John 21:1-14
Chapter 21
Jesus Appears by the Lake
After this, Jesus revealed himself to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed to them in this way:Simon Peter, Thomas who was called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two other disciples were together;
Simon Peter said to them:
“I’m going fishing.”
They replied:
“We will come with you.”
And they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not realize it was Jesus.
Jesus called out:
“Children, do you have any fish to share?”
They answered:
“Nothing.”
Then he said to them:
“Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”
When they had lowered the net, they couldn’t pull it in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter:
“It’s the LORD!”
At these words, “It’s the LORD!” Simon Peter put on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish; they were not far from land, about a hundred meters.
When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and some bread.
Jesus said to them:
“Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and pulled the net to shore. It was full of big fish—one hundred and fifty-three—but, despite this, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them:
“Come, have breakfast.”
And not one of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” for they knew it was the LORD.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and he did the same with the fish.
This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after rising from the dead.
Commentaries
Jesus Appears by the Lake.
The following series of characteristics will help us interpret this profound sign:
1. Jesus is the Lord and a close friend. As in the past, Jesus and the disciples meet on the lake’s shore. But now, Jesus has gone through the drama of his death and appears resurrected. The Lord does not distance himself from his followers with remote transcendence but draws near. We find the Lord as a companion and friend who closely cares about his disciples’ concerns.
2. Eucharistic interpretation. The entire scene directs us toward the Eucharist. The description is written with plain sobriety. Around Jesus, there is a sacred, almost liturgical silence. Only the Lord’s gesture and his attitude of offering stand out. This Eucharistic interpretation inevitably fosters full communion between Jesus and the disciples—communion that remains alive after the resurrection.
3. Absolute trust in the Word of the Lord. Following the Word of the Lord, they catch an astonishing number of fish. It is impossible to see so many fish! It is impossible for the net not to break! What human ability and our limited strength cannot accomplish, the Lord can. What is impossible for men is possible for God (Lk 1:37).
4. Universal missionary interpretation. This is illustrated by the 153 fish caught in the apostolic boat’s net, representing the final outcome of the Church’s mission. The net, filled with fish, symbolizes the missionary Church established by the risen Jesus. It signifies the worldwide gathering of humanity within the Church. The entire human race is the recipient of the message of salvation.
5. Let us never break communion! Chapter 21 mainly discusses the Church, focusing on its situation after Jesus’ death. The image of the net symbolizes the Church. The net, filled with a large number and variety of fish, does not “break.” The apostolic Church is, as Jesus often described it, a “fisher of people.” There is room for everyone in the Church.
6. The Church’s mission must be open and draw everyone to Jesus. Jesus wants to keep attracting people. To make this work, he depends on us, his disciples. The missionary Church carries out Jesus’ will: it casts the net in accordance with his word. It can also be said that it casts the net with Jesus’ word and catches so many fish that the disciples cannot reel them in all at once. The Church’s role is not to keep them in its own nets but to lead them to Jesus.