John 21:9-14

⁹When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. ¹⁰Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." ¹¹Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹²Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?" They knew it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

Now Jesus tells the disciples to bring some of the fish, but He’s already got some fish on the fire. The point is that the harvest has nothing to do with them. Yes, bring the fish, but it’s not about your catching them. Jesus catches the fish; He does with them what He wishes. We bring them in through Him. It should have been impossible to drag the net to shore without tearing it. But Jesus governs that as well. This is all to do with the supply and providence and governance and control of Jesus; how Jesus puts a boundary and a hedge around our lives. And it’s as though He’s saying to Peter as the disciple who’s trying to return to the old way of life, “I’m not going to let you return to your old life, because I’ve got something for you to do.” That’s what He does with us too. Have you let the Savior down? Well, Jesus won’t let you return to your old way of life for good. You may visit it occasionally, but you know that doing so isn’t the answer. Going off by yourself or having a pity party isn’t the answer. Coming humbly to Jesus is the answer. Serving Him by loving others is walking in newness of life.

Why is the number of fish – 153 – detailed here? In this sign, we can foresee the amazing results of the disciples’ ministry, when with one sermon, filled with foolishness in the world’s eyes, Peter caught 3000 souls in one day, because the Spirit of Christ was empowering him (Acts 2). And this was only the beginning – soon the foolishness of their message would turn the world upside-down, calling out from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation a multitude of souls redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and caught with the gospel-net of Christ’s fishers of men.

In v12, we read that none of them dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” because they knew He was the Lord Jesus. Some commentators suggest that they weren’t really sure, but they didn’t want to offend Him by asking. Other commentators say that John is simply pointing out that they didn’t have to ask, because they were so certain. Finally, Jesus had appeared to His disciples more than seven times, but John reveals only three. He sets these visitations apart into intervals to show that Jesus confirmed His resurrection on multiple occasions for their benefit.