The Miracle of Sharing

John 21:1-14 · Fp Silva · September 6, 2026

The disciples who went back to fishing, the full net that doesn't tear, the breakfast where Jesus asks for our fish

The central idea

“The great miracle isn't the fish: it is a heart that learns to share.”

After the cross, the disciples go back to what they knew and, trusting their own abilities, spend the night with nothing. Jesus comes to them for the third time, fills the net and sets the table. But he asks them to bring some of what they caught: every miracle he does in us is not so we have more, it is so we share more.

The message in 3 movements

01
Jesus comes to those who ran away, including Peter.
The disciples went back to their old life, perhaps disappointed, perhaps ashamed. Many leave the journey thinking they've let Jesus down. But he didn't choose the best of the synagogue: he went to the beach for people in process, and he keeps coming after us.
02
Unbelief is faith pointed at ourselves.
It isn't the absence of faith, it is misdirected faith: trust in our own abilities. On their own, at the best hour, they caught nothing. Guided by Jesus's word, a hundred yards from shore, the net barely fit in the boat.
03
The fruit of faith is sharing.
Jesus already had food, but he asked for their fish: "haven't you any fish?" really meant "has your work produced something for others to enjoy?". And the net that doesn't tear points to the church: many will come, and nothing stops God's plan.

Reading the text · John 21:1-14

John 21:1-3 · Back to the boat

By the Sea of Galilee are Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee and two other disciples. Peter says: "I'm going fishing"; the others go with him. They spend the whole night, the best time to fish, and catch nothing.

John 21:4-8 · "It is the Lord!"

At dawn, a man on the shore asks: "Friends, haven't you any fish?" They answer no. He tells them to cast the net on the right side, and it fills so much they can't haul it in. John recognizes him: "It is the Lord!", and Peter throws himself into the water.

John 21:9-14 · The table on the beach

On land there is already a fire with fish and bread. Jesus says: "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." The net holds 153 large fish and doesn't tear. Jesus invites them to eat and gives them the bread and the fish.

Questions for the group

To open: tell about a time you worked hard, your own way, and came back empty-handed. What did you do next?

1
After the cross, Peter said "I'm going fishing" and went back to his old life. Have you ever drifted from Jesus thinking you had disappointed him? What helped you, or would help you, come back?
2
Unbelief is faith pointed at ourselves. In which area of your life have you trusted your own abilities more than Jesus's direction? What would "casting the net on the right side" look like there?
3
Jesus already had fish and bread on the fire, but he asked: "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." What has God already put in your hands that he is asking you to share?
4
"Including Peter." Who do you know who needs to hear that Jesus wants them back? How can the group reach out to them this week?

Key passages

Mark 1:17: "Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people." The catch in John 21 echoes the first call, now as preparation for the church's mission in Acts.
Genesis 12:2: "I will bless you… and you will be a blessing." God blesses so that we become channels: the Christian faith is a faith that shares.
Matthew 16:18: "The gates of Hades will not overcome it." Like the full net that doesn't tear, the church stands because God is the one leading it.

To close

A step for this week. Choose one "fish" to share this week (time, money, a meal, a talent) with someone outside your circle. And if you know someone who drifted away thinking they disappointed Jesus, send a message saying: "including you".

Prayer. Thank Jesus for coming to us even when we go back to the old boat. Ask him to redirect our faith away from ourselves and to give us a heart that shares.