John 21: 9-14, Fire, Fish, Bread

Jesus has reappeared to the disciples several times in Jerusalem. John records one more appearance, this time later in Galilee.

This event is a bookend to a miracle at the beginning of Jesus's ministry. Not recorded in John, but recorded in the other three gospels (see Luke 5:1-11),  is an early event in which Jesus begins his discipling of Peter by helping him fish.

The distance from shore is (translated from Greek) "about two hundred cubits", that is, about 90 meters.

John 21: 9-14, Fire, fish, bread
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 
11 So 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. 
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 
13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 
14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus already has breakfast cooking for them, with a fire and some fish already on it.  He also has bread for them but invites them to add some of their fish to the meal.  In the final chapter of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C. S. Lewis has the lion, Aslan, turn into a lamb and re-enact this scene. (See this blog post.)

Some try to make something out of the number 153. I suspect it simply represents a very large catch!