A Fireside Breakfast (John 21:1-23)

I love a campfire. Roasting hotdogs, and marshmellows. Watching the flames dance. Its relaxing. But it also brings to mind an account of one of Jesus’ appearings after the ressurection.

The Directionless Disciples

John 21:1–3 CSB

After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples were together. “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

The disciples had seen Jesus before this encounter, but without him there to follow each day, Peter and the other disciples went back to fishing. They went back to the life they knew; the life they lived before Jesus.

Sometimes in our Christian lives it can be easy to fall back into old lives. That old habit, lifestyle, sin that used to fill our lives. Yet notice they caught nothing. The old life we lived apart from God will never give satisfaction, or fulfillment.

Jesus’ Call Gives Direction

John 21:4–14 CSB

When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not know it was Jesus. “Friends,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. The disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer clothing around him (for he had taken it off) and plunged into the sea. Since they were not far from land (about a hundred yards away), the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them. 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. “Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When Jesus appeared everything changed.

They caught a miraculous haul

They found fulfilment

Peter swam to Jesus

Peter abandoned his earthly focus

People look for fulfilment in many places. They seek it in wealth, power, and purpose. Yet those things will always leave us empty. No amount of fish would have given Peter peace in his heart. They pulled up 153 of them here in one cast of the net.

When we get our eyes back on Jesus we find fulfilment in our lives.

The Restoration of Peter

John 21:15–19 CSB

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. 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. 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. “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.”

Three times the betrayal = three times the guilt

Three times the restoration = 3 times the peace

It would have been easy for Jesus to simply ask the question once and let Peter answer. But by probing three times it forced Peter to really think. Really feel. Really know the truth. Preparing him to endure the future when his love for Jesus would really be pressed. That holding to his love unlike what he did earlier would lead to his death.

Eyes Front Soldier

John 21:20–22 CSB

So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them, the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is the one that’s going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” “If I want him to remain until I come,” Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”

Peter asked Jesus about John’s future. Probabbly because Jesus told peter , “You are going to be cruxified because of your love for me.” But Jesus makes this beautifully simple responce. John 21:22 ““If I want him to remain until I come,” Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow me.””

Don’t worry about everyone else’s life. Each of us have different paths to take with Jesus. Some might have it easier than you, others might have it harder. The only thing that matters is if you are following Jesus to the best of your ability.