Jesus calls His people to breakfast

Is Jesus an environmentalist? That is, would He ever cut down a tree, hurt an animal, or use natural products? While we humans could do immensely better with our handling of this planet’s resources, reading about some of the things Jesus did gives me something to think about.

The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” (John 21:8–12)

Some of the disciples were fishermen, not for sport but for their livelihood. They caught fish so they could survive. What did Jesus do to make a living? During His public ministry, He seems to have been supported by His followers, but before that, He was a carpenter. He used wood and may have cut down trees. Interesting.

In this incident after His resurrection, He somehow caught fish and had them on a fire, ready for the disciples. I’m fairly certain that He didn’t lay them on the fire alive, which means He had to kill them first. The only ways I know how to kill a fish are to either let it suffer and die without being able to breathe, or use a club on it, sometimes known as a fish-whacker. The implications of Him serving fish for breakfast over an open fire are many. 

The most important truth I gather from this story is that Jesus place the well-being of people above the lives of those fish. While Green Peace would not like that, it seems impossible to deny. 

In doing so, Jesus declares that the catch that day was vital, not only to supplement the meal He was cooking for them, but also to build their faith. He had been crucified and these men had reservations about what would happen next. Perhaps this man they thought would rid them of Roman rule was not going to deal with their political bondage. So they decided to go back to their old way of life --- fishing.

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. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on 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 of the quantity of fish. (John 21:3–6)

Jesus provided a catch that they did not expect, then a breakfast they also did not expect. When He called them to eat, they realized who He was. Verse 12 finishes with “Now none of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord” (John 21:12).

As I read this again, I can think of more implications. Am I obedient in the work that I do, following His instruction even after I have failed? He can turn failure into success. When I have a meal, am I thankful realizing that the Lord has provided for me? It might not be as dramatically as this story, but He does take care of His people. 

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Lord, we have spent days looking at Your creation and marveling at the beauty around us. Most of it makes me feel small and insignificant. Yet this story shows that Your interest in my well-being and in my faith goes far beyond Your interest in the fish of the sea. Oddly enough, this produces a greater sense of responsibility in my heart for the world around me, but more important than that, I feel gratitude and a deeper desire to listen to You calling me --- to hear you invite me to come and eat with You.

Impressing God

Current news is almost totally preoccupied with an economic downturn that seems to be affecting the entire world. Those who bow at the shrine of almighty dollar have seen their idol tip over and fall apart. What seemed a sure thing for many has become increasingly shaky and unstable.

From one end of the Bible to the other, I am warned not to be concerned about money, only that I’m to consider myself a steward and be prudent with whatever God provides. Money has a way of pulling hearts from devotion to God toward devotion to power, prestige, and possessions.

Idolatry, using a loose definition, could be anything that I value the most, or anything that I rely on for my sense of security and importance. That means cash is not the only thing that can pull me into shaky dependencies.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 warns me, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the Lord.”

When I was in school, I was fortunate to get excellent marks. I once gloried in that. I’ve never been what most people would call ‘mighty’ but when I work out, I’ve sometimes gloried in that by comparing myself to someone who doesn’t. (There would be no glory if I simply compared myself to the general population!)

While we are not rich by North American standards, these days I’m tempted to glory because our source of income has not changed and we are financially okay. There have been times though, when money was scarce, so I understand why some people think about it all the time and even make it their only reason for getting up in the morning.

Jesus also says something startling about human value systems in the New Testament. He was speaking about money management and finished His teaching with this:

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided (lit. turned their noses up at) Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination (detestable) in the sight of God” (Luke 16:13-15).

This astonishing statement repeats the thoughts of Jeremiah 9. God is not impressed with the things that impress people. Instead, He challenges me to value what He values — first, that I understand and know Him.

Having a relationship with Almighty God could be taken for granted if never given serious thought, but even as I write this, the very idea of it staggers me. Who am I to know God? Who am I that He came into my life? It was not because of my IQ, power, or money; it was because Jesus died for me, a sinner. That is amazing and a glory, yet even more amazing is that God values that. He puts me knowing Him ahead of all other things that the world might consider important.

In knowing Him, I know that God also delights in “exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.” I’m not worshiping a God who likes being harsh or who looks the other way when people sin. He delights in doing what is right, what is perfectly fair, and He delights in me when I do the same things.

I’m not sure how all of this plays out in the world’s financial crisis. I wonder if it is happening because a loving God is trying to wake up those who have made money their idol? I wonder if He has seen much unfairness and is trying to level the playing field? Whatever His plan, I do know that He is active and in sovereign control over this world. I also know that if I want to impress Him, I need to continually acknowledge that I know Him and remember that it is God who I worship, rely on, think about, and delight in — not money or any other thing.

What does God look for on a resume?

1 Samuel 22 tells how David, who knew he would be king even though Saul was still on the throne, was joined by hundreds of men who became his army. It starts with, “David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented (or ‘bitter of soul’) gathered to him. So he became captain over them.”

It seems to me the logical way to form an army would involve recruiting fighters who were strong, skilled and with a zeal for battle. Not so with this group. They were united by adverse circumstances, had little going for them, and in modern terms might be called a motley crew. However, they did believe in David and looked for his support. They were also willing to stand with him, no matter what came against them.

This reminds me of a description of God’s people from 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base (insignificant or lowly) things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”

Just as the army has tests for soldiers, the world also measures the skills and value of people by all sorts of evaluation and IQ tests. If someone scores high in intellect, education, aptitude and experience, they are given more respect, authority and usually more money.

The church measures skills too. We use spiritual gift tests and their track record to put people in the most appropriate ministry for them. If they are able, they are put to work.

But what if people without skill, training or previous experience step up and say, “I’ve a burden from God to get involved in this . . . ”? Do we tell them they can’t? Do we say they would be better in another area? Do we give them tests first to see if they can do it?

David didn’t send any of that motley crew away. Some of them became his “mighty men” and were willing to die for him. A few became skilled leaders. They were united in their discontent, but moreso in their loyalty.

I’m thinking the church needs to consider David’s motley crew when we gather our ‘army’ to do the Lord’s work. We know how worldliness creeps in, but worldliness is more than materialism. It includes adopting the way the world does things like recruiting. If the world looks for well-educated visionaries who can communicate well, have the abilities to ‘make things happen’ and all the skills necessary to stand out, should the church do the same?

And what about me? I’m startled how often God picks what most might call losers to do great tasks for Him. I need to watch that I don’t toss unassuming, even backward people into the ‘maybe’ pool or reject them for their lack of polish. A motley crew can become a mighty army.

In fact, it seems that God would rather start with nothing. Consider the disciples Jesus picked. None of them were educated, and most were rough around the edges. Yet these men impacted the world as no other ‘motley crew’ before or since.

I remember a line from one of Watchman Nee’s books that I read years ago. It said that natural talent can be an impediment in the kingdom of God because if a person is a good talker, God has to teach that person to shut up before they will learn how to speak for Him, but if someone is ‘slow of speech’ they are already halfway to becoming a good servant.

This is a smack on the side of the head for some of my opinions about Christians in ministry positions. I can be critical of what looks like a square peg in a round hole and wonder why God didn’t pick a person more suited to the job. Today, Scripture shows me that I really don’t know anything about who should do what. If God says “You” to someone, I’d better keep my mouth shut, trust His choice, and then support them with all my heart!