John 21:5

Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No.

Children ... This shows the tender affection Jesus had for his disciples. John himself adopted this address to Christians (1 John 2:13,18).

Have ye aught to eat ...? Jesus was not asking them for food, but he was rather emphasizing the fact that their return to their old tasks (however momentarily) had resulted in failure. The Lord was not yet through with those men; and Jesus had no intention of permitting them to return to the fishing business, even if they had desired that. The whole sequence of events in this chapter shows conclusively that their long night of failing to catch anything was providential, in the same manner as their astounding catch a little later acting upon the Lord's instructions.