Jesus had breathed the Holy Spirit on them and He sent them out into the world. But here they seem to have returned to their old way of life. We’re they neglecting the call that Jesus had put on their lives? Were they bored? Or simply working so they could have something to eat? Maybe the disciples still didn’t fully understand what they were supposed to be doing! ‘We’re supposed to go to Galilee and then what?’

So they thought, let’s do what we understand, what we’re good at - fishing. However, alone in the darkness, the disciples failed. Then, at dawn, there was Jesus on the shore, giving His advice, and they experienced dramatic success. We’re told that the “day was breaking”. One of John’s favourite themes is light and darkness – the difference between the presence and absence of God.

We, like Peter, can fall into the trap of believing that we can manage our lives with our own expertise and hard work. But, like the disciples, when God is missing, nothing goes right. 

At first, the disciples did not recognise him. We too, are often too preoccupied to notice God, even when we are following His guidance. Too busy working, doing good, but head down, not looking for God.

Their lack of success, perhaps, reaffirmed that their days of catching fish were over. Jesus had called them to be fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). They were following the wrong path.

When he realised it was the Lord, Peter's reaction was to immediately jump into the water to get to Jesus. May we be like that, responding to God’s call.

Peter found Him waiting, prepared with a fire and food. So too, will we find He has prepared a place of true sustaining comfort, lovingly directing us on the right path.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me to recognise You in my daily life, and walk in the light of Your path. Amen.