Commentary on the Gospel of John

                                  Chapter Twenty One

                                                                                                                                              Verses 8-14

A little later, the other disciples rowed their boat close enough to the shore to be able to drag the net full of fish to land. There they saw that Jesus had already built a fire, and He was cooking bread and fish for them. The symbolism of this event can only be that Jesus will take care of His Church. The Church always needs Jesus. The Church cannot take care of itself. Even when the Church fails, Jesus will take care of that failure. Jesus will feed His Church spiritual food. Jesus will bless all faithful believers, and Jesus will always recover and restore all backsliders. The Church must never try to take care of itself. The Church must always rely on the Holy Spirit for correction, for restoration, and for guidance. Christ will never lose a single member of His Church who becomes saved by His grace. John 10:27-30.

Jesus then commanded His disciples to bring the net full of fish to Him. Peter went and drew the net up onto the shore full of 153 fish. God must have put some symbolism on the exact number of fish. Yet, God left the symbolism obscure. Did the 153 fish represent the number of future believers in Christ's Church? If so, 153 million would certainly be too small, and 153 billion certainly too large. But one billion 53 million could be the right number. Yet, the Holy Spirit nowhere indicates that this 153 should be multiplied by a billion. The net full of fish could represent the fact that Christ will provide plenty of spiritual food for His future Church, but then why the exact number 153? But the fact that the net did not break could very well symbolize that Christ will never lose a single member of His Church who are saved by His grace. John 10:27-30. Christ holds all power over sin, evil, and the Devil in the world and in His Church. Matthew 28:18; Revelation 1:17-18. Christ will recover and restore every backslider who has not already repented when He Raptures His Church. Ephesians 5:25-27.

Jesus then invited His disciples to dine with Him on the fish and bread He had prepared and fellowship with Him. This event has to symbolize the Rapture of the Church. The Church will become His Bride. This fact can only mean that Christ will provide very special rewards for His Church after the Rapture. John 3:29; Revelation 21:9; Revelation 22:17. Revelation 19:7-9. After His marriage to His Church, Jesus will Rapture His Tribulation saints, and they, and probably the Old Testament saints as well, will be joined together in a great feast where Christ Himself will serve all His saints of all ages in celebration of His marriage to His Church. Revelation 20:4 and 6; Luke 12:35-37; Matthew 22:1-14.