Jn.21:4,5. But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish to eat, do you?” They answered Him, “No.”
I love to look at some of the little things found in the gospels. Jesus here calls out to His disciples and refers to them as children. We were once not children of God but we became His children as a result of His death and resurrection. He is revealing Himself and our new relationship that we have received as a result of His work of redemption. We have become children of God, transferred from one kingdom to another. Here is how Matthew Henry describes this passage.
“He showed himself to them by an instance of his pity. He called to them, Children, paidia—”Lads, have you any meat? Have you caught any fish?” Here, the compilation is very familiar; he speaks unto them as unto his sons, with the care and tenderness of a father: Children. Though he had now entered upon his exalted state, he spoke to his disciples with as much kindness and affection as ever. They were not children in age, but they were his children, the children which God had given him.”
This unveiling of Christ seen in this passage is connected to us realizing our new relationship with Him. He is tenderly calling us near, as we see Him in His glorious state we see the transformation working in us. Here is how Lightfoot describes this passage.
“By what word soever Christ expressed this children to them, it seems to be a very familiar and gentle compilation, that his disciples, from that very salutation of his, might discern him. They did not know him by sight, as appears: he would have them know him, therefore, by the title he gave them.”
This is now our new relationship with the Lord, we have become His children. He continues to call us in to reveal His love for us and and to have us enjoy this new place of intimacy with the Lord. At the beginning of this passage John said that Jesus was standing on the beach at the beginning of a brand new day. When He returns we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. In the meantime we are catching glimpses of this incredible brand new prophetic day.