The Gospel of John: John 21.1-25

Read and meditate on John 21.12-14.
Jesus continues to pack this time with His disciples with cues and reminiscences, to remind them of His time with them, and of their calling.

        ¹²Jesus said to them, “Come eat, because
your breakfast is prepared.” None asked Him, “Who
are You?” – because, as everybody knew,
it was the Lord. ¹³Then Jesus gave them bread
and fish. ¹⁴Since He had risen from the dead,
this was the third time Jesus came to be
with His disciples.

- John 21.12-14

Reflect
1.  As far as we know, what was the last meal these disciples had taken together (Jn. 13)? What was Jesus’ role in the meal? How was Jesus reminding them of this here, and why? Complete this prayer: Lord, as You serve and care for us, so we…

2.  What do you make of the disciples’ reticence here? Why, since they all knew Who this was, weren’t they more animated and eager to talk with Jesus? What does this suggest about their state of mind at this time? What does it suggest about Jesus’ attitude toward them in their reticence? Sometimes, Lord, I feel a bit hesitant about my relationship with You, and then I…

3.  Jesus gave His disciples bread and fish. Do you suppose He did this to cue up anything from their experience with Him? Why? Lord, fill my life with reminders of Your greatness, goodness, and power, and I will…

4. John makes a point of telling us that this is the third time Jesus had showed Himself to His disciples, alive from the dead. And yet they all seem so tentative, so unsure, either of Him, or of themselves. Why? What did they lack, that would give them the confidence, boldness, and enthusiasm their calling would require? Can we as Christians do anything worthwhile apart from this? Explain. Thank You, Lord, that what You call me to do, You make it possible for me to accomplish because…

5.  As we’ve seen, Jesus used this situation to recall to the minds of His disciples many situations and episodes from their past experience with Him. Each disciple would have remembered those situations a bit differently, but Jesus was trying to make a general impression on them. To what end? To say what about Himself? And to say what about them? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote for questions 1-4.

Summary
“‘They knew that it was the Lord,’ and therefore they did not ask him, ‘Who are you?’ But seeing that his form was altered and full of awe, they were greatly amazed and wanted to ask something about it. But fear, and their knowledge that he was not someone else but the same person, checked the inquiry, and they only ate what he created for them by exercising greater power than before. For here he no longer looks to heaven, nor does he perform those human acts he did before, thereby showing that those things that he did previously were done by way of condescension.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

Do you think it’s a good idea to create memories, or memorials (photos, written accounts, paintings, etc.) of significant moments in your walk with the Lord? Why might this be a good idea?

Closing Prayer
But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me;
O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
Deliver Me from the sword,
My precious life from the power of the dog.
Save Me from the lion’s mouth
And from the horns of the wild oxen!
You have answered Me.
I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
You who fear the LORD, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!

Psalm 22.19-23

Psalm 22.23 (Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King)
All you who fear the Lord, now praise His holy Name!
You children of His glorious Word, declare His fame!
We stand in awe of our eternal God, and on His mercy call.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.