John 21:1-19 – Breakfast on the Beach preached at St Mary Magdalene, Melchbourne, 4.5.25 by Reverend Simon Aley.
Sometimes the Gospel passage we are given is simply too much to cover in one sermon and this is one example. Prior to my ordination into the Church of England, I was privileged to listen to 5 separate talks from the former Bishop of Peterborough, Donald Allister on this chapter of John’s Gospel with the title “Breakfast on the Beach”. Later this year I may do a series of talks on this passage. So, for now this is just an overview.
Last week I said that John chapter 20 marks the end of the Gospel and there is a fair bit of evidence for this – the way it finishes and the fact that not all ancient versions of John’s gospel include this 21st chapter. It also reads like the passage in other gospels of the calling of the disciples and casting their nets to the other side of the boat and it rather abruptly transfers the focus from Jerusalem north 70-80 miles to the sea of Tiberias. On the other hand, this is very much an Easter appearance of Jesus. It would be perfectly natural for the disciples to return to their home area after Jesus’ death and to their old jobs as fishermen and perhaps that is a key element of this passage we should explore, a simple fishermen’s tale of returning to their boats after the death of their master that leads to a miraculous breakfast on the beach.
OK, so what have the past two weeks been like for you? Have you seen and experienced resurrection in your life? What does it look like? Here’s why I’m asking. Two weeks ago, we celebrated the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Two weeks ago, the stone was rolled away, the tomb was found to be empty, and Jesus was seen alive. And here’s my question. Are you more alive now? Am I? What difference has the resurrection made in us? I am not asking about what difference it might make in some distant heavenly future. I am asking about changes to our lives today, here, now. Because, if it there is nothing then something is wrong and we need to reflect and re-examine.
Maybe we look to the resurrection for some big deal in our lives just like the stone rolled away and when we do not see anything we just move on. And yet, in one sense breakfast on the beach was no big deal. This was the disciples’ original workplace – well at least for some of them. It had been a daily occurrence and probably would be again and breakfast on the beach, well in those days it would be quite normal. Less so now the sea has receded so much as it is used to provide water and energy for the growing population. But then, flames rising from a charcoal fire on the shore was quite normal and who was that standing by the fire waving them over? Maybe the big deal of the empty tomb is experienced in the ordinary circumstances of life.
It starts with a very ordinary conversation. “I am going fishing” says Simon Peter and the other 6 disciples who were with Simon Peter say we will go with you. Staying together at this difficult time no doubt. We know the time Jesus appears – just after daybreak – they probably had gone out for a night fishing trip.
What have you caught Jesus asks? Nothing they reply to the stranger who they cannot quite see. All very mundane and ordinary – perhaps a little more than that it is accompanied by darkness and emptiness – common features of grief. We have a wedding here in Melchbourne next weekend and this reminds me of John Chapter 2 – the wedding at Cana where they had empty wine jars and now, they have empty fishing nets. And in both cases the intervention of Jesus enabled both to be filled. We should not see the emptiness as a failure but a beginning and note that both times when there is that emptiness Jesus steps in as he still does today. We are even told how many fish were caught 153 and not a single tear in the net.
As the sun rises, Simon Peter can see it is Jesus he grabs his cloak, jumps into the sea and swims ashore to meet his risen Lord and master. The dawn is shedding new light on what is going on. Jesus already has fish and bread warming on the fire and they have even more fish.
Conversation ensues as we would expect over a meal and 3 times Jesus asks Simon Peter “Do you love me?” Undoubtedly a reminder to the threefold denial after Jesus is arrested on Maundy Thursday. Jesus uses the Greek word agape the first two times but Simon uses the more intimate phileo assuring Jesus of his love and in the third ask Jesus also uses phileo. And so out of this seemingly very normal discourse and series of events, something very special is happening as Jesus is placing pastoral responsibility from himself on to Simon Peter while retaining that direct connection with us all. So, I ask again how has the resurrection been for you? Because resurrection is in the details. It is like one of those dot to dot pictures that God is inviting us to create, each dot a particular detail or circumstance, and now our work is to connect the dots with the lines of our lives and so we discover that we have a future, our life has been guaranteed by Christ’s life, and he has revealed himself to us not always in miracles but in the day to day. Amen