John 21:12-14 12Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” But none of the disciples dared to question Him, “Who are You?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
John and Peter had recognized Jesus, but the other five disciples on the boat were slow to respond to his invitation to breakfast. Verse 12 implies that there was something special about how Jesus appeared. The disciples knew it was Jesus but were reluctant to go eat breakfast. John uses the exalted description of Jesus as Lord. The disciples’ uncertainty could be accounted for because of the awesomeness of the risen Jesus. They knew it was Jesus but may have been afraid to get close because of their earlier encounter with him in the locked room.
Instead of leaving the disciples in their hesitation, Jesus went to them with the bread and fish. John does not mention that Jesus ate any of the fish and bread, like in Luke 24:41-43, but it certainly could be implied. Two significant things were happening at that moment. As verse 14 indicates, one was that Jesus was showing himself to be risen from the dead. Experiencing something three times would confirm even the greatest doubter about the truth of a matter. Another was an assurance to the disciples who may have been trying to figure out life at that moment. They had gone fishing as part of their old way of life. Jesus had to remind them of the greater mission they were on, not just to catch fish but to catch people. They were now to extend his mission by reaching the whole world, represented in the large number of fish. Although this third encounter with Jesus was miraculous, they disciples needed to be reminded that their purpose was found in Jesus as the risen Lord and not in their ability to catch fish.
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