24 Apr. John 21:1-13

24 Apr. The risen Lord Jesus cooks breakfast for his followers

"Later, Jesus showed himself to his followers again - this time at Lake Galilee [the 'Sea of Galilee' or 'Lake Tiberius']."

"This is how he showed himself: some of the followers were together - Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathaniel from Cana in Galilee, the two sons of Zebedee [James & John], and two other followers."

"Simon Peter said, 'I am going out to fish.' The others said, 'We will go with you.' So they went out and got into the boat. They fished all night but caught nothing."

"Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the followers did not know it was Jesus. Then he said to them, 'Friends, did you catch any fish?' They answered, 'No.' He said, 'Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.' So they did, and they caught so many fish they could not pull the net back into the boat."

"The follower whom Jesus loved [John, the author of John's gospel] said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' When Peter heard him say this, he wrapped his coat around himself... Then he jumped into the water [and swam ashore]. The other followers went ashore in the boat, dragging the net full of fish..."

"When the followers stepped out of the boat and onto the shore, they saw a fire of hot coals. There were fish on the fire, and there was bread. Then Jesus said, 'Bring some of the fish you have just caught... Come and eat.'"

"None of the followers dared ask him, 'Who are you?' because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, along with the fish."

          (John 21:1-13)

 

 

After the disciples returned from Jerusalem to Galilee, Jesus appeared to them on the shore of Lake Galilee (the 'Sea of Galilee' or 'Lake Tiberius'), as he had promised to do before he died (see Mark 14:28).

Jesus told the fishermen where to cast their nets and then cooked breakfast for Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James, John and two others who had been out in their fishing boats overnight.

This event is commemorated today by the modern Franciscan Church of the Primacy of Peter at Mensa Christi (the 'Table of Christ') built in 1933 on the site of a late 4th century Byzantine chapel on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee at En Tabgha near Capernaum (see the photo).

After they finished breakfast, Jesus spoke at length to Peter. He asked him, "Do you love me?" and told him to "Feed my lambs". (John 21:15) Jesus asked the same question three times; and three times he told Peter to "Feed my sheep". (John 21:16-17) Peter was hurt when he realised that Jesus was asking him three times because he had denied knowing Jesus three times on the night of his arrest (see John 13:38 & 18:25-27).

Jesus then told Peter that he would indeed love him and serve him, but when he was much older, he too would be killed because he gave glory to God.

In the 21st century, Christians have once again become the most persecuted people on earth. The more we love and serve Jesus, the more true it is that we too, one day, may be targeted as Christians and killed because we cannot stop giving glory to God.

The photo shows the shore of the Sea of Galilee at Mensa Christi near Capernaum.

You can read more about the resurrection appearances of the risen Lord Jesus @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/jesus-appears-to-his-fol…/

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