John 21:12

THE UNCHANGING CHRIST

‘Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine.’

John 21:12

Picture the disciples grouped round the glowing embers of a created fire with fish laid thereon and bread, the guests of the Lord of Creation. All the elements had combined to produce that mysterious repast—earth, air, and sea.

I. The words ‘Come and dine,’ show us the reality of our Lord’s risen Body.—St. Thomas, by putting his finger into the very wound-prints, was satisfied that it was the same Body; but these wonderful revelations of Himself, that mysterious Presence—diffused like the odour of ointment poured forth and discovered at the same moment in divers places—made deep impressions. Was the Body a real Body? Touch and sight had been satisfied. There remained this one act to prove the reality of His Spiritual Body. The invitation ‘Come and dine’ dispelled all further doubts on this point, and testified to the reality of His Spiritual Presence. He ate with them—not eating as an old English saint has it—‘as the earth drinks in moisture from want, but as the sun imbibes the same from power,’ eating because He willed to do so, to strengthen and confirm them in the faith, not from any necessities of His Risen Body.

II. The words ‘Come and dine’ show us the reality and sameness of our Lord’s love.—He had watched their long fruitless night of toil, and He knew their wants. He who had compassion on the multitudes on those same mountain slopes has now compassion on them. The same loving voice that uttered ‘Give ye them to eat,’ now says ‘Come and dine.’ Death had wrought no change in the love of Jesus; what He was before, He is still.

III. ‘Come and dine,’ the words are still spoken, the ear of faith hears the invitation, the eye of faith still sees Him providing our daily bread, the heart fanned by the breath of the Spirit is filled with Thanksgiving to the true Lord of the Feast. But what cowards we are at times! We feel all this, but we are ashamed of our feelings. For instance, we say our ‘grace before meat’ at home, but do we remember to do this at the hotel, or luncheon-room, or where others are neglectful. Are you afraid of the opinion of the world? Heaven is not easily won, but it is worth the struggle. Do not be discouraged because of the way, look forward to seeing Jesus standing on the morning of the Resurrection inviting you to the Feast prepared by Himself: ‘Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching; verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them.’

—Rev. J. L. Spencer.

Illustration

‘The Greek word rendered “dine,” does not necessarily mean a midday meal. Parkhurst shows, on the contrary, from Xenophon, that it may mean a morning repast. As things are in England now, the translation is a peculiarly unfortunate one. Two or three centuries ago, when people dined at eleven o’clock, the unfitness of it would not have been so remarkable. The meaning evidently is, “Come and partake of a morning meal.” ’