–And Breakfast is Ready!

Jesus’ friends, his disciples, are reeling from all that has happened over the course of a few days and weeks.  They saw Jesus humiliated, stripped of his robe, beaten and ultimately crucified, the Romans invention of torture for criminals and insurrectionists.  Most of His followers had run from the scene as Jesus had instructed but John and Peter remained nearby.  Peter had disobeyed Jesus’ instructions to leave the scene and then lied and denied knowing him, taking matters into his own limited hands so he could stay near Jesus to see what would happen.  How repentantly remorseful Peter must have felt when His Master Teacher’s eyes fell on him in the courtyard on Jesus’ way to more beatings.  This has to be firmly planted in his memory bank playing over and over in his mind. 

But then, just as Jesus said, He came back to full life, scars and all, and appeared to them as they hid out in a locked room!  He even ate with them to prove He was not a ghost but full flesh and blood.  What was going on in Peter’s mind at that point?  He was ecstatic and full of joy that Jesus, his beloved Master was alive but was he also wondering if, maybe Jesus forgot his sin of disobeying him?  Peter knew better.  He probably has been thinking of a good time to talk this over with Jesus. 

At the beginning of this passage, the disciples seem depressed.  They haven’t been given any other instructions yet.  They might be confused as to what they will do next and how they will do it, IF they do anything at all.  Have you ever been in this predicament?  I have many times!  Then the mood shifts with Peter in the lead.  Not surprising, is it?  Peter jumps up from the melancholy in the air and does what Peter does best—takes action.  “I’m going fishing.”  The fishermen of the group easily follow.  Let’s do what we know—fish! 

It’s as if they are thinking, “we have been still long enough, going over and over this in our minds so let’s move forward with what we know best”.  So, the rest of the group follow because, well, why not?  The disciples stopped long enough for a time to process the events, Jesus appearing to them earlier to prove is resurrection from the dead, and now Peter decides it’s time to move forward.  But then Jesus comes to them again.

Jesus comes to where they are.  Jesus serves his friends a breakfast of fish and bread on some hot coals right there on the beach.  He knows they caught no fish all night.  How Jesus must be smiling at the thought as he prepares his friends a hot meal after working all night for nothing in return.  He knows their broken hearts and what’s on their tired minds.  Can we just camp on these thoughts?  Friends, Jesus appears in our moments of wondering and confusion in our lives when we need Him most.  Why, because He always knows what we need most before we know we need Him.  He comes and “serves breakfast” when we least expect it.  He turns problems in solutions and confusion into clarity which is what I long for most days more than bacon and eggs!  Jesus does this when we are thinking about Him in our stillness. 

“Be still and know that I am God” is not just a placemat, it is a promise to know God and know what He wants next on our journey with Him.  We must be still in our minds to hear Him.  God never disappoints.  As Jesus, Son of God, appeared to his friends on the beach, He appears to us daily as we abide in His Holy Spirit.  When we humbly ask, His Holy Spirit brings peace, clarity, wisdom, insight, and understanding along with serving us a breakfast of unconditional love and forgiveness because of his undying mercy and grace.  Our God is faithful, unchanging, and relentless in His love for us.

BUT, THAT’S NOT ALL!

Along with breakfast, Jesus first provides a memory and a blessing— “cast your net on the other side” (memory) with a haul of 153 fish (blessing) to feed their families!  Think about it.  Take all the time you need.  Jesus told his fishermen to “cast on the other side” when they first met Him.  They followed Him, “leaving their nets behind”.  And now Jesus does it again!! 

Jesus does again and again for us!  Miracles and memories.  Trust Him.  Let’s eat breakfast!

In tomorrow’s passage, Peter will get to “have that little talk with Jesus” to clear the air as Jesus teaches Him once more about His love.  Peter was forgiven and given new instructions that will change the world.  But first, let’s eat breakfast, says Jesus.  Friends, isn’t it just like Jesus to meet our physical, emotional and mental needs and then spiritually fill us with what we really need most—HIM!

John—God’s Love

John 21:1-14, The Message

Fishing

^1-3 After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.”

^3-4 The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him.

⁵ Jesus spoke to them: “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?”

They answered, “No.”

⁶ He said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.”

They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in.

^7-9 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Master!”

When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. The other disciples came in by boat for they weren’t far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it.

^10-11 Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore—153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn’t rip.

¹² Jesus said, “Breakfast is ready.” Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master.

^13-14 Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.

Lord and Savior,

Thank you for serving me breakfast when I needed it most.  Thank you for saving my soul.  Thank you for picking me up when I am down.  Thank you for your wisdom and clarity when I am overwhelmed with confusion.  Help me to hear your voice above all other voices and “go fishing” by loving others like you love me so they will know you.   To you be the glory forevermore!

In Jesus Name, Amen

And I’m singing… “Have a Little Talk with Jesus”

I once was lost in sin but Jesus took me in
And then a little light from heaven filled my soul
He bathed my heart in love and He wrote my name above
And just a little talk with Jesus makes me whole

Now let us have a little talk with Jesus
Let us tell Him all about our troubles
He will hear our faintest cry
And He will answer by and by

And when you feel a little prayer wheel turnin’
And you will know a little fire is burnin’
Find a little talk with Jesus makes it right

I may have doubts and fears
My eyes be filled with tears
But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night
I go to him in prayer
He knows my every care
And just a little talk with Jesus makes it right

Now let us have a little talk with Jesus
Let us tell Him all about our troubles
He will hear our faintest cry
And He will answer by and by

And when you feel a little prayer wheel turnin’
And you will know a little fire is burnin’
You will find a little talk with Jesus makes it right…