John 21:7-14 - Come and have breakfast

21:7,8

Maybe this memory of the earlier incident is what prompted John (the disciple whom Jesus loved) to realise that the man was Jesus. Peter immediately put on his cloak and went into the water to get to Jesus. The other disciples brought the haul of fish in. They were about one hundred yards from the shore. Peter had denied Jesus and felt bitterly ashamed for having done so, but he still wanted to be with Jesus. Even if we have failed or sinned badly, but we still have this desire to be with Jesus we should act on that desire.

21:9-14

A charcoal fire was already burning with fish on it. We are not told how this came about, maybe Jesus had got it ready. Jesus told them to bring some of their fish. Their haul amounted to 153. There have been various attempts to give significance to the number 153. I have to say I am usually dismissive of these attempts, but that’s just me. Even though there were so many fish, the net was not broken. Jesus then invited them to have breakfast. There is a disarming normality to the resurrection appearances, but also something very different from Jesus before the cross. When we are raised we will recognise each other, but there will also be something startlingly different about us. We will be the people we were always meant to be. So Jesus shared breakfast with them.