Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 21:6

"And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes." — John 21:6 (ASV)

By commanding them to cast the net on the right side of the ship, Jesus was either testing their faith by recommending a procedure the Galilean fishermen never used, or he could discern the presence of a school of fish from the more advantageous viewpoint of the shore. Whatever the reason for the suggestion, the disciples evidently felt that one more attempt at casting the net could be no more futile than their nightlong efforts had been; and it might be worthwhile. The resultant catch was so great that they could not load it into the boat. The similarities between this episode and the one recorded in Lk 5:1–11 prompted the disciples’ recognition of Jesus. “The disciple whom Jesus loved” was the first one to recognize the mysterious stranger on the shore as none other than the Lord Jesus himself.

Peter’s quick reaction revealed his real feeling toward Jesus. Grasping his outer cloak, which he had laid aside to give him more freedom in working, he wrapped it around himself and dived overboard. His eagerness to see Jesus was consistent with his former profession of loyalty, which he had intended to keep but had not. This was probably not the moment of reconciliation, however, for Luke states that Jesus had met Peter personally on the first day of the Resurrection , as well as at the locked-door episodes .