Through the Bible - Nehemiah 4-5, Acts 2:42-3:10
Good morning,
Men like to eat. Over the years, at the various churches that I've been involved with, "men's breakfasts" have been organized to bring the men of the church together for fellowship. It is often done to kick off a new study, push for small groups or as a follow up to an event such as Promise Keepers. The idea is to bring some men "back to the fold" who may have been drawn away by work or other interests.
For today's verse we'll go to John 21. The disciples had been told to go to Galilee to wait for Jesus. While waiting they became restless or perhaps bored, unsure of just what they should do while they waited. Peter decides to go back to fishing and others join him. Jesus calls them from the boat to the first "men's breakfast".
John 21: 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. NLT
Then Jesus gives them the invitation.
Then Jesus gives them the invitation.
John 21:12 "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. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. NLT
Richard Burridge writes in his commentary, "this 'third appearance to the disciples' (John. 21:14) is a lovely picture of the risen Jesus coming to find Peter and the others when they have gone back to their old ways. He makes a meal for them, as he did in the good old days. But the smell of the charcoal fire and the bursting net hint that it is all different since the denial in the courtyard and the empty cross and tomb. They should be out fishing for people, bringing the whole universe to be completed in Jesus who feeds them with his risen life through loaves and fishes, bread and wine."
Richard Burridge writes in his commentary, "this 'third appearance to the disciples' (John. 21:14) is a lovely picture of the risen Jesus coming to find Peter and the others when they have gone back to their old ways. He makes a meal for them, as he did in the good old days. But the smell of the charcoal fire and the bursting net hint that it is all different since the denial in the courtyard and the empty cross and tomb. They should be out fishing for people, bringing the whole universe to be completed in Jesus who feeds them with his risen life through loaves and fishes, bread and wine."
In our service and ministries we can get discouraged by lack of growth or interest. We may get restless waiting for the Spirit's prompting for what is next. When you feel this way, come, spend some time, start your day, spend breakfast with Jesus.
Read the chapter if you have time they symbolism is rich. Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him reminding Peter and us of Peter's denials. The fire is the same kind of fire that was used in the courtyard. The fish on the fire are dried fish, like those that the little boy provided in the feeding of the five thousand.
After this and as we move into the book of Acts, we'll see how they truly became fishers of men, and how Peter and the other disciples truly loved Jesus. It started with this men's breakfast.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
John 21:1-15
Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 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.
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
John 21:1-15
Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 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.
3 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.
4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was. 5 He called out, "Fellows, have you caught any fish?"
"No," they replied.
6 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.
7 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. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
10 "Bring some of the fish you've just caught," Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn't torn.
12 "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. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. NLT
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