Let's Eat!

How important was breakfast in Jesus' time?

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. - John 21:1-14

The men are fishing, which is what they used to do before they left their nets to follow Jesus.  So, there could be a message here.

They have seen Jesus twice since the Resurrection and they probably have figured out that they cannot continue to follow him.  He will be leaving them again.

So, Peter decides to go fishing.  John makes it sound like it is a way to keep busy, to have time to think, or not think.

We do that, don't we?  We busy ourselves with something we know how to do well just to avoid thinking about it or anything.

But a stranger approaches and calls to them from the shore, about 100 yards away.  He asks them if they have caught anything.

They have no fish.

The men have been out all night.  They have not eaten.  And the Stranger, Jesus, is about to offer them breakfast.

Now the traditional breakfast in his day was bread and fruit.  No fish. They would not have expected fish at all.

They wouldn't have even expected it for the midday meal, which was mostly bread dipped in oils or vinegar and some parched grain.

The meal Jesus was offering them at the start of their day was a feast compared to what they were accustomed to.  And somehow, Jesus already had some fish on the fire.

Those who would have heard this story back then would have been filled with wonder.  What Jesus has to offer is so much better than what life has given them without Jesus.

Even if the men had caught no fish at all, it would have been a memorable occasion.  And yet, Jesus shows them how to catch an abundance of fish.

John uses an exact number here, the way we would, to impress and to sound truthful.  Exact numbers have greater meaning.

There has been a lot of speculation in commentaries about the significance of the number, but I think it is just a lot of fish, more than expected.

Perhaps it signifies the work they were going to be asked to do.  Go out and find the lost, and never give up, even after catching nothing all night long.

There may be people in need of salvation nearby you may have missed.

It is easy to give up.  We can take just so much before we feel justified in saying, enough.

But maybe we can listen to Jesus and try one more time.

More to come...