In this story, the evangelist tells us, Jesus appears for the third time to his disciples. These boys have gone off on a little fishing trip. After all, what do you do when your rabbi and Messiah has miraculously been raised from the dead and you’re not quite sure what the next move should be? Sometimes it’s just comfortable to go back to what you know. So, Simon Peter takes the lads out on the boat. They’ve fished all night and caught bupkis. They row back to shore, and there’s a guy there with a charcoal fire making some toast. Yup. It’s the Lord alright. What’s he up to?
Jesus is making the guys some breakfast. He gives them a little advice on where to catch the fish, but he’s already got the fire going to roast some kippers. Kippers and toast sounds like a pretty good breakfast to me. I’m sure Jesus enjoyed it with them, further demonstrating that he wasn’t a ghost. Maybe that’s what he intended to show them through this homely, impromptu picnic by the lake shore. He was real. He rose. Life is eternal, death is conquered, and they have no need to be afraid of anything ever again.
I imagine these old boys felt pretty good sharing each other’s company while munching their toasted fish sandwiches. When I think of this moment, I can almost feel the soft breeze coming off the Sea of Galilee and see the smiles on the faces of the disciples as they relax in the faith and surety that God is in control, Jesus is back, and they just caught 153 fish, most of which they can sell at a profit. It’s a pretty good morning.
That’s another thing Jesus has shown them. They’ve spent a long night and come up empty, but joy came in the morning. God provided for their needs. Maybe they were just looking in the wrong place. Maybe they were impatient. The fish were always there. Jesus wanted them to have faith, to know that God provides. Beside reassuring them of eternal life, Jesus wanted them—and us—to live fearlessly because fear is an instrument of the devil. We’ll be afraid of what we don’t understand, and we’ll learn to hate what we fear. But God calls us to know his goodness and providence and to live lives of trust and faith.
When I see this story in my mind’s eye and imagine Jesus standing with the fork over the barbeque, I’m reminded of John’s version of the Last Supper. Jesus demonstrated his love and ministry by washing the feet of the disciples. Here, in this passage, he’s again taking the servant role. He’s the host and they’re the guests (even though they brought most of the breakfast). He’s leading by example, reminding his buddies their job is to be servants—not leaders—to a hungry world. He’s slowly preparing them to be the Church.
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are struggling with chemo therapy, or worried about their jobs or fear being deported. Once again put our faith and trust in the teacher who truly has come back to life and takes away our fears and carry on His good works.
