Inductive Bible Study

What is the most special meal you can remember? When I was growing up, my dad took me out to breakfast every year for my birthday. I loved going out and having this special time with him. Now I do the same for my children.

Ellie just had her seventh birthday a couple of weeks ago. For weeks, she was counting down the time. She reminded me over and over, “We are going to have breakfast together on my birthday, OK?”

It is a very simple thing to share breakfast with her. We just went to MacDonalds and I spent a few dollars on them. But somehow this simple meal was very meaningful. We talked and laughed and it was a simple, sweet memory.

Today we are going to talk about another special meal Jesus shared with His disciples and why God even made us to eat food. The title for today’s message is Breakfast with Jesus.

I. Finding Direction (1-6)

A. Killing the Time (1-3)

The disciples start off this passage without a clear direction or aim for the future.

John 21:1-3 – After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 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.

Jesus had told the disciples to go to Galilee and He would meet them there. (Matthew 26:32, 28:10)

The Sea of Tiberias is another name for the Sea of Galilee. The disciples had obeyed Jesus and were waiting for Him.

But they were just in “wait” mode. They didn’t know what the next step should be.

Was this a return to their previous way of life and careers or were they just fishing?

It does not seem that there was anything wrong with them going fishing. It was evidently something they enjoyed. It was something to fill the time. Perhaps they could even make some money selling the fish to help provide for their families.

But if we look a little deeper, we can see that these men didn’t have a clear plan or idea about what to do with their time. They were directionless. They were just kind of waiting for the next thing to happen. When Peter said, “I am going fishing” the other guys all join in. They could go kill some time.

These guys were boating with their buddies. They were hanging out. They were probably joking and having fun. But that was it. There was no deeper meaning or purpose.

That night they didn’t catch anything. They had nothing to show for their time. It was not for lack of experience. God sovereignly arranged for that to happen so that He could set up an important object lesson for them.

Note what Jesus said when He first called the disciples.

Matthew 4:19 – He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Jesus had given them a deeper purpose. They were going to stop fishing for fish and start fishing for men. He was about to remind them of that again.

New Direction: A Word from Jesus (4-6)

John 21:4-6 – Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on 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 of the quantity of fish.

Jesus met them where they were. He did not rebuke them. He used an object lesson to teach them. So what was the lesson?

A. Apart from Him they could do nothing (John 15:5). They could not even be successful at things they were good at without the Lord’s blessing.

As they needed God’s blessing to fish for fish, so they would need His help to fish for men.

B. God would provide for them.

Their new life as His messengers would be difficult. They had given up their careers. They would have to rely on God to take care of their daily needs. They would have to keep serving Him without knowing how their daily needs would be met. When they faced trials in the future, they could remember that the Lord had miraculously provided for them.

The same God that cause Peter to catch a fish with his tax money inside, the same God that caused the widow’s flour and oil to never run out, the same God who provided manna everyday for the Israelites in the wilderness, this same God would provide for the disciples.

C. Following Jesus’ directions brought success.

When they obeyed Jesus words, the situation immediately changed for the better.

Thus, we also learn the importance of obedience. We are to trust and obey. This wasn’t an easy area to trust in. Jesus’ command didn’t make any sense from a fishermen’s point of view. When you are in the middle of a lake, one spot looks the same as another. The disciples had surely tried every method which seasoned fishermen would know.

But God’s ways our not our ways. He gives the directions and our job is to follow these, even when we don’t understand.

When my daughter was one she slept in a crib in a walk-in closet next to our room. Somehow she had stood up and moved the crib to the point where it was wedged and we could not open the door into the closet. She was screaming with fear because she could not get out and we could not get in. The only way was to slam the door in, but she was right there and would be hurt. It was a problem. I couldn’t hero-Dad and slam the door in until she moved. But she didn’t want to go away from us by going to hte back of the room. So I told her, “Give me your pacifier.” Then I threw it to the back of the closet. What must she have been thinking? Why was her dad taking the one thing she valued and throw it away? She didn’t understand. But she walked to get it and away from the door. With her safely away, I could slam the door open. Then I hugged her and brought her out. She was safe.

Sometimes God asks us to do things that don’t make sense from our perspective. When He does, let us trust in Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

What is your direction?

There is nothing wrong with having a hobby. Yet God wants more for us than simply passing the time.

John 10:10 – I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Ephesians 5:16 – Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

• How much of your life is spent simply killing time?
• Spend a moment to evaluate your life. What are the top activities you do that are a waste of time?
• What adjustments do you need to make better use of your time?

II. Discovery: It is the Lord (7-8)

John 21:7-8 – That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

As soon as the net was filled with fish, John recognized that “it is the Lord.” They hadn’t immediately recognized Him before. This could be due to a combination of factors.

• Jesus’ resurrected body taking a different appearance. If that is the reason, it is actually good news for us. Our resurrected bodies will not be the same as our current ones. They will be perfected. Will I still be half bald? I don’t know. But more importantly, it is a reminder He makes all things new. The sin and sickness we struggle with now will be a thing of the past.
• Jesus could also have supernaturally prevented immediate recognition so that they would think through the lesson He was teaching them and learn to recognize His work in everything around them. He did this in the case with the men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:16)

It seems that Jesus wanted the disciples to recognize Him through what He was doing for them and not simply through His face.

Application – Learn to recognize God’s work in your life by looking deeper. God is at work in the world around us and in your life. Yet many fail to see it. They believe that these things are “coincidences, good luck, or merely a result of their own efforts.”

The Lord wants us to look deeper, to see what He is doing and give credit to Him. That starts as a realization in our own hearts, “It is the Lord!” It continues as a testimony to others. “It is the Lord!”

• Did you get a new promotion? – It is the Lord.
• Was your visa approved? – It is the Lord
• Did you get a scholarship? It is the Lord

Recognize that and tell others about it!

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As soon as Peter realized it was the Lord, He threw himself into the ocean and started swimming to shore. He wanted to be with Jesus immediately. This is a stark difference from Peter’s response the first time Jesus did this miracle.

Luke 5:8 – But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

The first time, Peter asked Jesus to leave. He felt ashamed, not worthy to be in Jesus’ presence.

Now we see that Peter’s desire has changed. His sins have been dealt with already. He wants nothing more than to be in Jesus’ presence. Peter didn’t wait to row the boat to shore. A one-hundred-yard (90 meter) swim in full clothing was nothing.

Peter’s desire was to be with Jesus.

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If our desire to with the Lord is strong enough, we will prioritize spending time with Him.

• We will wake up early, get out of bed, and pick up our Bibles.
• We will read, pray, and worship.
• And as we do all of this, we should remember that the Bible and prayer are a means to draw near to the Lord, not the end goal themselves.

In the next section, we see that his desire was granted.

III. Delight: Breakfast with Jesus – What is your delight?

John 21:9-14 – When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out 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, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Observations –

• Jesus already had food waiting. He provides the fish and then He provided a meal
• Jesus prepared breakfast for them. Then He “gave it to them.” He was always the servant.
o Be like Jesus: Make breakfast for your family.
• There were 153 fish. They counted and recorded the number. Most likely, this was because the number of fish they caught was much more than normal. 153 reasons to believe.
• The net was not torn. This was another “mini-miracle.”

The Invitation: Come and Have Breakfast

As I was preparing, I was thinking about this invitation and this event. It is a very normal thing to eat a meal with others. I want us to think about this.

• What is special about eating breakfast with Jesus?
• What lessons can we learn from this?

A. Why did God create food?

Have you ever asked, “Why did God create food?” God is the Creator. He could have made people to function perfectly well without food. Think about how much time that would save. People would not have to grow food or make money to buy food. We wouldn’t have to spend so much time purchasing, preparing, and cooking food, setting the table, eating, and then cleaning up after.

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It’s estimated that on average people spend around 4.2 – 6.5 hours a day on food related activities. That would have been much higher in the past and is much higher today for rural people and farmers.

That is a lot of time that could be saved if we didn’t need food. At the beginning of this passage, we looked at the idea that killing time isn’t good.

So what is the point? One, God doesn’t want us to be idle. Imagine how much trouble people would get into with an extra 6 hours a day.

However, I think it is deeper than that. I believe that God uses food to bring us together, teach us about His provision, help us learn to serve, and for enjoyment.

Bringing us Together

According to a study in 2018, the average family in the US only spends 37 minutes of “quality” time together per day. Much of that so-called quality time is spent watching TV together. Homework and eating meals are the other largest two categories where families spend time together.

Historically, meal times have been a daily ritual for families. Every day, they put aside their busy schedules and gather together for a shared experience as they enjoy a meal. Countless meaningful conversations take place during these meals. It is a time of sharing, bonding, communication, growth, and togetherness. God uses food to bring people together.

From the 1920s-1950s, 80-90% of Western families had meals together. Those meals often lasted over an hour.

Now fast food, processed foods, long commutes, dual-income families, television, and smart phones have all negatively impacted this time together.

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Applications –

#1 – Don’t go your separate ways. Bring the family meal back. Build up the body by building up your family. Use this time well to strengthen your connections with each other.

#2 – Talk. Put down your electronic devices. Make your family meal times electronic free.

Reminding us of God’s Provision

Food is more than just a time to bring us together. It is a time for us to together acknowledge our dependance upon God. Meals are a time to lift up our eyes with gratitude toward our provider, the Lord.

Jesus modeled doing this very thing. He gave thanks before the feeding of the five thousand, at the Last Supper, and in front of the disciples after the walk to Emmaus.

Meals and feasts were also used throughout Bible times to remember God’s goodness. There were seven key feasts in the Old Testament. The Passover feast was to remember God’s deliverance of them from Egypt. The Feast of Firstfruits was a celebration of the harvest. Both of these encouraged people praise and thank God for His provision.

Teaching us to Serve

Meal times offer many opportunities to serve. Someone once said the quickest way to a man’s heart is through food. That is basically true. We can serve each other in our family by cooking food that they like, setting the table, or cleaning after a meal. We also can serve, youth, I am looking at you, by deferring and leaving the best to others.

We also can show hospitality to others and invite them to our homes to share a meal. There is almost nothing which says “friendship” like sharing a meal.

Enjoyment

Who here enjoys a good meal? I know many of you do. I know some of you started a GICF food group. I am guessing you did that because you enjoy food. God made food for us to enjoy because He is a good God who delights in bringing simple joys into our lives.

James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.

I asked my children this week why God created food. Josiah said, “To teach us self-control.” It was a good answer. We can add here the caveats about self-control and moderation.

If you have ever prepared a wonderful meal for someone and taken pleasure in their enjoyment of the meal, know that God feels the same when we receive His provision with joy and gratitude.

When we look at these four reasons that God created food, we can see all four in this passage.

Bringing Them Together

The meal was an opportunity for the disciples to be together with Jesus. They talked and shared as they ate. In the next passage, we will see they had a very important conversation during that meal.

Being Thankful for God’s Provision

Jesus provided and prepared the meal. It was a reminder that God would always take care of them.

Learning to be a servant

Jesus was never a domineering leader. He didn’t boss them around as slaves. He lowered Himself to cook for them and serve them. Very likely, He must have cleaned the fish that He was cooking. I hate cleaning fish. Slimy, smelly, guts everywhere. Jesus taught them how to show hospitality and serve.

Enjoyment

This meal must have been one of their favorite memories. Breakfast with Jesus. A simple, normal event. But sharing it with Jesus made it a highlight of their lives.

Conclusion

Jesus shared His life with His disciples. He wants to share your life with you as well. The same invitation He made to the disciples is open to you today.

Revelation 3:20 – Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

This invite was originally given to the Church of Laodicea in Revelation. They had taken His name and called themselves Christians. Yet they had excluded Him from their lives. They didn’t want anything else from Him. They felt they were doing fine on their own. They weren’t.

Jesus wanted a relationship with them. He wants a relationship with you as well. Jesus extended this invitation to “anyone” who would open the door.

He is inviting you. On the other hand, you also need to open the door and invite Him in to share your life with Him. That is what eating together signifies. It is a relationship. We eat with our friends and family. Jesus wants to be friends with us. He wants us as part of His family. He wants to share more than a meal with us. He wants to share our lives.

Will you share your life’s most important moments with Jesus?

• Marriage. Invite Him to your wedding as your special guest of honor.
• Birth of children. Will you invite Jesus in by dedicating your children to God? By raising them up to love and follow Jesus?
• Your career. Do not build your career without His input. Invite Him in and listen to His directions.

Will you even share your life’s simple and routine moments with Jesus?

• Meal time. – Receive it with gladness and thanksgiving.
• A walk in the park. – He is there with you. You can pray or sing as you walk. You can talk to your kids about the trees and flowers and how God made them.
• Waking up or going to sleep. – You can start and end your day by talking to Him as a friend.

Did you know that eternity will start with a celebration feast with Jesus?

Revelation 19:7-9 – Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

If we accept His invitation, we will also be able to join the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. That will be the feast of all feasts. The celebration of all celebrations. All saints of all time will share a meal with Jesus. Then we will share eternity with Him.

Discussion Question

• How can we make our mealtimes more than food — a time to grow together with Jesus?