Episode 1205
Why Did Jesus Make Breakfast? Finding the Sacred in Ordinary Mornings | John 21:1-14
This podcast episode elucidates the profound notion that the sacred often manifests in the mundane aspects of everyday life. We explore a poignant narrative from the Gospel of John, wherein Jesus, having triumphed over death, chooses to engage with His disciples in an ordinary yet intimate setting, preparing breakfast for them. This act underscores the theme that divine presence is not confined to extraordinary events; rather, it permeates our routine experiences, inviting us to recognize the holy in the commonplace. Furthermore, we reflect on the significance of grace, as exemplified by Jesus meeting His disciples at their familiar haunts, extending not condemnation but nourishment and companionship. As we conclude, we encourage our listeners to embrace the opportunity for connection by sharing a meal with someone, thereby transforming a simple gathering into a sacred moment.
Takeaways:
- This podcast emphasizes the importance of recognizing God's presence in daily, ordinary moments.
- The narrative illustrates how Jesus meets individuals where they are, offering grace and support.
- Listeners are encouraged to share meals and be present with others to foster connection.
- The episode highlights the symbolism of the number 153 in the biblical context of catching fish.
- A key takeaway is the idea that sacredness can be found in simple, everyday experiences around us.
- The podcast urges participants to engage in the practice of presence, minimizing distractions during shared moments.
Links referenced in this episode:
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.
Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available seven days a week by 6:00 am ET. The episodes are no longer than ten minutes long and are...
- Understandable: A reading from the New Testament (usually the Gospel) selected from the Revised Common Lectionary using "The Message" translation.
- Relatable: You will have a couple of "points to ponder" from the text which will relate to your life
- Applicable: Every episode includes a way you can take action based on the reading
- A recommended resource to help you go deeper in biblical study and spiritual direction.
- A prayer for your day.
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Transcript
Hello my friend Dr. Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:This is your daily reading of the Bible from a progressive point of view.
Speaker A:In a bit I will read the New Testament lessons selected from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day.
Speaker A:The reading is understandable.
Speaker A:I use the message version relatable.
Speaker A:Please listen to the points to ponder and applicable with action steps you can take.
Speaker A:We pray and are done in less than 10 minutes.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com which is the home of your free personal Bible study guide, the ABC123 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A: lionaires a million people by: Speaker A:You can help by saving and subscribing to the podcast and tagging your friends.
Speaker A:Here's today's reading.
Speaker B:Reading now the gospel of John 21, verses 1 through 14 from the Message Fishing after this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberia Sea, the Sea of Galilee.
Speaker B:This is how he did it.
Speaker B:Simon Peter Thomas, nicknamed Twin Nathanael from Cana and Galilee.
Speaker B:The brothers Zebedee and two other disciples were together, and Simon Peter announced, I'm going fishing.
Speaker B:The rest of them replied, we're going with you.
Speaker B:They went out and got in the boat.
Speaker B:They caught nothing.
Speaker B:That night when the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn't recognize him.
Speaker B:Jesus spoke to them, good morning.
Speaker B:Did you catch anything for breakfast?
Speaker B:They answered, no.
Speaker B:He said, throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.
Speaker B:They did what he said.
Speaker B:All of a sudden there were so many fish in it they weren't strong enough to pull it in.
Speaker B:Then the disciple Jesus Love said to Peter, it's the Master.
Speaker B:When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he had stripped for work, and he dove into the sea.
Speaker B:The other disciples came in by boat, for they weren't far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish.
Speaker B:When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid with fish and bread cooking on it, and Jesus said, bring some of the fish you've just caught.
Speaker B:Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore, 153 big fish, and even with all those fish, the net didn't rip.
Speaker B:Jesus said, breakfast is ready.
Speaker B:Not one of the disciples dared ask, who are you?
Speaker B:They knew it was the Master.
Speaker B:Jesus then took the bread, gave it to them.
Speaker B:He did the same with the fish.
Speaker B:This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.
Speaker B:This is just one of the more powerful images from the Bible and I really, really love it and appreciate it.
Speaker B:And Jesus made breakfast.
Speaker B:How cool is that?
Speaker B:I'd like for you to join with me now as we look at a couple of teaching points.
Speaker B:I like to call them points to ponder about this passage.
Speaker B:The first one is this Resurrection shows up in the ordinary.
Speaker B:Here's what I love about this story.
Speaker B:Jesus has just conquered death.
Speaker B:He's the risen Christ.
Speaker B:What does he do?
Speaker B:He builds a charcoal fire on the beach and cooks breakfast for his tired, discouraged friends.
Speaker B:There's no thunder, there's no trumpets, there's no marching bands, there's no flyover.
Speaker B:Just fish and bread and the smell of smoke, barbecue, if you will, in the morning air.
Speaker B:A progressive reading of this passage invites us to stop looking for God in dramatic mountaintop extraordinary moments and start noticing God in the ordinary.
Speaker B:The sacred isn't hiding in some far off high steeple cathedral.
Speaker B:It's in a cup of coffee with a friend.
Speaker B:It's in a hike with my wife through the woods.
Speaker B:Or where when the light comes through the trees and the canopy of trees just right, is in the laughter of a grandchild, my friend.
Speaker B:If you can't find holy in the ordinary, you're probably just going to miss it when it shows up.
Speaker B:Point upon our number two, Jesus meets you where you all ready are.
Speaker B:Notice where Jesus shows up here, down in the temple, not in Jerusalem.
Speaker B:He meets the disciples, right where they've always been, at their workplace, on the water, doing the work they know how to do, being fishermen.
Speaker B:Peter, who had denied Jesus just days before, doesn't get a lecture.
Speaker B:He gets breakfast.
Speaker B:That's grace.
Speaker B:That is grace, my friends.
Speaker B:Real grace.
Speaker B:Not the kind that makes you earn your way back.
Speaker B:The kind that meets you on the boat on your worst night and you've caught nothing.
Speaker B:It simply says, come on, let's have breakfast.
Speaker B:You know, I think sometimes about the folks I serve on my cancer related podcast.
Speaker B:These folks are in the middle of a very hard, hard fight.
Speaker B:The fight of their lives.
Speaker B:They don't need a sermon from me or any pontification.
Speaker B:You know what they need?
Speaker B:They need presence.
Speaker B:They need grace.
Speaker B:They need someone to show up for breakfast, literally and metaphorically.
Speaker B:That's what Jesus does here.
Speaker B:That's what we're called to do for each other.
Speaker B:Here's a little fun detail about this passage.
Speaker B:I think it's kind of cool.
Speaker B:The text says they caught exactly 153 fish.
Speaker B:That's kind of interesting, isn't it?
Speaker B:Biblical scholars have debated that number for 2,000 years, but I think sometimes a detail like that is pretty cool.
Speaker B:It just gives us a detail, the kind of thing you remember because it actually happened.
Speaker B:You know, it's like remembering the score when the Colts won the Super Bowl.
Speaker B:Special days have special meaning and special numbers even makes a difference.
Speaker B:It's kind of the texture of your memory.
Speaker B:So I want you to remember today.
Speaker B:153 Fish.
Speaker B:Here's your action step.
Speaker B:Share a meal with someone this week.
Speaker B:That's it.
Speaker B:And when you do it, just be present.
Speaker B:Don't be checking your phone, don't be thinking about something else.
Speaker B:Just no scrolling.
Speaker B:None of that stuff.
Speaker B:Just presence.
Speaker B:Could be a cup of coffee with a neighbor, breakfast with your spouse, sandwich with a co worker.
Speaker B:Treat that table, that experience as a sacred moment, a sacred space.
Speaker B:Because if Jesus showed up to cook breakfast for you after the resurrection, hey, that's pretty good, isn't it?
Speaker B:Maybe, just maybe, the dining table or the table with someone else is more of an altar than we realized.
Speaker B:We're going to come back and have a word of prayer here in just a second.
Speaker B:Did want you to know we've got a great resource for you for your daily Bible study at home.
Speaker B:It is called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible study method.
Speaker A:Free to you when you go over.
Speaker B:To our website voiceofgodddaily.com let's pray.
Speaker B:Jesus helped me to notice you in the ordinary, in breakfast, in laughter, in the faces of the people I love.
Speaker B:Meet me where I am today.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker A:My friend, I am delighted you chose to join me for today.
Speaker A:Today's reading, the Daily Bible Refresh is completely listener supported.
Speaker A:Your gift goes a long way to getting the audible word of God from a progressive perspective into 2 million years.
Speaker A: A million people by: Speaker A:I would be so grateful if you would go to voiceofgodddaily.com and share your gift of any amount.
Speaker B:Thanks much.
Speaker A:My name is Dr. Brad Miller and I'll be right here tomorrow with your Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Please subscribe and tag your friends until tomorrow.
Speaker A:Remember, God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.
