A Resurrection Breakfast

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Psalm 47
• Hymn — O Clap Your Hands
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Sin
• Assurance of Pardon — Isaiah 53:4-6
• Scripture Reading — Joshua 13:1-7
• Hymn — Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty
• Pastoral Prayer
• Offering
• Hymn — Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
• Sermon
• Hymn — The Lord's My Shepherd
• Benediction

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Sermon Title: A Resurrection Breakfast

Scripture: John 21:1-14

I. The Warmth of the Fatherhood of God

A. Jesus addresses the disciples as "children" (paidia) — a term of endearment echoing his earlier use of the same language in John 13:33

1. Isaiah 9:6 names the Messiah "Everlasting Father"
2. In John 14, Jesus tells Philip that to see him is to see the Father

B. Jesus asks if they have caught any fish, though he already knows the answer — like a father eager to give a gift, he builds anticipation before the reveal

1. The disciples catch nothing all night; at Jesus's word they cast the net on the right side and cannot haul it in for the quantity of fish
2. It is the abundance of the catch — not merely the catch itself — that causes John to recognize the Lord

C. Abundance as a means of seeing Christ clearly

1. The temptation of asceticism (addressed by Paul in Colossians) suggests stripping away material goods leads to vision of Christ — but John sees Christ clearly in abundance
2. Nehemiah 8 illustrates this: understanding God's word brings weeping, but Nehemiah commands feasting — "the joy of the Lord is your strength"
3. The resurrection is the clarifying event that gives meaning to Christ's words and ministry; with that clarity comes a great breakfast

II. The Warmth of the Fellowship of God

A. For Jewish people, sharing a meal carried deep covenantal and religious significance — welcoming a person to eat was an act of covenant solidarity

1. 1 Corinthians 5 — Paul forbids eating with one who claims brotherhood while living in unrepentant sin, showing that table fellowship implied spiritual union
2. Jesus distributing bread and fish enacts covenant union and communion with his disciples

B. The charcoal fire is laden with meaning

1. The Greek word for "charcoal fire" (anthrakia) appears only twice in the New Testament: here and in John 18:18, where Peter denies Christ
2. The place of Peter's betrayal and separation at Christ's death becomes the place of union and communion at his resurrection — unmerited grace on full display

C. Christ is always host, never guest

1. In Matthew 20:28 the Son of Man came to serve, not to be served
2. In John 13, Peter resisted Jesus washing his feet; Jesus replied that unless he washed Peter, Peter could have no share with him — Christ must serve
3. The only times Jesus appears as host of a meal: the Last Supper, this resurrection breakfast, and the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19)
4. We are always guests — like Mephibosheth, crippled and invited to the king's table; the proper posture is perpetual thanksgiving
5. Isaac Watts: How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place — "Lord, why was I a guest?"

III. The Warmth of the Fear of God

A. Peter jumps into the water and puts on his outer garment before swimming to Jesus — a seemingly illogical act

1. Parallels Luke 5, where a great catch of fish caused Peter to cry, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord" — a reaction like Isaiah's in Isaiah 6
2. In Luke 5 the nets begin to break; here the net does not break — a further miracle, possibly carrying post-resurrection significance

B. The Greek word translated "stripped" (gymnos) literally means naked — throughout Scripture nakedness is associated with shame over sin before a holy God (cf. Adam and Eve)

1. Peter clothes himself out of reverence and awe before the holy resurrected King

C. Verse 12 — "None of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord" — language of trepidation and Godly fear before the uncanny presence of the God-man

D. Fear and joy held together

1. Matthew 28:8 — the women left the tomb "with fear and great joy"; these are not opposites — the greatness of the joy is because of the fear
2. Isaiah 11:3 — the Messiah's delight will be in the fear of the Lord; Godly fear flows from union with Christ as one of his chief benefits
3. C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: "Is he safe? … Of course he isn't safe. But he's good."
4. Christ is to be met with reverent awe and joyful trembling — holy, holy, holy, yet good