Breakfast with Jesus

Submitted by Lara Cook
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. — John 21:12

Breakfast with Jesus

It was a short time following Jesus’ death.  The disciples were still not back to their normal routines, but they were trying.  This particular morning, some of the disciples had been out fishing all night but they had not caught one single fish.  A man standing on the shore called out to them to drop their nets on the other side of the boat.  They were frustrated with the results they were getting and decided they had nothing to lose by following the stranger’sweird advice.  They cast their nets on the other side of the boat and they caught so many fish that they could barely drag the netinto the boat.  Immediately they knew who the stranger on the beach was.  It was Jesus.  John shouted, “It is the Lord!”  Jesus had been seen twice since His resurrection and this makes the third time.  Jesus’ response to that was “Come and eat breakfast”.   

Breakfast on the beach with Jesus.  What a great invitation.  Peter was among this group of disciples who Jesus had just cooked breakfast for.  It was just a short while ago that he had denied Jesus three times, much to his horror.  He thought about that as he stepped out of the boat.  Would he be able to face Jesus?  Would Jesus bring it up?  Jesus did bring it up, but not the way Peter expected:

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”  He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him.  Some think Jesus was giving Peter the opportunity to proclaim three times out loud his love for Jesus, just as he had denied him three times.  He was subtly reminding Peter of his sin while giving him an important jobto carry on, assuring Peter of His love for him and His trust in him to lead others.  In fact, Jesus entrusted Peter with something that was very important to Him – feeding His sheep.  What Jesus meant by that was that he was entrusting Peter with shepherding new Christians. 

Jesus had the chance to condemn Peter, but He doesn’t.  Instead, He cooked him a meal and sat and visited with him, taught him something new and challenged him.  Most of all, He loved him, and Peter knew that he was loved and forgiven.  Jesus doesn’t discard us when we fail Him.  He doesn’t stop loving us or stop using us for His glory.  The Bible is full of broken people that God used.  In our brokenness, He showers us with grace, mercy, and love.  He invites us to Him just as He did Peter.  He loves us and gives us another chance at obedience, and another, and another, and another.  He does not reproach. He restores.  He redeems.  He renews

Scripture to Claim:

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
John 21:17