“The First Meal“, by Rev. Angela Martin
In light of all the disciples had experienced, they needed time away and time to process everything that had just happened. What was familiar and comforting to the disciples was their trade, their work. And so off they go to fish. After a very unsuccessful night of fishing, a “stranger” shows up on the beach giving them direction. John is the first to recognize the stranger as Jesus. John is the first to see but Peter is the first to act telling us that belief and action go hand in hand. In verse 7, John feels compelled to tell us that before Peter jumped out of the boat he had to put some clothes on. Why would John feel that he needed to give us this detail? Biblical commentaries will tell you that he was only stripped down to his loincloth. Scholars tell us that the author wants us to connect back to Adam and the shame that Adam felt in the garden after committing his sin. Like Adam, Peter is aware of his sin and shame due to the denial of Christ. But Peter doesn’t allow his shame to keep him from moving toward the one he loves. Unlike Adam, Peter doesn’t hide any longer in shame but leaps toward the risen one with joy. Just as Jesus met the disciples where they were, beckoned them to him and fed them with love, forgiveness and grace during that first meal together post resurrection, so Jesus does with us. Thanks be to God!
~Angela
The Word
John 21:1-19
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Podcast: Play in new window | Download