COME & EAT --- BREAKFAST ON THE BEACH

Come & Eat

John 21:1-14

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. John 21:12

What a powerful testimony we just heard from Keren. The power and the hope of the resurrection is what holds us, what give us the hope to move forward--one step at a time. The reality of the resurrection calls us to a response. What is our response to the resurrection? Is the resurrection a reality to you and for you? What happens while we wait in the power of the hope of the resurrection?

Let us turn to God’s Word and see the reality of the resurrection found in John’s Gospel.

Let us pray. “God, You loved us so much that You gave us Your One and Only Son so that we could have life and life abundantly. Come today and fill our hearts with the reality of the resurrection. Help us to see and know the reality of the resurrection now calls each of us to respond. Amen”

John 21-1-14

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.[i]

THE CALL OF THE RESURRECTION

Many scholars have debated whether chapter 21 belongs to John or not. The last two verses of chapter 20 seem to be a fitting end to this Gospel story. “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” I believe that chapter twenty-one was written to demonstrate the reality of the resurrection. There were many people who said that the appearance of the risen Christ was just a vision --- a figment of the disciple’s imagination. Many would admit the reality of the visions but insist that they were still only visions. Some would say that the disciples hallucinated. The Gospel writers go out of their way to tell us that the risen Christ was not a vision. What vision would talk with the disciples and point out the right place to throw their net? What vision or hallucination would kindle a fire on the seashore and cook a meal and share that meal? The reality of the resurrection is at the center of what we believe. The reality of the resurrection is what gave the disciples the power to die for what they believed. Who would be willing to die for a lie? The reality of the resurrection is what gives us the hope of eternal life.

In our story this morning is a list of seven disciples who went fishing out on the Sea of Tiberias. The names of Peter and Thomas, which appear in the first and second positions, are obviously significant. Thomas is the doubter to whom Jesus appeared and whose story is told just verses before this. “Put your hands into my wounds.” Peter is the denier who is recommissioned to service in the verses immediately following. Can we miss out on the fact that the church is made up of doubters, deniers, and sinners of all kinds? But it is these doubters and deniers who have been brought to faith by the reality of the resurrection. Maybe, just maybe, the names of the last two disciples in our story this morning are not given so that we could put our name into the story. Our lives are touched by the reality of the resurrection, we are forever changed, and we can dream again. What is your response to the resurrection?

John 11:21-26

Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

THE CALL OF THE RESURRECTION DOES NOT CHANGE

Matthew 4:18-20

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. [1]

John 1:35-39

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

John 21:12-14

12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

The resurrection changes everything! The call of the resurrection does not change! Jesus says and continues to say; “Come follow me --- I will make you fishers of men and women.” “Come and see!” Come to me all you are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” “Come and have breakfast.”

So What?

What is your response to the call of the resurrection?

John 11:21-26

Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

The Seed Christian Fellowship

Rancho Cucamonga, California 91701

www.theseedchristianfellowship.com

May 5, 2019

Pastor Dave Peters

[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Mt 4:18–20). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[i] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Jn 21:1–14). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.