r first attempt empty in
presence of the other fishermen. But when about one hundred yards from
the shore a voice hails them with the words, "Children"--or, as we would
say, "Lads"--"have you taken any fish?" It has been supposed that our
Lord asked this question in the character of a trader who had been
watching for the return of the boats that he might buy, or that it was
with the natural interest every one takes in the success of a person
that is fishing, so that we can scarcely pass without asking what take
they have had. The question was asked for the purpose of arresting the
boat at a sufficient distance from the shore to make another cast of the
net possible. It has this effect; the rowers turned round to see who is
calling them, and at the same time tell Him they have no fish. The
Stranger then says, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye
shall find"; and they do so, not thinking of a miracle, but supposing
that before any man would give them such express instructions he must
have had some good reason for believing there were fish there. But when
they found that the net was at once absolutely loaded with fish, so that
they could not draw it into the boat, John looks again at the Stranger,
and whispers to Peter, "It is the Lord." This was no sooner heard by
Peter than he snatched up and threw over him his upper garment, and
throwing himself into the water swam or waded ashore.

In every trifling act character betrays itself. It is John who is first
to recognise Jesus; it is Peter who casts himself into the sea, just as
he had done once before on that same lake, and as he had been first to
enter the sepulchre on the morning of the Resurrection. John recognises
the Lord, not because he had better eyesight than the rest, nor because
he had a better position in the boat, nor because while the rest were
busied with the net he was occupied with the figure on the beach, but
because his spirit had a quicker and profounder apprehension of
spiritual things, and because in this sudden turn of their fortune he
recognised the same hand which had filled their nets once before and had
fed thousands with one or two little fishes.

The reason of Peter's impetuousness on this occasion may partly have
been that their fishing vessel was now as near the land as they could
get it, and that he was unwilling to wait till they should get the small
boat unfastened. The rest, we read, came ashore, not in the large vessel
in w