What does the net full of fish picture in John's Gospel?
The net full of fish pictures the future regathering of Israel. Though the catch was so full it would normally break, the net did not break and not one fish was lost, showing God will regather Israel completely without loss.
Les explains that this eighth sign advances on the earlier sign at the marriage of Cana, where water pots were filled with wine to complete national joy. The net full of fish, however, pictures the regathering of Israel, as seen in Ezekiel 37. When God gets ready to regather the children of Israel, the net will not break, and He will not lose one or two. This contrasts with Luke 4, where the net broke and they lost their fish. The sign shows the direction the nation is going.