Breakfast With Jesus

John 21 – “Breakfast On The Beach”

Big idea: Jesus believes in you!

“We believe in God – because God believes in us!”

Introduction: We all need someone to believe in us!!!

Favourite breakfast.... My friend Pete and I met at Hanks Bakery every week for 12 years (Hi Donna!)

Breakfast at home ? Fred style; eggs/bacon/home fries/avocado/toast/coffee...

The gospels show us Jesus likes feeding people...

5000 from a boys lunch

Supper with the 12 before his crucifixion (the famous “Last Supper)

We also love food... birthdays and anniversary’s call for special meals... at home or at a restaurant

Sometimes really significant conversations occur over the dinner table... or breakfast in this case.

Situation: It's After The Resurrection/before the Ascension ... The 7 Disciples decide to Go Fishing ...

As we open john 21 today we find 7 of the disciples hanging out on the beach... on the shores of Galilee.

Jesus has risen from the dead...he has appeared and then disappeared before his disciples.

He’s preparing them for his ascension and departure.

He’s planning to leave them in charge of everything.

Preaching the gospel

Building the church

Missionary travel

Making disciples.

But here on the seashore,

The crow of that infamous rooster still echoes in Peter’s mind... it's hard to shake.

...Peter denied knowing Jesus – not once, but 3 times -- and ever since Peter has been carrying around that baggage – and the baggage is very heavy .

Peter crumbled under pressure... He denied his Lord – not once but three times!

That’s some very heavy baggage

Complete humiliation

Complete shame

Ultimate regret.

It's fascinating to note that in Mark’s gospel account of the resurrection, the angels tell the women, “go, tell his disciples, and Peter.”

(special mention for Peter ... Peter isn’t forgotten or given up on!)

Now as we look into John 21, a week or two has passed – Jesus has already appeared several times... and now having seen the risen Lord, Peter it seems... is still trying to figure out where he fits in...

His default behaviour is to go fishing.

It's what he knows; he feels at home on the water.

Maybe he just needs time to think... or maybe he’s considering returning to his old career.

The upper room and Pentecost is yet in the future...

I can imagine Peter sitting beside the seashore...looking out upon Galilee – the place so familiar to him; so comfortable. ... thinking about Jesus;

thinking about his triple denial;

hating himself.

After a long silence.... Peter speaks.

“I’m going out to fish...” he says.

The others seem to waiting for Peter to say or do something...

The other 6 quickly reply; “we’ll go with you.”...

Peter has that certain something we call leadership.

But there’s no fish in the sea that night...

No fish! (all night they keep casting the nets.... and they keep coming up empty...)

it's a complete mystery for these seasoned fishermen to get skunked!

As morning breaks and the sun rises over the Galilean hills, there’s a voice....

... “have you any fish?”

“No” .... nothing... not even a few skulpins!!!

“Try the other side”! Says the voice from the shore.

Don’t you hate it when people who aren’t in your field of expertise tell you what to do and make it sound so easy?

Well, perhaps out of desperation they decide to try the other side...

Suddenly ... The Nets are filled!!! (what excitement... )

***We went cod fishing last summer in Conception Bay and Val proved to be quite the fish catcher --- she was especially proficient catching skulpins!!! ( I think there was 5 in one day...)

But bringing in the cod-fish was great fun!

*** Here’s a thought... is it possible that the one who filled their nets had also kept them empty that night!!!

...in the boat, John turns to Peter –

“ I know who that is .... it's the Lord!”

(Of course...its the Lord himself!)

***Peter is so excited... he jumps out of the boat and swims ashore***

On the beach Jesus has made a fire... on the fire there’s fish...

**Don’t you just love going down to Topsail beach for a fire and some good food... it's a place and a setting where good friendships can grow.

Jesus says the 7 - Bring some of the fish you just caught!

I can see a little twinkle in Jesus eye here ... like ... (Who really caught these fish???)

“Come and have breakfast.” Says Jesus

Notice? Jesus already had fish!!! ... he didn’t need their fish to serve breakfast!

Jesus took the bread and gave it to them

He did the same with the fish

We all know about the last supper – well I guess this is the last breakfast!

Jesus has made a fire – a charcoal fire.