Breakfast with Jesus-In His Word 4-10-23
Yesterday during our Pastor’s Easter Sunday message, I
realized a portion of the following story from the Bible that I had not thought
to pay attention to before. The guys went out to fish, now this was what some
of them had done for a job prior to following Jesus. The thing is He was gone
and raised again by now so they just went about doing what they could I guess,
but Peter suggested fishing and the guys followed. After fishing all night and having
nothing to show for it they noticed a guy on the beach calling out asking if
they had caught anything. This would have been a common occurrence as people
would buy the fish they had caught I am sure. Read on through these verses and
I will meet you on the beach at the end!
Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”
“We’ll come, too,”
they all said. So, they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all
night.
At dawn Jesus was
standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called
out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”
“No,” they replied.
Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of
the boat, and you’ll get some!” So, they did, and they
couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the
Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he
had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat and pulled the
loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. When
they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a
charcoal fire, and some bread.
“Bring some of the fish you’ve
just caught,” Jesus said. So,
Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large
fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.
“Now come and have
some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are
you?” They knew it was the Lord. Then
Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time Jesus had
appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. John 21:14
Are you realizing the part that stands out more now? Read it
a couple times then stop and think about it… John notice when the guy told them
to try the right hand side of the boat and that they would get some there that
the boat was over full of fish and the net was dragging as they turned to head
in. He knew in that instant who could have done that!
“It’s the Lord!” he told Peter and probably the rest of the
boat. For the first time I heard that pointed out and I imagined him realizing
it and then looking at Peter directly when they said “It’s the Lord!” in unison
but maybe it was just John. So it continues that Peter was so excited that he
jumped in and headed out ahead to get to Jesus fast! If you notice they called
him Simon Peter here because he had not yet made peace with God over this denying
Christ. At least that’s what I was told. It makes sence.
So, he hurries to Jesus, I imagine a scene with him hugging
Jesus and apologizing and then he hurries to bring the other fish, helping the
other guys.
Later on, Jesus asks him the tough questions.
After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” John 21:15
He goes on to ask him to feed His lambs, sheep, and again
lambs. The point being that once Peter knew it was Jesus he was given a task is
something I find exciting. God does not give up on us because we get scared.
You remember I wrote a bit about Peter thinking he was better than the rest,
but realized too late he was the worst, at least in his own eyes. This was a
chance for him to see that Jesus not only forgave him but also wanted him to
understand the task at hand to love on others, to share the Gospel, and to care
for them as he did so.
Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes,
Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love
me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He
said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when
you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went
wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your
hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know by what kind
of death he would glorify God.
Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” John 21:16-19
From here they go on to ask about another disciple but Jesus
makes it clear that we are to follow Him, not worry about what the other guy is
doing, or if he is walking the path with us, but stay focused on the task God
gives us. Just like Peter. Maybe its time for you to start having breakfast
with Jesus and sit and talk with the Lord as you start your day? Maybe He wants
to show you who to love, care for, or feed? Follow Him and you will know, but
you have to put forth the time and effort to do what He says, and follow.
In His love