John 21:12

John 21:12

I. The Recognition. Three things contributed to it. (1) The love. Who, but One, so busies Himself about His redeemed? (2) The wisdom. Who, but One, could know or even dare to advise upon a matter to all appearance so casual and so fortuitous? (3) The strength. The fish were not there till Christ spoke. He, the Lord of creation, brought them to the net.

II. The entertainment. The recognition has brought together the Host and the guests. So at His table Christ Himself is spiritually present to receive, as well as to communicate, that highest joy, which is the interchange of conscious feeling and trusted love; to partake of us, as we of Him He making us fit to give Him pleasure He bringing the fish to our net He preparing also the fire and the bread, which we are to find ready for us on the shore.

III. The feeling. "None of the disciples durst ask Him, Who art Thou? knowing that it was the Lord." Why should they ask, if they knew? Such questioning would have been intrusive, would have been familiar, would have been impertinent. They must wait for Him to speak now. So the feeling which reigns around Christ's table should be a feeling of predominant reverence.

IV. The conversation. Let us learn from Christ's example what to commune about with Jesus. (1) Who shall not begin with his sins? Who can doubt that Peter's three denials were uppermost in his heart at this meal? (2) Ask the Lord, in token of His forgiveness, to give you back your forfeited work for Him. Ask Him to let you be at least His hired servant. (3) At that table you cannot help forecasting your future. Shadows of the long hereafter, even of this life's hereafter, project themselves upon your path. They did so upon Peter's. Talk to Christ of your future, of your life, of your end. Tell that which you fear; let Him converse on it with you at His own table, and you shall find its worse sorrow healed, when He says to you in all, through all, notwithstanding all, "Follow Me." (4) Peter, finally, had a thought for others. He had a friend, a dear friend, dear also to Jesus Christ. Ask this night also concerning your friend. He may bid you not ask. He may bid you leave in His hands, your friend's future as your own, but He will not reprove you for asking. Such topics are suitable for the soul's communing with its beloved.

C. J. Vaughan, Christian World Pulpit,vol. i., p. 33.

References: John 21:12. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xi., No. 633; Spurgeon, Morning by Morning,p. 290; W. Morison, Ibid.,vol. viii., p. 168; Homiletic Magazine,vol. xi., p. 365.