When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread….Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” -John 21:9; 12a
A few years ago, a friend of mine vacationed on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She came back renewed, refreshed, and raving about her get-away location. So recently, as I was looking into possible destinations for a future family vacation, I decided to check out the Outer Banks. Lo and behold, I came across a VRBO called, “Breakfast on the Beach.” Among the amenities included is a charcoal grill. Naturally, I couldn’t help but think of John 21:1-14, our text this past Sunday which our worship planners had appropriately titled, “Breakfast on the Beach!”
The photos of this VRBO – particularly the scenes of the shoreline with the Atlantic Ocean beyond – are indeed beautiful and enticing, and I can well imagine having my morning coffee (and perhaps a croissant!) in such a place. On the other hand, could anything ever compare to having breakfast on the beach with the risen Lord Jesus himself? I think not!
I suspect that once the disciples realized it was Jesus calling out to them from the shore, they weren’t a bit surprised that he was preparing to feed them. After all, Jesus had always been feeding people! And whenever Jesus was serving, the food was abundant…abundant wine, abundant fish, abundant bread.
Recently I visited a homebound member of our congregation. When I called to schedule the visit, I asked if he would like me to bring Communion. “Yes, please! That would be wonderful,” he said. When I went to his home, we talked for a while and then shared the Lord’s Supper. He thanked me for bringing it to him and then added, “Sometimes you just get hungry for the meal that Jesus gives.”
Seven disciples had breakfast on the beach with Jesus. What an experience that must have been! But in his abundant love, Jesus feeds us, too, satisfying our hunger with the Bread of Life himself.
Generous God,
By your hand you feed your people, food of angels, heaven’s bread.
For these gifts we did not labor, by your grace have we been fed:
Christ’s own body, blessed and broken, cup o’erflowing, life outpoured,
Given as a living token of our world redeemed, restored.*
Amen.
*ELW 469