Children, have you any food?

John 21:1-14

Breakfast by the Sea

1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing."

They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?"

They answered Him, "No."

6 And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught."

11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?"—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

Jesus showed up to His disciples after His resurrection from the grave, having conquered death (2 Timothy 1:10, 1 Corinthians 15:25-26), as they decided to go fishing along the lake as they used to do before being called to follow the Master (Matthew 4:18-19, 21-22).  Peter was the first to say that he was going fishing before the others joined him.  They cast their nets in vain all night long, seemingly haven forgttten their call from that occupation to that of fishing for men (Mark 1:17-18) as they had been entrusted and committed to do with their lives.  When the dawn broke the morning light showed Jesus standing on the shore but not yet recognized by them until He asked them, “Children, do you have any food?”  When they reported their failure to catch anything after exerting their own effort all night long, Jesus told them where to cast their nets again (Luke 5:4-5, 6-7) as when He first called them to catch bigger fish.  The same miraculous over abundance opened their eyes to the one standing at a distance for who He was and then they remembered their calling and Peter said, “It is the Lord!” with joyful exuberance.  He swam to the shore as the others rowed with all their might to meet up with the Lord once more, only to find Jesus had already provided fish to eat for them and it was cooked and ready for them.  He provides the men we catch as well as He has already prepared them for catching through the gospel by His Spirit working to draw them to Himself (John 6:44-45) for them to gather with them to Him.  After Jesus provided them a meal He asked that they bring those which they caught and which He provided for them to reel in the net of His word.  Then they broke bread with Jesus to share in His provision as we do in remembrance of Him now and the work of the Spirit in opening blind eyes and deaf ears to the gospel.  He still asks us, “Children, do you have any food?” that we might rely on His resources to meet the needs of others who hunger for Him and His salvation.