Jesus cooks breakfast
John 21:1-14
Have you ever felt disappointed, deeply disappointed? You thought something great was about to happen, but then it didn’t. And it’s left you feeling confused, angry, let down. Maybe you felt disappointed with others and what they did or did not do. If we’re honest, there are occasions when we can feel disappointed with God: that unanswered prayer, feeling of abandonment. Sometimes we become disillusioned because we had illusions in the first place that were never going to happen, at least not in the way we expected or wanted them to. If that’s you, you’re in good company. Two thousand years ago the Disciples were feeling just the same.
Two and a half years earlier, it had all been so exciting. One day, whilst they were fishing, Jesus had come to them. Called THEM – unschooled fishermen -  Go, fish! They’d seen miracles, heard teaching that finally made sense of God, life and how to live it. Jesus was so inspiring, unpredictable. Eventually, they had finally moved on to Jerusalem for, what they thought would be, the final push; surely then Jesus would overthrow the Roman invaders and take the Crown for Himself.
But instead of triumph, it had ended with tragedy. It had come to nothing. Jesus was arrested, falsely accused, beaten and executed – nailed to a Cross and left to die in public for all to see. (The Roman way of breaking the spirit of the local population.) And Jesus didn’t even resist; He surrendered to death, even death on a Cross.
After Jesus's brutal death, the disciples had gone back to the Upper Room, where they had had that last supper with Jesus. They’d hidden themselves behind locked the doors. But then, risen Jesus had appeared to them – showing them His gruesome wounds. Even Didymus (Twin), ‘doubting Thomas’, believed. But, what now. What next? Was that it? 
The Disciples went back. They left the hustle and bustle of the City, Jerusalem They went back to the familiarity of the water, boats and fish; back to the familiar sights, sounds, smells. Back to the Sea of Galilee. Only, it was no longer the Sea of Galilee; the Roman invaders had renamed it the Sea of Tiberias. When thigs change, we sometimes yearn to go back to how things were back then, before. We become disillusioned when we have this illusion. So the Disciples went back.. to Tiberias, a new town only created by Herod Antipas and named after Roman Emperor Tiberius, in 20 AD. It was the Telford or Milton Keynes of Galilee. They were going back to reminders of their invaders – symbols of their oppression.
They went back, a distance of 75 miles from Jerusalem to the shoreline. Approximately three days walk. It was slow, deliberate; every step taking them further away from the events of Jerusalem. A week earlier, they’d been travelling towards Jerusalem, now away. All of us are on a continuum towards or away from Christ. What’s your direction of travel, right now? Maybe you’ve tried Christianity, but don’t feel it’s worked for you?
As they went back, they went further and further down: physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually… The Sea of Galilee is 215 metres/ 700 feet below sea level. Jerusalem is 760 metres/ 2,500 feet above sea level. In all, they descended 1,000 metres/ 3,200 feet. Going away from Jesus always involves descent – always a down’er. They’d gone from the high of Jerusalem, with all the hope (and illusions), to the low of daily grind, despair, and disillusionment.
The Disciples sometimes get a bad rap. Maybe unfair. Matthew says ,“Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’ Had they gone back – to find Jesus? Back to where it had all begun for them? That day at work when Jesus came into their lives? When Jesus had called them.to follow Him? When they had received that clear call to fish for people? Where and when did faith first come alive for you?
Now, they’re back fishing. Being experienced fishermen, they fished at night: when fish are nearer the surface; you don’t get sunburnt; you’re ready to supply the fish markets first thing in the morning with the freshest fish (and so get the best price). They worked an all-nighter - but caught nothing. They were used to catching more or less, but never nothing. This can’t have helped their mood.
Them, some random guy on the shore, started shouting out if they’d caught anything, almost teasing them. Who wants to admit that? 5 He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ Then, he started giving them, experienced fishermen, advice on where the fish were. As if they hadn’t already fished there. In any case, the sun had now come up. Maybe to show him up, they did what he said. At this point, they still hadn’t recognised Jesus. They weren’t expecting him.
But then they caught fish. Large fish, fetching a good price at market. Lots of large fish – 153 (someone this time counted them). Preachers, teachers, theologians have speculated for Centuries the significance of the ‘153’. Was it:
1.	2 Chronicles 2:17 Solomon commissioned the Temple census found 153,600 “aliens” or Gentiles. The ‘153’ symbolised the rest if us, the Gentiles?
2.	Jerome wondered if the 153 were the number of fish species? (Actually, it’s nearer 28,000)
3.	Augustine thought it was a pyramid number, a 17 layered pyramid has 153 cubes. He decided the 17 came from the10 commandments + 7 Gifts of the Spirit (if you discount al the others)
4.	Then, when two circles overlap, the mathematical space common to both is called the Vesica Piscis (‘the bladder of a fish’). Was it that we are to live with Jesus in the intersection between earth and heaven?
Or, just as credible an explanation as any of the above, the 153 is the big red London bus that gets you from Finsbury Park to Liverpool Street Station. The real explanation of the ‘153’ is that… [drum roll]… it was a lot of fish.
Despite the size of the haul, their nets weren’t breaking. Something significant was happening. We want the same. Please God, may we too see a large catch of people coming to faith in Jesus. Give us strength and good grace when it happens. Let’s be ready!
Up till now, they still hadn’t recognised Jesus. John (who, egotistically describes himself as Jesus’ favourite), says, “It is the Lord.” On hearing this, something clicked within Peter. Back in Matthew 16, when Jesus had asked him, “And who do you say that I am?”, Peter had replied, “You are the Christ, the Messiah.” Now Peter knows: Jesus isn’t just the Lord, He’s MY Lord. Jesus is always the Lord. Only you have the power to turn Jesus from being the Lord to being YOUR Lord. When Peter did, he went all-in.
Jesus could have given them a lecture; or at least, a long sermon series. What did you think would happen? Why did you walk away? Where is your faith now?  Instead, Jesus cooked them breakfast. He cooked them breakfast! It was just what they needed. Some TLC, acceptance, reassurance. Elijah had gone from the high of Mount Carmel to the low of the boden tree. Feeling he was abandoned and all alone, even Elijah wanted to die. At his lowest ebb, God sent an Angel.. with a cake. God baked him a cake. Who, this week, do you know who needs cake? I see what you’re going through; I have no words, no platitudes - just cake.
Jesus already had fish. He didn’t need their catch/ labours. But Jesus values them and wants them to feel valued/ needed. So “Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’” v.10 He cooks their fish. They get to enjoy what they, in partnership with Christ, have worked for. It’s a partnership, relationship. 
Did you spot earlier, 5 He called out to them, ‘Friends…’ He called them friends. After all that they had and had not done, despite what they felt, deserved or believed, Jesus called them friends. Jesus calls out to you the same.  In Christ, you are a friend of God, for that s what you are. Amazing grace!
“Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.” v.13 
Imagine having breakfast with Jesus. What would you say? Ask? Listen?

07840 046020   DannyBrierley@ChesterRoadBaptist.org.uk