What Is the Significance of 153 FISH in John 21:11?
Let’s read the full passage in question:
1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. a It happened this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 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.” 11So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat 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.
John 21:1-14
Verse 14 reveals that this was Jesus’ third appearance to the disciples after his resurrection. Five of the disciples were fishing in the Sea of Galilee, but caught nothing all night. This changed the next morning, however, when the resurrected Christ saw them from the shore and instructed them to throw their net on the right side of the boat whereupon they miraculously caught the huge load of fish. The technical number they netted—153 fish—is merely a historical accounting of their take.
Yet consider the last two verses of the previous chapter:
30Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:30-31
This reveals the reason why the book of John documented the many miraculous signs of Christ, including the large catch on this occasion—that people might believe Jesus is the Messiah and, by believing, have life in his name (John 3:16). So you could view the fish caught in this chronicling as 153 reasons to believe that Jesus is the Christ.
Related Topics:
Seven Proofs that JESUS CHRIST IS GOD
Miracle or Divine Providence — What’s the Difference?
When You Should ASK and When You Should SPEAK IN FAITH, aka DEMAND
Why did Christ decline to give “Signs on Demand”?
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