Come and Dine

This scripture continues to reveal the shape the disciples got into so quickly. They were eye witnesses to the events in Jesus' life yet they failed. He told them to cast on the right side of the ship thereby giving them the solution for not catching any fish. Sometimes we think the right thing doesn't work, but it does and Jesus is still right on the shore to give us the solution. Jesus gave the disciples an invitation they did not deserve, and it showed them how much Jesus loved them even though they were unlovable. We see the same in our lives. We just can't beat our Savior.

John 21

9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of
great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so
many, yet was not the net broken.

12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

Sometimes when we read the Bible we put our mind in neutral. We should try to read it each time like we've never read it before. It's remarkable what God can show us. The disciples were surprised for they were caught in a most shameful appearance. No one addressed Jesus because they were afraid. During the long, dark night they never even got a bite from a fish. They were still thinking about it and remembered the joy of the taste and thrill of it. It was their former occupation; they were good fishermen, but when they were diletary the fishing hole was empty–no matter what they tried. This is a good example of how we can slip back but never find the enjoyment that we used to have. No matter how hard we try we will come out empty too.

The disciples had fished all night. They were worn out.This is a picture of trying to make it without the Lord. We'll starve to death. In the past years sometimes they didn't have a place to lay their head, but Jesus provided it for them. He took care of his disciples. When asked if the should pay the taxes to Rome, Jesus told them yes and placed the money in a fish's mouth; in turn they could eat the fish.

When they came to shore Jesus saw how tired, empty and hungry they were. He saw their fear and shame. He could have walked off from them. The disciples probably thought they would "get it." Jesus had every right to be mad. Jesus had shown them so much about being an apostle, yet they did their own thing; they made a mess of it. When they got to shore they smelled something good. Jesus had built a fire; they hadn't even noticed. When we're out on our own away from the Lord, we don't see what's on the shore for us. The risen Christ is cooking for his disciples, his fallen followers. If we'll take notice we'll find that his fish are far better. They caught fish but Jesus had his own. The devil tells us to taste the old things. Jesus' fish never tastes old. Jesus even knew how to make the bread. Again he provided for them. He simply looked at them and said "Come and dine." All along they should have known he would provide. They didn't need to fish. We don't need to "go fishing" either.

We can't say the Bible, the church, or God's blessings aren't enough. Jesus had fish and bread for them that they didn't cook for themselves. They were old hands at fishing; they knew how to cook. We get used to Christ's blessings. The Bible says they are new every morning. Jesus prepares them for us. It is not the same old same old. The lesson—-the Master can take care of us. Jesus gives us so many blessings, and all he asks is for us to love him more than we do his blessings.

Jesus will fill us and keep us happy. All he asks is for us to concentrate on serving him and not go off "fishing." Don't take our eyes off him and look back at the world. Jesus asked Peter if he loved him more than what he had done for him. He told him to feed the sheep. Peter asked about the others. Jesus told him to never mind the others. It was Peter's job to follow Jesus himself no matter what the others did.

Listen to what Jesus says. Come and dine. Find the joy there. Do what he says and love Jesus more that these other things.

Only a few weeks afterward, Peter made another flip-flop and preached and 3,000 were saved. He learned that if we seek the kingdom of God first all these other things will be added. Come and dine. The Master calleth… come and dine.