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Author: Stephen Weller
808 words, 4 minutes read time

Breakfast With Jesus

Scripture: John 21:7-14

In the previous lesson seven disciples seemed to be looking for something to do and decided to go fishing but working all night they caught nothing. At daybreak a person standing on the shore instructs them to cast their net one more time and they would catch some fish. In this lesson we will see what happens when they catch so many fish they couldn’t haul the net in.

^{Jn 21:7} That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. ⁸ The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

All of a sudden, John, the disciple that Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Not only is John a faster runner than Peter (John 20:4) but he seems to have better eyesight than Peter. Hearing this Peter “puts on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.”

Being stripped for work does not mean that he was naked but that he had removed an outer garment that was worn when not working. There have been many times when I worked physically that I remove some outer clothing to compensate for the warmth produced from work. The point being made is that Peter was eager to get to shore to see the Lord. Even though the boat was near land it would take some time to get to shore while dragging a full net of fish, and even though he had sinned by denying Jesus, Peter’s heart was still inclined toward Jesus and eager to be restored.

^{Jn 21:9} When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they got the boat to the shore and got out on land, the first thing that is mentioned that they saw was a charcoal fire. I believe that is important because in John 18:18, Peter was warming himself by a charcoal fire when he first denied Jesus. The stage is being set for Jesus to have conversation with Peter about those denials to set him free from his sin and prepare him for ministry.

Already, Jesus had fish over the fire cooking and bread to eat which draws one’s memory to the feeding of the five thousand plus woman and children from five loaves and two fish. It is possible that the fish laid out and the bread was produced by Jesus as it was at the feeding of the multitude. In addition to these fish, Jesus asked the disciples to bring some from those they caught which may have been produced by Jesus to fill the net.

The only significance of the 153 fish is that fisherman would routinely count their fish before selling them, which they did here. That count also indicated to them that this was a large catch and would produce a fine income. Even though the catch was large the net was not damaged in the process.

Having met Jesus in a locked room twice before after his resurrection they knew this was Jesus and were more at ease now to have breakfast with him. He serves them fish and bread and they ate and most probably talked.

John points out that this was the third time that the disciples had seen Jesus since his death.

Conclusion

A large catch of fish had been made and the disciples are on shore with Jesus who had prepared breakfast for them. The charcoal fire may have been a reminder for Peter of his first denial and the fish and bread a reminder of the feeding of the great multitude from five fish and two loaves of bread. Whatever came to mind, the stage is now set for Jesus to confront Peter about his denials and establish him for coming ministry.