“COME AND HAVE BREAKFAST.”
— John 21:12
It’s probably been a long time since you prayed for your daily bread. More likely, you just open the fridge or kitchen cupboard. But one morning, after his resurrection, Jesus stood on a beach concerned about his disciples’ hunger.
They were in a boat 100 yards offshore and must have been tired, crabby, and hungry. They had fished all night and came up empty handed.
Immediately after Jesus spoke to them they caught 153 large fish. When they came in, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.
It would seem that while the disciples were fishing, Jesus was cooking. While they grumbled, a meal was already on its way. He who took up the towel to wash his disciples’ feet now took up the apron to serve them breakfast.
Oh the generosity of God knows no limits. He who gave his body and blood keeps giving. See him starting a fire at dawn. Picture his hands black from arranging the coals. Watch as he grills the fish and toasts the bread just as the sliver of morning light breaks over the horizon.
What humility we see in Jesus! The one who breathed life into Adam, blew on a fire. The Savior of the World practiced the most elemental form of generosity, making a meal.
What needs feel too small to bring to Jesus? What hunger have you hesitated to tell him about? We often stress because the sun hasn’t risen on his provision yet. But what if your meal was already being prepared? What if the fire was lit and the coals were just turning red?
As followers of Jesus we learn to walk by faith, not by sight. We have convictions about things unseen because we’ve seen him who is invisible. Our Lord Jesus knows what we need before we even ask. He is generous and he is trustworthy.
So was Jesus a good cook? Perhaps. There were at least a few fishermen in history who could say for sure for when their boat settled on the sand, they heard his words, Come and have breakfast.
© John Rinehart 2025