As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
The scene was on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where much of Christ's ministry had been spent, in a secluded place where the disciples would not likely be disturbed. The shore was surrounded by reminders of Jesus and His mighty works, for on that same sea terrified disciples hurrying to destruction in a fierce storm had been rescued when He walked upon the billows to them and hushed the tempest 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 many miracles, so that looking upon the scene filled the disciples' minds with the words and deeds of their Saviour.
When John told Peter it was the Lord, Peter in glad eagerness cast himself into the water and was soon standing beside his Master on land, while the other disciples came in the boat dragging the net full of fishes. On landing they found Jesus already on shore with a kindled charcoal fire and fish and bread laid thereon, food already prepared over fire for them before they landed with their draught. The disciples were too amazed to question where the fire and the meal came from. He had them bring some of the fish they had just caught and join it to His own preparation, then called them to dine and Himself broke the bread and the fish and divided it among all seven.
Through sharing the meal they knew and acknowledged Him as their resurrected Saviour, and a mysterious awe kept them silent as they looked upon Him. The meal brought distinctly to their minds His earlier feeding of the five thousand on the mountainside. The meal revealed His personal care for them and His power to provide for those doing His work, showing that He would care for His disciples and provide for them as they did His work and that their efforts would succeed through His power joined with their own.
The meal accompanies the renewed commission to continue the work He had given them, showing that His death did not end their obligation to it. The meal also accompanied His restoration of Peter to trusted service.
The scene was on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where much of Christ's ministry had been spent, in a secluded place where the disciples would not likely be disturbed. The shore was surrounded by reminders of Jesus and His mighty works, for on that same sea terrified disciples hurrying to destruction in a fierce storm had been rescued when He walked upon the billows to them and hushed the tempest 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 many miracles, so that looking upon the scene filled the disciples' minds with the words and deeds of their Saviour.
When John told Peter it was the Lord, Peter in glad eagerness cast himself into the water and was soon standing beside his Master on land, while the other disciples came in the boat dragging the net full of fishes. On landing they found Jesus already on shore with a kindled charcoal fire and fish and bread laid thereon, food already prepared over fire for them before they landed with their draught. The disciples were too amazed to question where the fire and the meal came from. He had them bring some of the fish they had just caught and join it to His own preparation, then called them to dine and Himself broke the bread and the fish and divided it among all seven.
Through sharing the meal they knew and acknowledged Him as their resurrected Saviour, and a mysterious awe kept them silent as they looked upon Him. The meal brought distinctly to their minds His earlier feeding of the five thousand on the mountainside. The meal revealed His personal care for them and His power to provide for those doing His work, showing that He would care for His disciples and provide for them as they did His work and that their efforts would succeed through His power joined with their own.
The meal accompanies the renewed commission to continue the work He had given them, showing that His death did not end their obligation to it. The meal also accompanied His restoration of Peter to trusted service.