Breakfast with Jesus

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Imagine with me, you got a letter in the mail today, and you were invited back to your hometown for your high school reunion of 20 years. And if you haven’t graduated High school yet imagine what the would be like, and if you have already experienced a 20 year reunion - this is a chance for you to reflect in your memory banks. But if you decided to travel back for your high school reunion - you have a chance to go back to your old town - your old state; You would have a chance to walk through through those old high school halls to see what that old building is like. And if you were traveling all the way back to your old town - you might even stop and see your old neighborhood and old house you grew up in. And if you had a chance to see all this old familiar stuff - what would it feel like? Perhaps it would bring about a feeling of comfortability, perhaps it would bring up all these different memories that you have of that place, but perhaps as you looked all this familiar stuff - it would also feel strange or odd. Even though this things would be familiar - they would feel odd not because they have changed, but because you have changed. You aren’t the same person you were as a kid. You aren’t the same person you were in high school. And imagine that this is something that the disciples would have felt as well. In our text we find Peter and the some other disciples in the region of Galilee fishing - just like they were before Jesus called them to follow Him. They returned back to their old, familiar ways - and I’m sure it wouldn’t have felt the same. Getting all the nets and boats ready to fish may have felt odd. Making sure the supplies were all laid out - maybe would have been different. Even just going fishing - returning to something that you once knew so well would have maybe been strange for disciples, not because fishing had changed, but because following Jesus and seeing and experiencing all the things they had, they were the ones who changed.

In our text again today, Jesus meets these disciples fishing again and calling them into the mission again. Jesus cares for the disciples and sends them into mission (and you and me today) by Revealing who He is by what He does, Instructing them, and Nourishing them.

As we were driving back from Call Day in St. Louis, after the excitement, I saw this most interesting billboard. It was an advertisement for the famous restaurant - Cracker Barrel. It has of course the address and the exit number, and the name of the restaurant, but on the top of the BillBoard in Bright Yellow - it said “World Best Pancakes served here.” There was no big picture - to wet the appetite; there was no testimonial for other people, there wasn’t even a pancake on the Bill Board - all it had were the words of what they do -serve the world’s best pancakes. Now as you driving along - you have the opportunity to trust Cracker Barrel - do they truly have the world’s best pancakes? Is there another restaurant better? But this sign had the simple, bold statement, “World’s Best Pancakes served here.” Maybe there are some of us today - who think that we have tasted better pancakes than theirs. Maybe their some of us - begin to wonder how can they have the audacious claim that they have the best.

Jesus is there standing on the bank of shore. And as He standing there it says in our text that the disciples don’t recognize who it is. Maybe the light was too bright. Maybe they were too far away, maybe they engrossed in their busy work of fishing or lack there of, but they failed to recognize Him. But as Jesus tells them instructions how to fish - just like He had done before, in that moment they recognized it was Jesus. Jesus was there standing before the disciples, and He revealed that He was not just great at fishing, but He revealed that He has conquered the grave; He revealed that He was faithful to His Word, He revealed that He has the victory over the nails and the cross! He revealed and showed the disciples that He is the Messiah - the powerful One of God. As we gather here today - maybe we gather in the name of Jesus like some of the world’s worst food critics who taste a pancake at Cracker Barrel. Maybe there are moments in our lives and we look at all things that we wish Jesus would do. Perhaps there are moments of struggle and doubt and we hope that Jesus would intervene and remove the struggle that we are dealing with. We stand there in doubt focusing on the ways where we fail to Jesus working - instead of seeing who He is and what He has done for us. He has conquered the grave to give you life. He died on a cross that you may have life. He comes to you today - look at all great things that I have done to have you! Jesus reveals who He is by what He does!

Jesus cares for and send the disciples and us in mission by revealing who He is by what He does, but also instructing. Jesus is there standing on the shore and He sees that the disciples have failed to catch any fish. But He asks the question anyhow, “Children, do you have any fish?” And the disciples have to answer that question, “No”. Remember that these disciples were not just hobby fisherman - maybe like some of us here today, but these fisherman were career fisherman - that is what they did for a living! And I’m sure that they tried all the different strategies to make it work, I’m sure they used all their tricks of the trade, but Jesus simply tells them such simple words, “Cast your net on the right side of the boats, and you will find some.” Jesus tells them exactly what to do and they end up with this great catch of fish - John even gives us the exact number, 153. At His Word - the Disciples listen and find themselves with a big catch of fish.

For the disciples after working and sweating all night and not being able to catch anything, I’m sure it must have been humbling hearing someone from the shore yell out this simple strategy let your net down on the right side of the boat. This is the second time Jesus had this exact thing with the disciples - the first time was their first call as He called them to follow Me. But for you and me today, Jesus invites to hear His voice. In mission for Jesus or even just in life - we can be so concerned with the results. We want to see the things that we are hoping for, or telling people about Jesus - we want to see results of people coming to church. So in my most things in life - if don’t see the results we want we can try to change the process. But Jesus gives us instructions in mission and life with Him. He has given us His Word as we step out in mission; this doesn’t mean we are always going to see these dramatic results like the disciples did fishing - but we have the power of Jesus Word - the One to which we are called to be faithful. Because the Word of Jesus creates life, the Words of Jesus give hope, the Words of Jesus are everything we need in this world.

Jesus as He cals HIs disciples and you and me into mission and life with Him - He reveals who He is by what He does, He instructs through His Word and He nourishes us for the mission. Here in our text we have the greatest Easter breakfast with Jesus and HIs disciples. They were working all night - and Jesus invites them to come and join Him for a meal. So it says they recognize it is Jesus Peter races to the shore and the rest of the disciples follow. But as they arrive they find that Jesus has all ready prepared the meal. The fire is already there. Jesus had brought His own fish, and He even brought the bread to eat. The disciples had the huge catch of fish - 153 - but Jesus already had prepared breakfast for them! He has done all the work!

Jesus today for you and Me - invites to come close to Him - so He too can nourish us and care for us. And there may be moments when like we are invited to a breakfast or party but someone else - we want to bring a side dish or something that compliments the main course. But Jesus the great host - says I’ve got it all covered. In our spiritual lives in mission and in life with Jesus - there may be moments as we come to Jesus and maybe we say - Jesus look at this big catch of fish - I caught! Jesus look at how great that I have done in your name! Jesus look at the amazing work that I have done for your kingdom growth. Like a dinner party as we approach Jesus there can be this temptation to bring our things, but Jesus just like with the disciples - He invites us to leave behind the work that we have done, He invites to gather around Him - and partake of the meal that He has prepared - a meal for you of life and forgiveness. And Jesus the great host has done all the work!

As we gather today and step out in life and mission with Jesus - we are remind in this great breakfast scene from John that Jesus is the One who reveals Himself by what He does, He instructs with His Word, and He nourishes us. As followers of Jesus may we continue to look to the Savior being ready to here His call and gather around the His meal - His meal of blessings and life for us.

Now may the grace of God the peace of God which surpasses all understanding may it guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus our Lord - Amen.