John 21:9-14
Introduction
Jesus shows up on the shore of the Sea of Galilee to cook breakfast for a group of hungry disciples, and we learn a powerful truth from this act of kindness. Jesus cares about our needs. He cares in practical ways. Jesus knew these men were desperate, hungry, tired, and cold, so He met them where they were. Jesus cares deeply about us. He not only has empathy but responds to us with kindness. Jesus sees and meets our needs because He is the greatest servant of all, and through His kindness, we can learn to be kind like Him.
Seeing the Need (John 21:9-12)
• Peter, John, James, Nathaniel, Thomas, and two unnamed disciples go fishing.
• They went fishing to provide for their families. They were being practical while they were in a place of waiting and they were desperate.
• They lacked direction and had no idea what would be next for them. Would they simply just go back to how things were before Jesus? Lacking direction and waiting is a hard place to be. It is emotionally and physically draining.
• So, they did something practical. They went fishing. That moment of “doing something can spark a little hope in us. Suddenly, we go from just waiting and hoping to doing.
• However, they caught nothing. They fished all night. Their hope was squashed. Their effort did not pay off.
• The disciples had been serving hard before Jesus’ crucifixion. Then they experienced the trauma of His death, followed by the triumph of His resurrection, and now they have no direction, and they are worried about their family’s livelihood.
• The disciples had said yes to Jesus, and He engaged them in His mission of saving, healing, and loving people. This can be dangerous and exhausting work.
• Imagine how these men felt. There is no catch to show for. They must have been tired, cold, and hungry.
• Then suddenly, someone spots a man on the shore. They didn’t know yet that it was Jesus, but Jesus saw them!
• He saw their need. He felt their discouragement. He knew they were tired, cold, and hungry. We call this empathy.
• Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Empathy is a feeling, not an action. We often elevate the feeling of empathy. It’s a starting place.
• But Jesus’ empathy leads to kindness. Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Kindness is an action, not a feeling.
• Jesus gives them two instructions. The disciples listen to those instructions.
• A miracle of provision is about to take place. This is Jesus’ first act of kindness. Notice that the disciples must do something to receive this.
• How often do we refuse to step out or move in the direction and instruction God has given us and, as a result, miss out on the miracle He has for us?
• We dismiss these moments, row into shore empty-handed, and wonder why God isn’t doing what He said He would do.
• Thankfully, the disciples did listen, and as they rowed to shore (minus Peter, who swam), they knew they were coming to meet Jesus.
Meeting the Need (John 21:13)
• Jesus not only saw the disciples’ needs, but He met their needs. He had just provided enough fish to feed their families, but He then had a fire waiting with bread, ready to feed them.
• Again, this is where empathy (seeing a need) and kindness (meeting a need) line up.
• Let’s put this in perspective- God, the resurrected Messiah, is preparing breakfast for them.
• He did not just say eat, but verse 13 tells us he served the food. It says, “He took the bread and gave it to them and the fish likewise.” Jesus is the greatest servant of all!
• The Divine Son of God was waiting on these men like a servant. That is what makes this simple act so significant. It is who is doing the act.
• Jesus lit the fire, cooked the food, and then personally served it to each of them.
• Even in His glorious state, Jesus is still the greatest servant of all!
• We can have difficulty understanding God because He is so different from us, including how He defines greatness (Mt. 20:25-28; Mt 23:11-12).
• Jesus is pointing out that God gives His authority to people who will use it to care for His people but not those who misuse or abuse them.
• He looks for people motivated by love and have chosen to use their time, energy, and resources to be kind to those in need.
• Jesus is the greatest example of this. He left heaven to become a man so that He could serve us. He put our needs ahead of His own, and there were no limits to the depth of His servant’s heart. He willingly gave His life for ours. He paid our debt.
• The servant of all has become the Lord of all (Philippians 2:9-11)
Recognizing Jesus (John 21:14)
• We already talked about the difference between empathy and kindness. A person can feel empathy but do nothing to help.
• Kindness is different. It only happens when someone sees a need and does something about it.
• Jesus taught this principle through the parable of the Good Samaritan. We learned from that parable that loving one’s neighbor means doing something kind, not just feeling bad about one’s condition or situation.
• Jesus making the disciples breakfast helps us understand that our God is kind. Not only did He die on the cross, but He cares about our suffering as His disciples. No need is too small. He will even feed us when we are hungry.
• This is not the first time Jesus has met basic needs, such as feeding hungry people, such as when He fed the five thousand (6:11).
• Another example of this is found in the Old Testament. Elijah received God’s kindness when He fled for His life into the wilderness (1 King 19:1-8).
• In Elijah’s moment of distress, Jesus showed kindness. He met his practical needs.
• Jesus did the same thing for the disciples, and He does the same thing for us. He assured them He would always be there because that is who He is. He is kind.
• There are times when Jesus performs miracles to care for us, and His presence is powerful. Even though we can’t see Him, we know He is with us.
• There are times when He ministers to us through His people. If we don’t understand that we won’t recognize Him when He arrives.
• If we don’t understand this, we might look back and wonder where He was, but He was always there.
Conclusion
Jesus wants to enlist us in His ministry. He shows us His kindness and then utilizes us to show His kindness to others. We might miss it if we aren’t paying attention. We might not hear Him or obey when He tells us to throw the net to the other side, missing His provision and opportunity. We might not bring the fish to the fire He has prepared out of fear or weariness, but He is there waiting to make us breakfast. We might not recognize when He sends His people to provide, heal, and nourish us if we do not have eyes to see and ears to hear, but the truth is that He will always be there when we need Him most, making us breakfast on the beach because the greatest servant of all teaches us through His kindness.
Discussion Questions
- Describe a time that Jesus cared for you through another human being. What did you hear or see that made you know that Jesus was there__?
- Describe a time when Jesus sent you to care for someone else. What did you do__?