Breakfast By The Seaside
Or
The Including Of All To Come
Sunday Oct. 29, 2023
Scripture To Consider:
“Then as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.’ Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.”
“Jesus said to them, ‘Come and eat breakfast.’ Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, ‘Who are You?’ knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.” John 21.9-14
Something To Consider:
Jesus was as much as it was possible, always attempting to be inclusive rather than exclusive. It will always remain true that those who are meek shall inherit the earth. And it will always remain true that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are the ones who will be spiritually filled and spiritually satisfied.
And of course, the merciful will always obtain mercy and only the pure in heart shall see God. And these disciples are seeing Jesus for the third time since His resurrection from the dead. And to prove that He is no disembodied spirit, Jesus has built a fire and has prepared a breakfast of grilled fish and fresh baked bread for these disciples to enjoy.
But are we spiritually filled and or spiritually satisfied? In other words, are we at peace with God and those closest to us? David wrote in Psalm 37.11, “The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Are we delighting ourselves in the abundance of peace? Yes or no! What could be more peaceful than sharing a breakfast by the seaside with the Prince of Peace, Jesus?
Something Else To Consider:
And wanting to be inclusive, Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have caught.” Though they had fished all night and actually had caught nothing. And though Jesus had told them which side of the boat to cast their net, He delights in giving them credit for the catch of fish, and includes them in their providing for their breakfast meal.
Jesus includes them all by inviting them to come and eat breakfast with Him. Jesus was constantly compelling people to come to Him, to come and see, to come and follow Him, to come and take part in what God the Father was doing through Him. And so the call to come and to be personally involved in the work of God is to all who truly believe!
The call is to all who have received new life and light from God in and through His dear Son Jesus Christ and His Word. And so Jesus is still calling out to all who have opened their eyes to see and their ears to hear and their hearts to obey His Word and what the Holy Spirit is saying to the true church of this most possible end time 21st century generation.
Jesus is still calling and still saying, “Peace be to you”, as He did on the first two appearances to His disciples in the upper room. And yet, the world is still seeking peace through military might, political dominance, and even much religious manipulation of the truth of the Word of God. Therefore, have we been deceived? Are we being misled and manipulated by political regimes and or so-called religious organized institutions?
The true peace of God comes through many peaceful encounters with Jesus, who is the peace that passes all human understanding. And that true biblical peace begins at the foot of an old rugged cross. When was the last time we were required or willingly chose to visit that battlefield ground that is completely level at the spiritual foot of the cross? The trip alone brings us His peace!
Something More To Consider:
Why is it that we are told the exact number of fish that was caught that day of the disciples peaceful encounter with Jesus? Many commentaries down through the centuries have announced their various theological reasons and theories. But could it be that John is simply being very precise when he records the number of fish to have been one hundred and fifty-three?
Or could it be a setting of the spiritual stage for Peter’s next lesson of a lifetime? Could it be that the Holy Spirit impressed upon John to be precise due to the next episode in the life and times of Simon Peter, the onetime fisher of fish, who had been called to become a fisher of men?
And Peter having been called, he was soon to be empowered to carry out the most important commission given him by Jesus. What are we being called to do and empowered to accomplish with whatever is left of our earthly lives? And will we attempt to accomplish what we are called to accomplish in the fleshly and failing strength of our own power?
If we do what God has anointed us to do, but do it in our own strength, it will fail, like fishing all night and catching no fish, which is what my wife and I call boating, not fishing! Job wrote, “Acquaint yourself with Him [the Lord] and be at peace.” If we are to accomplish the will and work of God, we must be at peace with Him and His written and preserved Word.
How better can we acquaint ourselves with the living God, except by studying His living Word in order to show ourselves approved unto Him? Let us therefore be reminded that God became flesh in the person of Jesus! If we are to become well acquainted with God, we must become well acquainted with His living Word.
A Few Final Words:
Isaiah proclaimed in Isaiah 26.3; “You [God] will keep him [or her] in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed [or fixed] on You [God], because he [or she] trusts in You [God].” Is my mind fixed on Jesus Christ who is the Word of God? Is your mind at peace as you encounter peaceful moments with the Word of God in your life?
If we have any hope of enduring to the end of these end times, we must be found looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and the living Word of God. And eating with Jesus as we abide in His written Word is an awesome experience. But being included in the work and ministry of God to others, is as a joy unspeakable and full of glory.
And according to John, “Jesus said to them, ‘Come and eat breakfast.’ Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, ‘Who are You?’ knowing that it was the Lord.”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, we stand in awe that You are willing to include us in the work and calling of God. Empower us Lord by Your Spirit. And let us be found forever looking unto Jesus, the Word of God. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 