Day 32: Wednesday, April 8

After these things, Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias; and thus did He manifest Himself: There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus [Twin], and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples. Simon Peter says to them, I am going out to fish. They say to him, We also are coming with thee. They went out and straightway went up into the ship; and in that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had already come, Jesus stood on the shore; however, the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus says to them, Little children, do you have something to eat? They answered Him, No. And He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find. They cast therefore, and after that, they had not the strength to draw it for the multitude of fish. Then that disciple whom Jesus loved says to Peter, It is the Lord…. John 21:1-7

“Fishing” signifies in the Word the instruction and conversion of men who are in external or natural good, the good most of the Gentiles were in at that time. “Fish” signify the things of the natural man, and “boat” doctrine from the Word. Therefore “the right side of the boat” signifies the good of life. This makes clear the signification of what the Lord said, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” namely, that they should teach the good of life. That they would thus convert the Gentiles to the church is signified by their finding in such abundance that “they were not able to draw the net for the multitude of fishes.” Apocalypse Explained 600:7

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