This morning's passage has suffered greatly at the hands of Bible interpreters over the years. Many fanciful ideas have been put forward about what the 153 big fish represent, when in fact, they just represent 153 big fish! It will help you to understand the Bible correctly if you:
We are now looking at John's last chapter. Christ has died and has risen. He has appeared to Mary Magdalene, to the disciples without Thomas, and to the disciples with Thomas. But John still has more that he wants to tell us...
i Jesus surmounts
v1-2 show that the disciples are now in Galilee. They seem not to know what to do with themselves, so they go fishing in v3. We shouldn't blame them for that, although it's hard to imagine them doing the same after the Day of Pentecost.
Jesus appears on the shore at dawn in v4. They don't recognise him. He asks them if they've caught anything in v5, and they reply that they haven't. They have fished all night, but have caught nothing. In v6, he tells them to throw the net out on other side of the boat, and when they do, they catch a bumper haul of fish.
This catch is miraculous. There could be two explanations.
Perhaps Jesus miraculously knew that there were loads of fish on the right side of the boat. Matthew 10:30 teaches us that God knows everything. He knows the tiniest details, even how many hairs we have on our heads. The Lord Jesus, being both God and man, also has supernatural, miraculous, omniscient knowledge.
Perhaps, on the other hand, Jesus miraculously moved loads of fish to the right side of the boat. Matthew 10:29 teaches us that God is in control of everything. He even controls the destiny of little birds like sparrows. The Lord Jesus, being both God and man, also has supernatural, miraculous, omnipotent power.
Either way, John 21 tells us about a miracle. The disciples had had a useless, fruitless night. But Jesus surmounts their problems. When he comes on the scene, their situation is transformed radically. Everything which happens illustrates the truth of John 15:5. Without Christ, they could do nothing.
We need to learn this lesson well. Without Christ's blessing, we can do nothing. With Christ's blessing, nothing can stop us! Remember that whenever you speak for the Lord, and whenever you suffer too. With Christ on the scene our helplessness is transformed and our difficulties surmounted.
ii Jesus serves
John is the first to realise who Jesus is in v7. But Peter is the first to act. The church needs both Johns and Peters! Peter leaps into the water to get to Christ. He is wholehearted in his affection for him.
The rest of the disciples follow, dragging the fish in v8. When they arrive, our Lord serves them by giving them breakfast in v9.
This is typical of him. Matthew 20:28 reminds us that Jesus, the greatest person ever to live, did not come to be served but to serve. He did that many times before the crucifixion. Now he does so again after the resurrection.
In so doing, he was a model for the disciples and for us. Matthew 20:25-28 shows that. The world measures greatness in terms of riches, power, success and the like. The Lord says that the way to true greatness is to be a servant, to be a slave. If you want to be great in the kingdom of God, you must deliberately choose the lowest place. Truly great Christians are the ones who most lay themselves out in the service of others. Do you have a servant heart?
iii Jesus socialises
In v10-12, it's time for breakfast. Peter brings some of the fish they have caught. But the disciples are still puzzled. It was a shock when Jesus died on the cross. It was a shock when he rose again. And because of all these circumstances, they feel uneasy, hesitant, uncertain. They long to ask him, "Is it really you?" But they don't dare to. Anyway, they all know deep down that it is him.
Our Lord helps them in v13-14. He socialises with them! He spends time with them. He eats with them. Back then, eating with people was a sign of fellowship and friendship. He shows his love for them, and his acceptance of them, by eating with them, by having fellowship with them, by socialising with them.
Today Christians have the assurance of Christ's presence with them. He delights to have fellowship with us, though, of course, we do not have his physical presence. He chooses to be with us all the time.
Maybe this is not true of your experience, though. You've heard Christians talking about how God is with them, but that's totally alien to you.
There is good news in Acts 17:26-27. There, the apostle Paul says that God is not far from each one of us. And he's not. We can reach out to him by praying.
You see, the reason why people do not have his presence with them is because of their sin. Sin is a barrier between us and God. But Christ died to save sinners, to deal with sin. Fellowship with God is now a real prospect. And you can come to him by repenting of your sin, by trusting in Christ, and by following him. If you do, His Spirit will come to live within you, and you'll be saved for all eternity. If you do not know God like that, come to him now.