“ Come and have breakfast”–John 21:12
My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
It would be impossible and would feel somewhat disrespectful, perhaps even blasphemous, to attempt to rank the sayings of our Lord Jesus as to order of importance. Every word He uttered, every syllable, is the Word of God. In fact, He Himself is the Eternal Word of God made flesh!
Yet, it remains our common experience that we do remember some of His words more readily than others. Some we have memorized, and others we have applied to our lives more frequently. There are some that we treasure very dearly and run to over and again in times of need or worry. We all love the ‘red letters’ in our New Testaments, and for good reason!
The words quoted above might not be on our lists of the more memorable dominical sayings recorded in Scripture. Yet this simple line, an invitation to breakfast, carries within it all of the power, significance, and truth of anything and everything our blessed Savior said while on earth.
The setting for this quaint invitation was the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to the Disciples on the Sea of Galilee, or “ Sea of Tiberias” (see the context in 21:1-11). Not only did Jesus find the men while they were fishing (and unsuccessfully!), He performed the miracle recorded in verse 6, the amazing extent of which is set forth in verse 11.
But the source of our encouragement for this new Monday are those simple words of enticement which are so poetically captured in the King James translation: “ Come and dine.”
The fact is, there are many significant theological themes densely compacted into these words (just two words in the original language), enough for many sermons and lessons. But our focus today is upon what is right in front of us, laying on the surface for our taking.
We know that after this encounter, the eleven remaining Disciples will be filled with the Holy Spirit and will launch off into the mission to which they had been called by their King. As they say, ‘the rest is history,’ and we are believers in Christ because of their faithful execution of that very world-encompassing task.
But I am struck by the fact that despite the enormity of that moment, that one final confirmation of Christ’s Lordship over all creation, Jesus is concerned that they eat breakfast! Tired from a frustrating all-nighter on the water and surely starving as well, their Savior and Master came to them in person there at that beautiful lake. He provided the food (v. 6). He prepared the fire (v. 9). And there were other fish He was already cooking, and bread too (v. 9).
When the Disciples reached the shore there was a blessed reunion-breakfast with the One who had conquered death, hell, and the grave! What an amazing sight that must have been!
I would suggest that one of the lessons here is this: The basic personal needs of the Disciples had not been lost in view of the worldwide mission of their Savior. In other words, Jesus cared for something so apparently mundane as their growling stomachs. And He expressed that care and met that need at one of the most critical moments in redemption history!
Our Lord loved His men! They were not just pawns, mere functionaries, or tools to be used to accomplish the Father’s plan. They were dearly beloved men, real individuals, whom Jesus cared for with a compassion that can never be measured or quantified.
These blessed words, “ Come and have breakfast,” reveal the fact that nothing about our lives is insignificant to the One who saved us! Though you and I are but one of His disciples among the countless followers of Jesus who have lived through the ages, He looks upon us as if we are the only object of His compassionate care. Only a Savior who is both human and Divine can do that!
You, my dear Brother or Sister, are not lost among the crowd. Your personal needs are not obscured by the magnitude of the world’s needs, not even the need for the Gospel. Your life as one of His sheep has not been pushed out to the edges by the primacy of the Great Commission. You are not simply a witness that He will use to reach others. You are one from whom His loving gaze will never depart!
His Word to you today is “ Come.” He knows you are hungry. He knows you are anxious. He knows that you are weak and frustrated. He knows that you are battle-weary from trials and temptations. He knows your every need even before you become aware that you have them!
For you, for us, everyday His invitation is the same; “ Come and dine.”
Trust Him today! Come to Him! Rest in His continual care! He will always provide for those He loves!
I love you all so very much,
Mike