INTIMATE BREAKFAST
APRIL 14, 2023
JOHN
21:9-17
9 When
they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it,
and bread. 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them. 11
So Simon Peter climbed up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish—153 of
them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 “Come and have
breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are
you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread, and
gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third
time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When
they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you
love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love
you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him. 16 A second time he asked him, “Simon, son
of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love
you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him. 17 He asked him the third time, “Simon,
son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third
time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I
love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.
I remember
from childhood that charcoal fires take time. The beachside barbecue described
in verse 9 could be one of the most overlooked miracles of Jesus’ ministry.
Look at
the intimacy in this text. The resurrected Jesus knew it was a priority to eat
a meal with his disciples. He blessed them with overwhelming abundance that was
dragged in despite the fact that it was beyond their nets’ capacity to handle
(v.11). He lovingly confronted Peter and then restored Peter. It must has been painful
for Peter to be reminded of the three times he denied Jesus and failed to come
through on his bold promise, made that very same night, to die before he would
forsake Jesus. According to Luke 22:61, there is this little detail that always
moves me, it tells us that Jesus looked directly at Peter the moment Peter
denied him for the third time the night before the crucifixion. This act of
denial broke Peter. At this beachside breakfast, however, Peter is restored. Back
in his proper place. That’s what saving and restoration is, it means to be reinstated, to
be returned to your proper place among God’s people.
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