George Hutcheson
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the Disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
The second branch of this Narration, contains Christs shewing himselfe unto them upon the shore in the morning, though they do not know him, v. 4. Together with his conference with them before they knew him; Wherein, dealing with them as a stranger, and one coming to buy fishes, he draweth out a confession of their bad successe, v. 5. And as this his appearing, though unknown, made way for his manifesting of himselfe, So this conference makes way for the miracle whereby he discovered himselfe. Doct. 1. It is usual for Christ, to make use of his peoples difficulties, as a preparation to some special manifestations of himselfe; for, so finde they here, that night they caught nothing, v. 3. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore. 1. As for not knowing of him, I will not determine, whether it was because of the darknesse, (it being but yet morning) together with their distance from Christ, being about two hundred cubits, v. 8. or by reason of some extraordinary restraining of their sight and discerning for a time: But it may teach us, that Christ is not alwaies discerned when he is present, and it is one mercy to enjoy his company, and another to know indeed that it is he: for, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus, and they after conferre with him as with a stranger. 3. When Christ is about to manifest himselfe for his people, he will not only have them empty, but will have the sense of it renewed; for, saith he, Children have ye any meat? The word signifieth what is eaten with bread, as fish, flesh, &c. and here it is taken for fishes; And here, he propounds this question not enquiring as one caring for their eating, but he deals as a stranger coming to buy, that so he may draw out a sensible confession of their want, to make way for the following miracle, They answered him, no. 4. It is commendable in neighbours, or these who have occasion to converse and traffick together, that they entertain a good correspondence, by courteous, familiar, and discreet expressions one to another; Therefore, saith Christ, Children, have ye any meat? And he useth this compellation here, not as one made known to them, to point out his familiar respects unto, and care of them, as a Father hath of his little children; but as the courteous and familiar expressions of neighbours in these places.
