More Feeding Grace
Scripture Reading — John 21:1-14
Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”
John 21:12
Elijah the runaway prophet wasn’t the only one who experienced God’s grace through food. Peter the disappointed disciple led a group on a fruitless, nighttime, post-resurrection fishing expedition. At dawn Jesus directed them from the shore to try again on the right side of their boat. They hauled in 153 large fish in an unbroken net. And “when they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.”
Jesus engineered the catch, not because he needed the fish to make breakfast for seven husky laborers, but because they needed another glimpse of his goodness. Look at all the signs of grace we find in this passage:
- Jesus sought them when they had left him and returned to their previous occupation.
- Jesus tipped them off to the best fishing spot.
- Jesus gave them an abnormally large catch.
- Jesus spared them the work of repairing their nets.
- Jesus got up early in the morning to prepare breakfast for these weary doubters.
- Jesus invited them to share some of the fish and even credited them for catching the fish.
- Jesus did not scold them for their failure.
Take some time to reflect and see if you can think of some more signs of grace in this story. What signs of grace has the Lord shown you in your life today?
God of all grace, thank you that in each new day we can see your welcoming arms and hear your inviting voice. Help us to see your signs of grace in all situations. In Jesus, Amen.
About the author — Dale Vander Veen
Dale Vander Veen is a retired Christian Reformed pastor who with his wife, Edith, has ministered in California, Washington, and Michigan. They have three married children and six grandchildren. He currently writes a daily e-mail series of devotions.
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