John 21:11
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
The drawing of the net full of 153 great fishes took place at the Sea of Galilee, where much of Christ's ministry had been spent, after the disciples had gathered where they were not likely to be disturbed. The place was surrounded by reminders of Jesus and His mighty works that filled their minds with His words and deeds. On that sea He had walked upon the waves to rescue them when terror filled their hearts in the fierce storm, and there He had hushed the tempest by His word. Within sight was the beach where above ten thousand persons had been fed from a few small loaves and fishes, and not far distant was Capernaum, the scene of so many miracles.
Those present were seven in all: Simon Peter with Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee and two others. They had fished all night and caught nothing, while in the morning Jesus stood unrecognized on the shore. He told them to cast the net on the right side of the ship, giving a multitude of fishes they were not able to draw. At this the disciple whom Jesus loved recognized the Lord, and Peter girded his fisher's coat about him and cast himself into the sea to reach Him, finding fish and bread already prepared on land.
Peter went back for the net he had dropped to swim to Jesus and joined his brethren in dragging it to shore in obedience to the word to bring of the fish just caught, bringing ashore 153 great fishes. For all there were so many, yet the net was not broken, unlike the earlier miraculous catch at the beginning of the ministry when the net broke. The dragging was finished and the meal prepared before eating, when Jesus called the disciples to dine and Himself broke the food and divided it among them, so that all seven knew Him. The breaking of the food brought to mind the feeding of the five thousand on the mountainside as they gazed on the risen Saviour in silent awe.
The miraculous and repeated catch renewed Christ's commission to the disciples, showing that His death had not ended their duty to do the work He had given them. Its abundant fish demonstrated that their work could succeed through Christ's divine power joined with their human effort as they worked with Him. The catch also assured the disciples that their resurrected Saviour would care for and provide for them as they carried on His work without His bodily companionship. It opened the way for Jesus to ask Peter three times whether he loved Him and to charge him to feed and care for His lambs and sheep, drawing humble answers opposite to his boastful assurances before the crucifixion. This showed that transforming grace had made him a converted man, firm as a rock and bold ever after to witness for Christ even to prison and death in order to strengthen his brethren.