John 21:12 – “Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.” NIV
Breakfast is said to be one of the most important meals of the day! I know people who wouldn’t dare start their day without breakfast, although, I have done it many times! One of my favorite pastimes is getting together with a friend over breakfast! We laugh, talk, and laugh some more. And we leave refreshed, encouraged and ready to return to the “normal” activities of our day! My favorite breakfast of all, is the one my husband makes for me: French toast with syrup, grits and eggs! I’m making myself hungry thinking about it! I’m sure the reason I love it so much is because he prepares it!
Recently, I heard a message, given by Pastor Eugene Cho, taken from John 21: 1- 14. I was blessed by his insights into this passage, and I decided to share some of it with you, with a little personal spin.
Pastor Cho shared that in the beginning of this chapter, Peter announces that he’s going fishing. Several of the disciples were with him and they decided to join Peter. This fishing trip wasn’t about making money, as much as it was about the utter discouragement that they were all experiencing. And therefore, discouraged and disillusioned, they returned to what was familiar, fishing.
Remember, Peter had promised Jesus, that even if every one left Him, he never would. Jesus told Peter that not only would he deny Him, but that he would do it three times before morning. As passionately as Peter proclaimed his dedication to Jesus, he denied Jesus with even more passion, to point of cursing! Peter’s heart was broken over his denial of Jesus, and so he wept bitterly. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, Peter and the disciples were still disappointed, discouraged, and lost. They wasn’t sure about anything in their lives at this point, but they knew how to fish. So off to fishing they went!
Although they fished all night, they caught nothing. As morning was rolling in, Jesus stood on the banks and called out to them. “Friends, haven’t you any fish!” They replied no, and to this, Jesus responded with a miracle. He told them to throw their net on the right side of the boat and fish started hopping into that net. Of course, when their nets were filled with fish, they recognized it was Jesus speaking to them. They knew He had risen from the dead, but He wasn’t hanging out with them any more. Can you imagine spending all that time with Jesus and then you don’t see Him anymore? Of course, when we have a little dry spell in Him, we begin to panic. So I think you get a slight indication as to how they were feeling. At this point, any opportunity to see Him was an exciting opportunity, I’m sure! So what does Peter do? Peter jumped in the water to swim to shore, while the others stayed on the boat. When they arrive to shore, Jesus has fish cooking, but He told them to bring some of their fish, and He invited them to eat breakfast with Him. Here comes the good stuff!
Jesus knew their state of mind. He knew they were discouraged. He knew their flesh was shouting to them, to give up on all that He had taught them, to return to what they knew. Just like people we may know today, or maybe even us. They hit a wall in their faith. A church member betrays their trust, a spiritual leader does the unthinkable, someone dies that they feel God should’ve healed, tribulations are overwhelming…I don’t want to depress you, but things happen! As things had happened to Peter and the disciples to bring them to this point. It is knowing this, where they are spiritually and emotionally, that Jesus comes to have breakfast with them.
Jesus offers no rebuke! “What are you guys thinking? Why are you out here fishing? Have I wasted the last three years of my life with you? Was it all for nothing?” Nope! None of that! He enjoys breakfast with some of His disciples. The fellowship that refreshes, strengthens, and make you glad that you stopped and spent that time with a friend. But this breakfast was about more than friendship, at this breakfast He offers grace and restoration. Especially to Peter. He asks Peter, do you love me, and Peter has a chance to reaffirm His love to Jesus, to His Savior. He had already seen Peter’s tears of repentance. He knew that Peter was disgusted with himself for what he had done. He still had a work for Peter, for His disciples. They needed to be whole and know that He still loved them and believed in them. And so He comes and extends grace and restoration. Then He recommissions Peter and the others for the work of the kingdom. And the rest, as we say, is history!
There are times we all get it wrong! Times when we desperately want Jesus to truly throw our sins as far as the east is from the west. Times when we are confused, hurt, and vulnerable to the attacks of the devil. But these are the times, that we need to get before the Lord, and dine with Him! Not a literal breakfast, but to feast on His Word, to feast in His Presence, to allow Him to restore to us the joy of our salvation, so we can get back in the race!
He’s not ready to kick you to the curb! He loves you! And He will give you the opportunity, just as He did with Peter and the disciples, to renew your love for Him, to reaffirm your commitment to Him. There’s no time like the present to “have breakfast” with Jesus! Grace and restoration is available for you!
Well, this isn’t exactly how he preached his message, but this was my “take away”! I was blessed by it, and wanted to add my two cents! Wonderful Jesus!
