After the amazing catch of fish that almost burst the net (recorded in John 21), the seven disciples who were out fishing come to shore and see that Jesus is there--with a charcoal fire already going, bread and some fish already on it, ready for some of the fish they had caught to be added.
It must have seemed very familiar to them. They had traveled the area together for three years, very often right by this very body of water. The Gospels don't tell us specifically of other times where they cooked fish over a charcoal fire, but there are many stories where this lake features prominently (Sea of Tiberias also known as Sea of Galilee, and Sea of Gennesaret, is a freshwater lake about 13 miles long and 8 miles wide). They have been on its shores; they have been on it in a boat; in one story Jesus even walks ON the lake. At least five of the disciples were professional fishermen, and once when Jesus taught from a boat on the lake he used a fishing boat that belonged to Simon Peter. And fish were involved--when he fed the 5000 men plus women and children, it was with five loaves of bread and two fish--which happened after the crowd had followed him AROUND this lake and he had taken a boat across it. He taught them, then fed them with bread and fish on the shore of this same lake.
So it is likely that they had gathered around such a fire on the shore of this lake a number of times. This simple gathering undoubtedly brought back memories of all that they had experienced with him right there on the shore of that lake, the other times they and others had shared fish with him. It must have been very familiar; there were ways in which it must have seemed comfortable, and comforting--in which it seemed just the same as those other times.
Well, it was the same. But different.
We've looked at how it was "the same". But how was it different?
It was different because Jesus was on the other side of the cross, death, the grave, and resurrection. And it was different because THEY were on the other side of the cross, death, the grave, and resurrection. From now on every meal is a meal shared with the resurrected Jesus, the risen Christ.
And it is different for us because WE are on the other side of the cross, death, the grave, and resurrection. Hate is defeated; love has won. Death is defeated; life has won. Sin is defeated; forgiveness has won. Judgment is defeated; grace has won. As the Gaithers sing--and we sing with the Gaithers, "Because he lives, I can face tomorrow; because he lives, all fear is gone; because I know he holds the future, and life is worth the living just because he lives!"
From now on, every breath is breathed in the presence of the risen Jesus, the resurrected Christ. Our lives are the same, but different. Qualitatively different.
John 21:1-13
1 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ 6 He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. 9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.