One of my favorite passages over the past few weeks has been John 21. Most of us know John 21 because of the famous end — where Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him, and Peter responds three times that he does.

But I’m particularly thrilled at something that foreshadows Peter’s restoration and usefulness to Jesus that comes earlier in the chapter.

Peter and his cohorts have returned to Galilee after the crucifixion. They are back to fishing, which is what they were doing before they ever met Jesus. Peter in particular is a failure, having publically and emphatically denied that he even knew Jesus (Luke 22).

And Jesus (yea!) comes to them on the shore. And he reminds Peter of his calling, of the joy and absolute change of identity that it entailed.

Hang in there. We’re getting to a really striking Scripture.

Jesus again gives them a huge catch of fish. They realize it is him, and Peter jumps overboard to get to Jesus.

And here’s John 21:9-11: “So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.’ Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty three…”

This is absolutely wonderful.

Jesus, the King of Kings, makes them breakfast. He serves them. That’s amazing, they don’t deserve it.

But that’s not all Jesus does. The text specifically says that Jesus has already made breakfast with supplies that he had. And then the text says that Jesus instructed Peter to bring some fish.

Why? Jesus already made them breakfast. He didn’t need more fish! Why ask for Peter to bring more?

Isn’t it because Jesus is going to allow Peter to participate in Jesus’ ministry? Jesus doesn’t need Peter’s fish… but he is full of grace in bringing Peter in, in having Peter be a part, of what Jesus has already done.

What a statement of divine sufficiency and yet love toward us, that God would want us to be a part of what he is doing.

Jesus even says to Peter, “bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” Remember, they were fishing and had not caught anything (v.5). So the fish which Jesus is referring to is fish that Jesus caught! Jesus told them to put the net down again, Jesus had the fish go in the net… and Jesus refers to the fish as Peter’s.

Lest we think it is just a metaphor, there were 153 of them. Not 152 or 100 or “a bunch.” 153.

Peter hasn’t even been restored.

God is so good to us. He saves us through faith in Jesus Christ, He restores us, and He lovingly and amazingly uses us… He doesn’t have to. He doesn’t need to. But He does.

Praise be to God! May He use us to catch much fish!