‘Jesus says to them, “Bring of the fish that you have now taken.” Simon Peter therefore went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty three, and for all there was so many the net was not torn.'
Jesus did not require the fish that they had taken for their breakfast for He already had some cooking. He rather wanted them to consider the size of their catch so that they would be aware that in partnership with Him they would be able to do wonders in fishing for men.
In view of the fact that Jesus drew attention to them the fish were counted and there were one hundred and fifty three large fish. A splendid catch to small time fishermen as the comment about the net shows. There is little need to try to find explanations for the number elsewhere. None are satisfactory or demonstrable. The words are simply evidence of the testimony of an eyewitness.
‘Peter went up.' He climbed into the boat so as to release the net so that the fish could be counted.
‘The net was not torn'. It had proved adequate for its task, just as they too will be adequate, with His help, for their future task of winning men for Christ. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “who are you”, knowing that it was the Lord.