After these things Jesus showed himself again to the
disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter,
Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and
two others of his disciples. Simon Peter
said to them, “I am going fishing.” They
said to him, “We will go with you.” They
went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after
daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was
Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you
have no fish, have you?” They answered him,
“No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to
the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to
haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter,
“It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard
that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into
the sea. But the other disciples came in
the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land,
only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they
saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of
the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net
ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there
were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have
breakfast.” Now none of the
disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to
them, and did the same with the fish. This
was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised
from the dead. John
21:1 - 14 (NRSV)
The last time the Lord and his
disciples had eaten together was in the upper room. That was supper; this was breakfast. Then it was the establishing of a New
Covenant; now it was the fellowship of friends.
In the evening it was the scarcity of unleavened bread and wine; in the
morning it is the abundance of the fresh catch of the day!
Thursday was somber resolve amidst betrayal; now it is resurrection joy!
The differences were night and
day…literally!
And theologically! When Jesus passed out the bread and wine
Thursday night he was facing death; when He served fish and bread
in the morning by the seashore, he was the risen Lord who had conquered death!
Today…for you
Isn’t it time to take Jesus off that cross, crack a
great big joyful smile (OK a grin will do for a start)…and fill up the
plate? Death is defeated! Eternal life is not in question.
Warning….if you walk around with that thought on your
front-burner today people will be wondering what you’re up to, with all that
smiling going on.
He is risen, indeed!
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