I am sitting in a warm house. Our fireplace has a small fire burning, just enough to make a difference in the temperature. My mug is filled with Door County Frosted Cinnamon Buns Coffee and our Springer Spaniel is curled up in a ball by the fireplace.
An invitation to eat and warm up sounds good to anyone on a late night venture or coming home from a hard days work. It might be that it was a hard week and the fire and a bite to eat is there just to slow you down so you can regroup.
Jesus knew the importance of greeting people with not only himself but with an opportunity to get the chill out and eat a little bit.
John 21:1-14
21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead
The apostles had been fishing all night and it was early in the morning. No matter what the temperature outside was, I know for a fact that they were on the water, tired, it had to be damp and they were going to need to eat. Jesus knew exactly what they needed besides the Spiritual encounter they would have. In reality they were also confused and still in shock over His death, burial and resurrection. There still had to be some doubt and fear in their minds and hearts. Jesus met their needs in the moment. It wasn't a church service or scheduled prayer meeting. Now friends, those are also important and we need to attend. But Jesus met them where they were. They were fishing.
Jeremiah 29:13New International Version (NIV)
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
The Holy Spirit is with us always. Jesus sent Him to comfort and instruct us. We need to seek Him and He will be there. For me this morning, it was over hot coffee and a small fire.
We also need to use our homes as a place where others can rest from time to time, and seek the Lord. We can offer a warm blanket, fire, some coffee maybe some soup or crackers. But we should always be the place where those weary from life can stop by and seek refuge.
Where's your campfire? Do you need to visit and rest or bring someone in so they can rest? In either instance we have no excuse for not doing what Jesus so clearly set the example of and the apostles willingly partook of.
God bless,
Marty
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