TEXT: John 21:1-14

SUBJECT: Exposition of John #50: Breakfast with Jesus

The Scene Set, vv.1-3.

In the first four verses, John sets the scene with his customary eye for detail. He begins by telling us what point he's trying to make, v.1: "Jesus showed Himself again...And in this way, He showed Himself". In v.14 he says it again: "Jesus showed Himself". We must respect his purpose, for it is God's purpose. Thus, whatever we may learn from the verses, we must remember their big idea: "The Lord is risen indeed".

Who was there that day? "The disciples". Which ones? "Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee, and two others". Our Lord "showed Himself alive" to these seven men. This brings up a question--one you've maybe heard before and found puzzling: "Why didn't He show Himself alive to...everyone"? If He had, surely, everyone would believe in Him.

Or would they? John, for one, doesn't think so. Back in 12:37, he writes: "But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe". To what "sign" is he referring? All of them, of course, but to one in particular: The Voice of God! Heaven boomed with the Divine Voice, but people said, "Ah, it was just thunder".

This was no new thing; God charged Israel with the same stubbornness long before, Numbers 14:11: "How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I performed among them?" The people rebelled with the taste of manna still in the mouths! With the fiery pillar right in front of their eyes! With the memory of the Red Sea parted; and many more. Yet the signs did them no good.

Nor would further signs do the modern skeptic any good. He would but explain them away. As for the believer, he doesn't need them--he already believes.

Where did these events take place? At "the Sea of Tiberias", back in Galilee, where the Lord and most of His disciples had grown up.

What were the disciples doing? They were fishing. Peter took the lead, and six of his friends followed. Why not the rest? Probably because they weren't fishermen.

Was this a wrong thing to do? Some commentators say it was. One I read charged them with apostasy; they were quitting the Lord for their former lives. But I don't think so. It seems to me they were doing the right thing. They didn't live in Jerusalem; they were there for Passover. They had families to support, and were doing just that. There is no disgrace in a preacher working with his hands--as Paul teaches elsewhere.

How was their luck? Not too good. They had fished all night and caught nothing.

But their luck was about to change! A man was seen at the shoreline who asked them how they had done. "Nothing" they replied. He offered a suggestion, "Cast your nets on the right side of the boat..." Why not? They had nothing to lose. They dropped the nets and Whammo! The nets were full!

This jogs one man's memory. Some years before, the same thing had happened, and he knows why: "It is the Lord!" Peter agrees, puts on his shirts, and jumps in. The others are left to drag the heavy nets ashore.

What was the catch? "One hundred and fifty three fish"--all of them whoppers.

What does this mean? Why does John mention the exact number? Jerome knew. He said there are 153 species of fish in the sea. And, as "fishers of men", the Apostles would catch every kind of person--young, old, black, white, rich, poor, and so on. This is a true doctrine, but not the one taught here.

Augustine thought numerology would help. 153 is the triangular number of 17 (i.e., 17+17+17=51 and 51+51+51= 153). The 10 in 17 stood for the Ten Commandments; the 7 stood for the Seven Spirits of God. Thus, our Lord, as the Author of the New Covenant gives both "the law" and "the Spirit" to keep it. Another true doctrine, but not what John is trying to teach.

Examples of this kind of "exegesis" could be multiplied, but why would we waste our time on them? It is a good warning, though, that great men can make asinine mistakes. Thus, "Prove all things, hold fast to that which is good".

Why, then does he give the precise total? If you're a fisherman, you know why: It lends authenticity to the narrative. "Fish stories" are well know for being vague. "The salmon was that big!" "I caught a boatload of perch that day!" And so on. But this is no "fish story"; it's an eyewitness account. John counted the fish and gave us the total. That's very important, for he and his friends "Did not follow cunningly devised fables when they made known to [us] the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty".

The fish are counted at last, and the fishermen are hungry. They had no food with them; and maybe hadn't eaten all night. And so, the Lord invites them to breakfast. They savor the food, no doubt, but His company even more. At last! They've learned "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God".

Significance.

What does the story mean? John has told us three times: "Jesus showed Himself [alive]". He has appeared to the disciples three times now--in two different places and to three distinct groupings of them. And note too: Never did He come to them when they were in an elevated state of mind. They weren't longing for Him; they weren't praying hard. A religious ecstasy can create delusions. But the disciples weren't ecstatic! Yet there He is--"Risen indeed!"

It also tells us something about His character. The Jesus they met that day bears a striking resemblance to the Jesus found elsewhere in John's Gospel. His state has changed, but His character hasn't! The catch of fish shows what? His power as Lord of all things. Nebuchadnezzar put it like this:

"He does according to His will

in the army of heaven, and among

the inhabitants of earth:

None can stay His hand or say,

`What are You doing?'"

He had shown His power before, hadn't He? In changing water into wine; in feeding the multitude with a boy's lunch; in walking on the sea; in healing the cripple; in raising the dead; and so on. Now, He's at it again! The resurrection has not reduced His power in the least. Thus, He has power to help you too. Whatever your need, no matter how desperate, He is

"A very present help in trouble".

The draught of fish, though, was more than a display of power. It was also an act of compassion. The disciples were hungry, cold, tired, and disheartened. And so He comes with food, a fire, rest, and encouragement. The very things they need, He gives. And gives, you might notice, without being asked. "The LORD is good!" sang the Psalmist. And then urges us to check it out for ourselves: "Taste and see that the LORD is good!" He is, therefore, not only able to help you, but willing to help too. Eager to help.

His character is unchangeable. As loving now as He was then; and no less powerful. Why? Because "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God", and as firm and faithful as God Himself. Why? Because He is God. Believe in Him and you'll know it's true.

Lastly, it reminds us that our Lord wants our fellowship. A meal in the Ancient Near East was more than a way of sustaining life; it was a social event. It implied love and friendship. This is what made the betrayal so abhorrent: "My familiar friend with whom I ate bread has lifted up his heel against Me" (cf. Psalm 41:9).

Our Lord had often eaten with His disciples. Only a few days before, He had observed the Passover with them. But that was before they did Him wrong. Think about how much He needed them in the Garden. But they couldn't watch with Him, not even an hour. Recall the promises they had made: "If I must die with You, yet I will not deny You". Yet they did, all of them, one three times and with an oath. Think back to the cross. Twelve men swore allegiance to Him. But, on the bloody hill, only one showed up. How badly they had treated their Savior. How justified He would have been in rejecting them. But He didn't. He still ate with them--still loved them, still wanted their fellowship.

And not only theirs. He wants your fellowship too. Thus, you can return to your Savior. Whatever you've done; whatever you've left undone. Jesus Christ waits with open arms, ready to receive you. Must you confess your sins and repent of them? Yes. But when you do, you'll find Him--not the hard man some Christians are--but the same Man we've seen before--the Man who "welcomes sinners and eats with them".

Thus, the seven men of this passage weren't the last ones to dine with Jesus. You can too. You can have His fellowship. You must have it. Will you take it? God help you to do so. For Christ's sake. Amen.