Jesus Offers Bread to Peter Beside the FireBible World
21:10John 21:10
Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
The command belongs to the account in John 21:1-22 of the risen Jesus meeting the disciples in Galilee after the Passover week. It took place at the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias.
It was where much of Christ's ministry had been passed, in a place where the disciples were not likely to be disturbed and were surrounded by reminders of Jesus and His mighty works. On that sea He had walked upon the billows to their rescue when their hearts were filled with terror and the fierce storm was hurrying them to destruction, and there the tempest had been hushed by His word. Within sight was the beach where above ten thousand persons had been fed from a few small loaves and fishes, and not far distant was Capernaum, the scene of so many miracles. As they looked upon the scene their minds were full of the words and deeds of their Saviour.
Seven disciples were present, fishermen including Peter and six others. Though poor and simply dressed, they had been taught by Jesus for three years and were rich in their knowledge and practice of the truth, prepared to lead others to it. They had fished all night and caught nothing.
Jesus stood on the shore unrecognized and told them to cast the net on the right side of the ship, and they drew a multitude of fishes. Peter swam to shore when he knew it was the Lord. When the disciples landed they found Jesus had already prepared on shore a fire of coals with fish and bread for them to eat. Yet He asked them to bring some of the fish they had just caught, to go with and be added to the meal He had prepared.
The disciples were too amazed to question where His fire and food came from. Peter rushed back for the dropped net he had left and helped drag it to shore. After the work was done and the meal was prepared Jesus invited them to dine, broke the food and divided the bread and fish among them. He was known and acknowledged by all seven.
Sharing the meal brought to their minds the feeding of the five thousand on the mountainside. In mysterious awe they gazed in silence upon the risen Saviour.
The fish brought ashore were used in and joined to the meal Jesus shared with them, with the miraculous catch joined to their own labor. The miracle recalled His earlier miraculous feeding and first great catch of fish and first call. By it they were to learn that, even without His visible companionship, the risen Christ cared for them and would provide as they did His work. Their labor would succeed through His divine power joined with their human effort, with success coming through their labor united with Christ's power.
The miraculous catch and meal renewed Christ's commission to the disciples, showing that His death did not end their obligation and duty to do the work He had assigned them. The event and the meal provided the setting and opportunity for Peter to show his repentance after his denials and to regain his fellow disciples' confidence. He was thus restored publicly to trust and service before resuming his apostolic work.
The command belongs to the account in John 21:1-22 of the risen Jesus meeting the disciples in Galilee after the Passover week. It took place at the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias.
It was where much of Christ's ministry had been passed, in a place where the disciples were not likely to be disturbed and were surrounded by reminders of Jesus and His mighty works. On that sea He had walked upon the billows to their rescue when their hearts were filled with terror and the fierce storm was hurrying them to destruction, and there the tempest had been hushed by His word. Within sight was the beach where above ten thousand persons had been fed from a few small loaves and fishes, and not far distant was Capernaum, the scene of so many miracles. As they looked upon the scene their minds were full of the words and deeds of their Saviour.
Seven disciples were present, fishermen including Peter and six others. Though poor and simply dressed, they had been taught by Jesus for three years and were rich in their knowledge and practice of the truth, prepared to lead others to it. They had fished all night and caught nothing.
Jesus stood on the shore unrecognized and told them to cast the net on the right side of the ship, and they drew a multitude of fishes. Peter swam to shore when he knew it was the Lord. When the disciples landed they found Jesus had already prepared on shore a fire of coals with fish and bread for them to eat. Yet He asked them to bring some of the fish they had just caught, to go with and be added to the meal He had prepared.
The disciples were too amazed to question where His fire and food came from. Peter rushed back for the dropped net he had left and helped drag it to shore. After the work was done and the meal was prepared Jesus invited them to dine, broke the food and divided the bread and fish among them. He was known and acknowledged by all seven.
Sharing the meal brought to their minds the feeding of the five thousand on the mountainside. In mysterious awe they gazed in silence upon the risen Saviour.
The fish brought ashore were used in and joined to the meal Jesus shared with them, with the miraculous catch joined to their own labor. The miracle recalled His earlier miraculous feeding and first great catch of fish and first call. By it they were to learn that, even without His visible companionship, the risen Christ cared for them and would provide as they did His work. Their labor would succeed through His divine power joined with their human effort, with success coming through their labor united with Christ's power.
The miraculous catch and meal renewed Christ's commission to the disciples, showing that His death did not end their obligation and duty to do the work He had assigned them. The event and the meal provided the setting and opportunity for Peter to show his repentance after his denials and to regain his fellow disciples' confidence. He was thus restored publicly to trust and service before resuming his apostolic work.