Breakfast on the Beach

Destinations set the journey.

The journey is important but we must have a clear destination in mind, even if it is just to wander, before we start. Otherwise, we may never know if we got there. The Gospel of John has a destination in mind for all that has been said.

John 20:30–31 NIV

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

This is the goal.

The goal is that we may have life in Jesus!

This is the goal of our church to some extent, and all other churches. We can create crafty purpose and mission statements all we want but the truth of the matter is if we do not see the life of Jesus in those who attend, come, visit, stay then we have missed the point.

We go back to what we know.

This is not a bad thing but it is reality. When things are tough or we are waiting we do what we have always done. It is true of individuals and true of churches. In our text we see Peter doing what Peter has done—fishing. T/his is not in disobedience or shame but because this is what he knows to do. Maybe he was clearing his head. Jesus had told them to go to Galilee (see Matthew and Mark).

The disciples had a night of failure.

This was not a good night for them. We all have night(s) of failure. None of us get it right all the time.

Jesus shows up in our failures.

Jesus stands on the show and asks if they have any fish! Of all the ways the disciples could have been greeted this is not one they wanted I am sure. They had to admit or lie. What do you do?

Jesus offers a different way.

He says go to the other side. Imagine how strange that sounded to them? I wonder if in their head they thought, “look buddy I think I know what I am supposed to do here and that is not going to work!” But it does.

We need Johns and Peters.

John make the claim Peter responds. We must be both at some point in our time. We need people who can point us to Jesus in our failure moments of life. We need to be Peter and run to Jesus in our failure moments of life.

Jesus provides.

Notice that Jesus already had some fish, some bread and a fire. Yet, this was another moment of being faced with failure—charcoal fire.

Jesus invites.

Whether there was enough for all of them or note I do not know but he invites them to join him in his work. Yes it was breakfast time but it is also more than that.

Jesus serves.

Jesus was different than before the crucifixion. Something has changed but yet something remain the same.

Accept the life of Jesus!

Without Jesus we can do nothing that will last. Jesus alone is our source of life! He is life!

Join Jesus in his mission!

Life with Jesus is not about being served but serving. John 20.21 reminds us that as he has been sent so we too are sent.

Let Jesus transform your failures!

We will see this next week especially but I don’t want to leave this message without this thought either.