The third appearance (v. 14) of Jesus recorded by John occurs at the Sea of Tiberias (a.k.a. Galilee). In Mark and Matthew, the apostles are instructed to go to Galilee where the Risen Lord will meet them. Luke, ties the appearances of Jesus to Jerusalem because it is from Jerusalem that the Gospel will be preached.
The account resembles the one in Luke 5:1-11, and may well be a variant of it. However, since the account in Luke 5:1-11 contains a lot of post-resurrection elements, it may also be that that the original setting is reflected in this section of John. The story is not just a miracle story. The catch of fish point to the catch of men that these designated fishers of men will be hauling into the kingdom. They caught 153 fishes! One hundred fifty-three is the number of the kinds of fish catalogued by Greek zoologists around the time when John was writing. 153 therefore means "all the kinds of fish." The number of the fishes therefore translate into fisherman-talk what the Lord commissions the apostles to do in Matthew, "to make disciples of all nations."
It was while the nets have been filled with fish that the disciple whom Jesus loved recognizes the Lord and points him to Peter who promptly puts on his clothes to meet Him. It is to be noted that the first man recognized his nakedness and began to hide from God. This time, the first of the apostles clothes his nakedness and swims to meet Him who has been confessed "Lord God" (John 20:28). Paradise was already lost when the first man saw his own nakedness; this fisherman who clothes himself does so when paradise has been regained. His catch of fish represents those who will be made to enter into it.
The story of the catch began with Jesus asking the fishermen for food (v. 5). When the haul is brought in, they find the Lord already cooking fish (v. 9). Scholars would point out that here two stories have been put together by an editor. Our task is not to point out the discontinuity since the author had wanted to make these stories continuous. The Lord does not depend on fishermen for food. He already said before that his food is to do the will of the One who sent Him (John 4:34). One must remember that the disciples caught fish by obeying His word. Jesus is not only the Lord of the catch (or "Lord of the Harvest"); He is also the one who gives refreshment.
The language in vv. 12:13 is similar to that found in John 6. Brown and P. Perkins have pointed out the resemblances. The meal to which the Lord invites the fishermen is a eucharistic meal. Thus, the work of the fishers of men under instructions of the Lord ends with a successful haul and reaches its climax in the eucharist.
