Breakfast Time
Opening Prayer
Lord, there are times when I feel at the end of my resources. I give my emptiness to You; please restore me.
Read John 21:1–14
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as 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 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat 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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Everything Christ does is for your well-being and his glory.It’s been an exhausting few days but then things seem to calm down and Peter, restless as ever, says, “I’m going fishing”—back to what he knows best, and the others follow him.
Then it happens again: Jesus coming incognito, this time as a stranger on the shore offering help to the experienced but frustrated fishermen. Suddenly the net is full and recognition dawns (Luke 5:4–11). It‘s John who makes the connection and Peter who makes the move, just like at the empty tomb. So they haul the catch to shore and accept Jesus’ invitation to breakfast. Jesus has his own fish, but he asks them to bring some of their recent catch (which he was responsible for!) to add to the meal.
So Jesus keeps coming into our lives. Maybe we have denied him, tried to go it alone and failed, but still he comes with no recriminations and invites us to meet him. He has all the resources we need, but he asks for our contribution nonetheless. He wants to talk with us and the conversation will not be about our failure but about his constant love.
Apply
Is there something in your life that makes you feel ashamed to draw near to God? Now is when he longs to draw you closer. Let him.
Closing prayer
God, come to me here and now. Take my brokenness and my ugliness and transform me into Your image for Your glory.
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