A Meal on the Beach with Jesus (where he revealed something new and extremely comforting)

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Goal:

To allow Jesus to reveal himself to us,
as he did to the disciples on the beach..

Mary at the Tomb
Twice to disciples in a locked room
Mary missed him the most, and was the first he appeared to
Be like Mary, and keep your eyes on Jesus
read his words, spend time with him in prayer, hang out with him by thinking of him often.

1–12 ”Book of Signs”	13–21 ”Book of Glory”

13 A meal with the disciples

14–17 New Teaching
from Jesus
to the disciples

18–20 Arrest
Trials
Crucifixion
Resurrection

21 A meal with the disciples

These are the only two places in John he calls them “Little Children”
At the last supper: Little children, I am still with you for a little while. You will look for me… Where I am going you cannot come.
Jesus humbly serves the disciples
They eat a meal together at which Jesus passes out bread
Peter: denial and restoration (next time)
Some very close parallels with Peter & John

We have seen the attention John has given to the way he tells the story
- He uses one of the common poetic styles of the day, where you go through the steps of the story to a central point
- Then you go back again to the beginning.
- Here in the last chapter, he has excelled himself, as you will see.
- But it is not just poetic. We will see how it will turn out to be really important in understanding the point of the story.
Overview of the story: Overview of John 21:1–14
See the contrasts:
- Hungry to fed
- Not recognizing Jesus is present to...
- At see to on land with Jesus

Had they lost the plot, going back to what they did before
- Jesus did not condemn it, but made it work
- John never told us they were fishermen
- They still had to eat
What is John’s point in including the story?
- The main point is actually spelled out by John: “He revealed himself in this way” v.1
- Even though Jesus is now in the New Creation, and so do we (if we have life through the Spirit) we have a physical body which is still important
- Jesus will not abandon us now that he has a supernatural body
- He continues to care for the physical, old-creation needs
- He is present even when we don’t recognize him
This was different to all the miracles in the book of sighs, the first half of John
- The purpose was not to show that Jesus was sent from the Father
- They already believed!
- It was simply to feed them, to show them love!

We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,
but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;

He knows your needs, and does not devalue physical needs
like some of the early Christian groups.
There is no rebuke for “not hearing him”
He is present, not absent
He is at work in circumstances
He provides more than the minimum for you to survive, but a delicious meal

The story is not telling us to make sure we are listening to Jesus telling us where to cast our nets
It is not about us and our faith, but about him and his faithfulness
Our response to this story is not to be anxious
But believe in his ongoing presence and care, even when we don’t see him
Allow Jesus to reveal himself to you through this story

But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.
For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.