Session 2: The Meal

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

Pray then like this:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - John 21:1–25
• Scripture Memory - Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2
• Catechism - Q: What practice cultivates Christian community? A: Hospitality.

Introduction

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!

Whatever a man has bestowed upon another, hoping for no advantage from him, he really bestows upon himself, for he will receive a reward from God.

God is inviting you into a one-of-a-kind community! The bonds of Christian fellowship are unequaled by any other human relationship precisely because of the unique Christ-centered character of the communion. While other human relationships experience levels of intimacy, commitment, and enjoyment, the community of God’s people can interpersonally flourish like no other because Christian relationship is forged on the anvil of God’s eternal plan, realized by the saving work of Christ on the cross, and sustained by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This unique theological and gospel-centered foundation makes the faith community remarkable in kind, extraordinary in purpose, and steadfast in endurance. God’s abiding presence not only brings Christian community into existence but also fashions it with the character of Christ. God so infuses the life of faith and formation with his gracious gifts that the practice of the presence of God involves joyous and meaningful communion with God’s people.

During his life, Jesus was a master of hospitality. Although his welcoming lifestyle was surrounded by no little controversy, the consistently hospitable ethic of Jesus’ life was a mainstay for his dynamic ministry. He often attended parties, celebrated feasts, joined banquets, participated in festivals, and enjoyed meals with a variety of people. Throughout his ministry, he was both host and guest. Outcasts and sinners, the broken and the bruised, men and women, leaders and servants, and Jews and Gentiles were all welcomed to dine with Jesus. For Jesus, hospitality was not a matter of only entertaining those in his own family, class, or ethnicity. On the contrary, hospitality was a loving welcome to strangers: those who were diverse, dissimilar, and disenfranchised. Jesus’ welcoming invitation reached the margins of society. Inasmuch as Jesus’ practice of hospitality was a means of his mission work, it was also a mechanism for community building. Those who had no logical or human reason to be together experienced loving community during table fellowship with Christ. Only Jesus could enable such a disparate group of people to share a common life with one another. The bond of such an exceptional community was the presence of God through Jesus Christ.

Following Jesus’ resurrection, we observe a memorable instance of Jesus’ practice of hospitality. In John 21:1–25, Jesus appeared to several of his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias in Galilee. After the disciples banded together in a fishing venture that had turned bankrupt, Jesus invited the unsuspecting disciples to a meal that forever changed their lives. On the shores of the Sea of Galilee, around a charcoal fire, with fish and bread for a breakfast meal, and accompanied by the kind of life-transforming conversation Jesus alone could offer, the resurrected Lord practiced fellowship with his disoriented disciples. This hospitable moment would reframe the entire trajectory of the disciples’ life and ministry. In this act, Jesus revealed key elements of his character, community life, and missional living.

When Christian community is realized, it becomes a dynamic catalyst to spiritual growth, a healing agent for our deepest wounds, a place of belonging for the most marginalized outcast, and a powerful testimony to a watching world fragmented by unreconciled relationships and shackled by embittered hearts. The bond of Christian fellowship is a gift from God. The sacred union between believers cannot be manufactured by human ingenuity, determined effort, or consistent habit. God alone brings genuine Christian fellowship into existence. In fact, God’s veritable promise for loving community is utterly reliant upon God’s very presence. Consequently, as God alone creates Christian community, he alone shapes and sustains it.

The Christian practice of hospitality is a means to experience the richness of Christian community. Practiced throughout a variety of cultures, prioritized by Christians throughout the ages, proven by scriptural witness, and pioneered by God himself, hospitality incubates Christian community. Hospitality springs from the welcoming and invitational core of the gospel message. To humans, the gospel is a hospitable offer to those who are hostile outcasts. In Christ, those estranged from God can come near and enjoy a restored relationship and deep communion with him. God’s practice of kerygmatic (gospel-centered) hospitality is the impetus for our own labors in this spiritual practice. In other words, we are to be a welcoming people because God is a welcoming God. As we explore this narrative of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance, we see firsthand the practice of hospitality as a community-forming practice. As this story unfolds to our contemporary eye and modern heart, Jesus welcomes us to experience and practice the same!

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

Cultivate Christian community in the practice of Christian hospitality.

Passage Overview

God calls us to both receive and emulate his welcoming and hospitable ways. As an individual, God wants to make you generous with your time, resources, and skills. As a family, Jesus wants to make your home hospitable, fashioning it into a beacon of gospel witness. As a church, God desires your faith community to be a haven for the needy, a support for the broken, a platform for ministry, and a testimony to God’s reliable word. The biblical narrative of Jesus’ seaside breakfast with his disciples calls us to embrace hospitality as a foundational practice of the Christian life. The miraculous catch of fish, the prepared breakfast meal, and the focused conversation with Peter certainly commend Jesus’ example as worthy of emulation. But we can only offer what we have received. While this narrative enjoins us to practice hospitality, it first summons us to receive Jesus’ gracious, open-handed, and loving invitation to himself and his people. Prayerfully study the passage, using the commentary below to help you understand the importance of hospitality and community as a mainstay in the Christian life.

Passage Outline

A Meal by the Sea

Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without complaining.

The Lord enjoins us to do good to all without exception, though the greater part, if estimated by their own merit, are most unworthy of it … We are not to look to what men in themselves deserve, but to attend to the image of God, which exists in all, and to which we owe all honour and love. But in those who are of the household of faith, the same rule is to be more carefully observed, inasmuch as that image is renewed and restored in them by the Spirit of Christ. Therefore, whoever be the man that is presented to you as needing your assistance, you have no ground for declining to give it to him … The Lord has given him a mark which ought to be familiar to you: for which reason he forbids you to despise your own flesh.

Introduction

We enjoy God’s presence in communion with each other! Believers practice God’s presence, make spiritual progress, exercise faith practices, and fulfill ministry responsibilities in concert with other believers. An isolated and withdrawn brand of spiritual formation not only betrays the call of discipleship but also lacks the support and resources of the collective community. Clear across the whole biblical record, spiritual formation is a community venture. Jesus not only called individuals to follow him, but he also formed these disciples into a community of faith. Therefore, to invest in Christian formation is to invest in the maturity of God’s people as a whole. An intrinsically communal enterprise, spiritual progress occurs in the context of meaningful relationships with other believers. Although many spiritual practices serve us in our individual relationship with God, many faith practices can only be enjoyed and experienced in the context of meaningful relationships with other believers. This is by God’s design. He has intended that we travel on the pilgrimage of the faith alongside other Christian companions. On this spiritual journey, we experience God’s presence in Christian fellowship.

The forces of evil despise the Christian community, and they target its demise. Satan often attacks God’s people with division, false teaching, strife, and scandal. Not only does culture itself threaten God’s people, but our own sinful proclivities present an imminent danger to the integrity of God’s people. Society wars against the Christian community, inflicting blows on God’s people by means of enemies such as hyper-individualism, busyness, racial tension, materialism, and the tragic decimation of the family. Individuals further complicate interpersonal relationships when vices like hypocrisy, jealousy, covetousness, greed, impatience, and bitterness rule the human heart. The Bible characterizes Christian community as one of God’s great gifts to his people, a gift that is to be guarded, celebrated, and embraced with faithful practice. Hospitality is one of the core practices by which we can cultivate Christian community. We turn to God’s word for wisdom and instruction to learn this ancient and formative spiritual discipline.

The biblical narrative in John 21:1–25 records Jesus’ exemplary practice of hospitality as a means to establish faith, facilitate restoration, cultivate relationship, mobilize ministry, and garner hope. In this story, Jesus’ unsure and uncertain disciples went out to sea on a nighttime fishing venture and found themselves unable to catch any fish. Early the next morning, Jesus stood on the beach and prepared a breakfast meal for his disciples. When his followers eventually recognized who he was, they headed to shore and shared a meal with their resurrected Lord. After breakfast, Jesus discussed with Peter important matters of faith and ministry. This story served as Peter’s restoration to the faith and reenlistment in Jesus’ mission. At the end of the narrative, John highlights the reliability of his account, building our faith in the reliability of God’s revealed word.

Hospitality is a time-tested spiritual practice that helps Christians realize the essence of Christian community. Meals are not only basic to human experience, but table fellowship was also central to the ministry of Jesus (cf. John 2:1–12; 6:1–15; 12:1–8; 13:1–30). In terms of hospitality, there is no better teacher than Jesus! Jesus’ regular practice of hospitality throughout his ministry firmly establishes a precedent for practicing hospitality. In general, Jesus participated in meals to reach the lost, encourage the broken, challenge the self-righteous, establish faith, welcome the outcast, and build up his community of followers. This particular biblical narrative commends hospitality as an important Christian practice that shapes and sustains Christian community. Let us read this scriptural account as guests at Jesus’ table, open to receive his life-giving presence and eager to extend this offer to those around us.

What They Caught That Night: Facing the Depth of Our Need

Biblical Narrative (John 21:1–3)

After a significant course of events in Jerusalem—Jesus’ final meal with his disciples (13:1–17:26), his betrayal (18:1–11), his trial (18:12–40), his crucifixion (19:1–42), his resurrection (20:1–10), and post-resurrection appearances (20:1–31)—Jesus’ disciples left Jerusalem and returned to Galilee. The time after Jesus’ resurrection was of crucial importance. It was during this time that Jesus would publicly confirm his victory over death and decisively commission his disciples as his global witnesses. An additional aim of Jesus’ appearances was to solidify his cadre of disciples into a devoted community of faithful followers. All that Jesus had in store for his disciples—evangelistic witness, miraculous wonders, painful suffering, leadership development, and church planting—was meant to be experienced and embraced together as a global community of Christ followers.

Jesus’ initial appearances to his disciples the week following his resurrection provided comfort for his grieving disciples and offered instruction for the life of faith. This biblical text is a record of one of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances when “Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples” (21:1). This appearance took place by the Sea of Tiberias (or, Sea of Galilee), and it was “the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead” (21:14). At this time, several of Jesus’ disciples “were together” (21:2), a testament to some form of solidarity that united the disciples together. The death of Jesus did not disband the community of early disciples. Although they experienced grief and disappointment over Jesus’ crucifixion, this sorrow did not completely extinguish the disciples’ faith.

Although the bonds of their relationship seemed intact, the disciples did not entirely grasp what they were to do next. At this time, Peter told the other disciples who were with him that he was going fishing, and they volunteered to go with him (21:3). Interestingly, fishing was the very profession from which Jesus called Peter when he summoned him to be his disciple (cf. Matthew 4:18–22). Although the disciples probably did not give up fishing entirely after following Jesus, it was no longer their primary vocation. Now, Peter and some of his fellow disciples returned to sea to do work that was natural and familiar: catch fish. However, after a night on the water, these industrious disciples “caught nothing” (21:3). Not only were they grieving the loss of their Lord through the punishment of crucifixion, but they were also empty-handed after a long and unproductive night fishing at sea. This opening scene highlights the importance of Christ-centered community for needy humanity.

Biblical Principles

Revelation and Christ Encounter. This biblical narrative describes Jesus’ appearance by the Sea of Tiberias as a revelation. In this story, the narrative details record the specific way Jesus “made Himself known” (21:1) to his disciples. The third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection (21:14; cf. 20:19–23, 24–29), this meeting of Jesus and his disciples verified that Jesus had risen from the dead and prepared his disciples to live out their faith as a community. Also important is the fact that Jesus initiated this beachside meeting with his disciples. Already in John’s narrative, Jesus’ resurrected identity was not immediately known (20:14). This would similarly be the case in this narrative (21:4). For people to know Jesus for who he really was—whether to identify the resurrected Christ or to understand who he is—Jesus had to make himself known. If this did not happen, people would remain ignorant of his identity, unaware of his person, and excluded from his saving grace. The Christ encounter in this story is the centerpiece of the narrative, as it is also the core of the Christian life. The revelation of the resurrected Christ is the grounds of sincere faith, the impetus for Christian ministry, and the foundation of Christian community. Disciples follow Christ as Lord as they come to know and embrace Jesus for who he really is. And, Christians share a common life due to the uniting power of Jesus’ reign. The practice of hospitality and the enjoyment of Christian fellowship flow from divine revelation and personal encounter with the resurrected Christ.

Common Ground and Shared Life Together. At the beginning of this narrative, the disciples “were together” (21:2) at the Sea of Tiberias. The last time the word “together” was used in John’s narrative was when John and Peter were “running together” (20:4) to Jesus’ empty tomb. The excitement and miraculous feat of Jesus’ resurrection brought these disciples together uniquely and powerfully. The next time this term would be used in the biblical narrative is when the early Christians “were all together in one place” (Acts 2:1), before the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This shared life of the early church was made possible by the indwelling presence of God’s Spirit. Between the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples found themselves in search of meaningful and substantive community. This important theme is evident in this biblical narrative as the disciples seek identity, community, and vocation after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

Waiting for Jesus’ promised revelation and further instructions, the disciples initially exercised their “togetherness” by reverting to their old profession: fishing. The Sea of Tiberias was in Galilee, the region of Peter’s hometown of Bethsaida (cf. 1:44). In a familiar place and near his old workplace (cf. Mark 1:16), Peter decided to go fishing. The other disciples joined him, moving their seaside togetherness to a joint fishing venture out at sea (21:3). At the end of the night, however, their nets were completely empty, probably similar to how their discouraged and uncertain hearts felt. The laboring disciples had caught no fish. There was nothing inherently wrong with fishing. It is possible that the disciples continued fishing (although not as their main profession) after they became followers of Jesus. Nevertheless, the vocation and community presented in this early part of the narrative were evidently incomplete (at best) and potentially relapsed (at worst). The incompleteness of the community at this time is further evidenced by the fact that only seven of the disciples were gathered at the Sea of Galilee at this time (21:2). For Jesus’ disciples, the common ground of fishing would not secure the bonds of their community. The nostalgia of Galilee could not firmly unite them as a ministry cadre. Family heritage was not strong enough to keep this band of Jesus’ followers together. As this story demonstrates, only Jesus Christ could form and fashion genuine Christian community.

Not all community is of the same kind. Humans form their relationships along many tracks. Many of the bonds of human relationships are naturally shaped by shared interests, common work, family ties, ethnic affinity, or geographical proximity. None of these unifying factors is inherently wrong. They are often God-given and God-orchestrated dynamics in life. Nonetheless, none of these can compete with shared life in Jesus Christ. When built on the person and work of Jesus Christ, the fabric of Christian togetherness is sturdy, enduring, and rich. As the disciples experienced in this story, all other forms of community will be incomplete, insecure, and superficial. Faith in Christ provides an entirely different experience in community and interpersonal relationships. In God’s grace and generosity, Jesus forms his people into a spiritual community as they live out their faith in the world. In fact, Jesus offers the promise of Christian community to those very much like the disciples: disoriented, dislocated, and unsure. Through the practice of hospitality, Jesus met his disciples at a moment when their uncertainty, insecurity, and deep concern could have capsized the small band of disciples and destroyed their faith. The brokenness of life makes Christian community appealing. Rather than forming a community around human strength and capacity, Jesus formed a solidarity of weakened and broken people by his divine strength. Those who face their brokenness and turn to Christ not only find restoration in Jesus but also enjoy a place of belonging with other believers.

Early in the Morning: Catching a Vision for True Belonging

Biblical Narrative (John 21:4–8)

When it was dawn—“early in the morning”—Jesus appeared at the Sea of Tiberias and “stood on the shore” (21:4). At first, his disciples could not identify the person standing at the shore. Whether because of their distance out at sea (21:8), the dimness of the morning hours (21:4), their tiredness from a night of unproductive fishing (21:3), or their mental and spiritual fatigue over the events of the recent events of Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples “did not recognize that it was Jesus” (21:4) who was with them. Aiming to reveal his true character to his disciples and teach them about the nature of the Christian faith, Jesus performed a sign that would transform the lives of his disciples (cf. 20:30–31) and teach us about the importance of Christian community.

The disciples’ boat was about one hundred yards from land (21:8). From the shore, Jesus asked his weary and fishless disciples: “Children, do you have any fish?” (21:5). After the disciples said that they had caught no fish, Jesus instructed them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some” (21:6). Amazingly, when they did so, they caught such a large quantity of fish that “they were unable to haul it in” (21:6). In the boat at that time was John, known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (21:7). After the huge catch of fish, John exclaimed of Jesus on the shoreline, “It is the Lord!” (21:7). This confession stirred the other disciples to action. Peter immediately went toward Jesus. Having previously removed his outer garment for work, Peter put on his outer garment and jumped into the water to meet Jesus on the shore (21:7). His move toward Jesus was one of haste, excitement, and eagerness. Also excited to see their Lord, the rest of the disciples headed to the shore in the boat, dragging the net of fish with them (21:8).

Biblical Principles

The Presence of Christ. The open table of Christian hospitality welcomes God’s people into Christ’s transforming presence. When human brokenness meets the resurrected Christ, God brings about a dynamic change that cannot be replicated elsewhere. The divine presence the disciples experienced in this narrative is available to believers in all generations and cultures. Jesus came to his disciples and “stood on the shore” (21:4). The physical presence of the resurrected Christ on the shoreline meant Jesus was really with his disciples. His bodily resurrection guarantees his actual and uninterrupted presence with his people, even if he is not physically present on earth at the present moment. The Christian faith is not predicated upon mere ideas or abstract notions. Christian disciples believe and follow a living person: Jesus Christ, the Lord. Standing on the beach of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus offered himself to his people. Jesus’ presence is the hope of empty and broken humanity. That Jesus appeared to his disciples “early in the morning” (21:4) exhibits a sense of expectation and anticipation. The hope of daybreak, the bounty of the catch, the spiritual perception in John’s confession, and Peter’s change of clothes point to the transformation that is possible through the resurrected Christ. In this story, daybreak’s fulcrum turns the emptiness of a fruitless night of fishing into the abundance of a hopeful morning of Christian community. This change from night to day—a transfiguration of poverty into abundance—rests upon the power, presence, and (eventual) hospitality of the risen Jesus.

Abundance and Provision. Jesus turned the disciples’ frustrating deficiency into jubilant abundance. Jesus did not rebuke his followers for their fishing venture. He did not critique the incompleteness of their group. Instead, he multiplied blessing. For the disciples to acknowledge their own incapacity, Jesus asked them to report on their nighttime fishing endeavors. When Jesus asked, “Do you have any fish?” (21:5), the disciples had to confess their obvious lack. Recognizing their complete insufficiency, they were prepared to receive Jesus’ abundant supply. To tell the disciples to toss their net on the other side of the boat would seem nonsensical to trained fishermen such as these. What could they catch now after already trying all night? And, how could they succeed in the less opportune time of these morning hours? Yet, the seemingly illogical nature of Jesus’ instructions is precisely the point of the narrative. Normal human limitations presented no impediment to Jesus. Such a great supply of fish was given to his disciples that they could not pull in the net of fish. The disciples were confronted with their inability, both in their failure to catch fish (21:5) and also in their lack of strength to haul in the full net of fish (21:6). The presence of Jesus offers a bountiful supply as we face our own restrictions and frailty.

Community of Discipleship. Initially, the disciples were ignorant of Jesus’ identity. They did not recognize that Jesus was the one standing on the shoreline (21:4). Upon becoming recipients of Jesus’ abundant provision, ignorance was turned into exuberant confession: “It is the Lord!” (21:7). Perhaps there is a connection between John’s perception of Jesus’ true identity and the fact that he was known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (21:7). John’s public exclamation about Jesus was followed with Peter’s demonstrative display of his commitment to Christ. Donning his outer garment and jumping into the water, Peter practiced the essence of discipleship: follow Jesus. Peter’s change of clothes helps to display the powerful transformation of genuine faith in Christ, leaving an old life and entering into a new life in Christ. Peter traversed the waters where he tried to relive his old fishing vocation and rediscovered his Lord as the sole object of his attention, the exclusive focus of his allegiance, and the guiding principle of his life. The other disciples also responded in faithfulness, dragging the weighty net to shore (21:8). Even their act amounted to a responsible and dutiful response to Jesus. The presence and provision of Jesus gave rise to a fourfold response: recognition of need, confession of Christ, pursuit of Jesus, and dutiful care of Jesus’ blessings. The disciples who were once together in their fishing venture were now bound in their combined and collaborative commitment to Christ. Jesus formed a community of faithful followers who are all united together by virtue of their individual orientation to Jesus. The life of faith is directionally based: ever moving toward Jesus. Reinvigorating their call to discipleship, Jesus solidified this community of disciples through his practice of hospitality.

Come, Have Breakfast: Enjoying the Fruits of God’s Provision

Biblical Narrative (John 21:9–14)

When the disciples reached land, they met an unexpected sight. On the shore, “they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread” (21:9). Jesus had prepared a meal for his disciples. Surely they were hungry from their weary night at sea. Even though fish was already on the fire, Jesus invited his disciples to contribute to the meal, telling them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught” (21:10). Importantly, the fish the disciples brought was the very fish Jesus miraculously provided for them. Jesus’ supernatural provision supplied the necessary resources for this moment of Christ-centered hospitality. Peter obeyed Jesus and brought the net to the shore. The net was full of 153 “large fish” (21:11), which would have made it quite heavy. Despite the large quantity of fish, “the net was not torn” (21:11). Jesus had provided both an abundance of fish and the strength of the net.

In a welcoming and tender summons, Jesus invited his disciples to eat with him: “Come, have breakfast” (21:12). The hospitable moment was dripping with meaning. The last time the narrative speaks of a “charcoal fire” (21:9) was when Peter denied Jesus at his trial (cf. 18:18). Now, Jesus and Peter met again at such a fire. No one asked who this figure was because they all “knew it was the Lord” (21:12), the resurrected Jesus. John had already identified the person on the shore as Jesus (cf. 21:7). By this time, Jesus’ identity had been clearly revealed. The duty of the disciples was to abide in their Lord’s presence. As a skilled and loving host would do, Jesus took the bread and fish and offered them to his disciples (21:13). This act was reminiscent of other meals with Jesus, such as the feeding of the five thousand and Jesus’ last meal with his disciples. The disciples’ meeting with Jesus on the shoreline was also significant because this was “the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead” (21:14). Jesus’ multiple appearances not only attested to his death and resurrection but also reinforced the disciples’ faith and clarified their ongoing mission work.

Biblical Principles

Restoration to Faith. Jesus’ act of hospitality provided an opportunity for spiritual restoration. By hosting this breakfast meal at “a charcoal fire” (21:9), Jesus confronted Peter’s most recent lapse in faith. It was by a charcoal fire (cf. 18:18) that Peter denied Jesus before an inquiring crowd. Now, Peter confronted his cowardice as he met his master on the beach of Galilee. Along with the fire, Jesus had also prepared a breakfast meal of fish and bread (21:9). By the time the disciples had reached shore, Jesus had already been preparing a meal for them. In this narrative, the charcoal fire drawing attention to Peter’s failure is no more important than Jesus’ meal preparations revealing his open-hearted readiness to restore his fallen disciple. The fact that the charcoal fire was at the shore of the Sea of Tiberias is also significant. It was at this body of water that Jesus fed a crowd of five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish (6:1–15). This is the place where Jesus walked on water (6:16–21) and gave a lengthy teaching on discipleship, calling himself “the bread of life” (6:35; cf. 6:48), which is “real food” (6:55) for those who would feed on him in faith (6:22–71). Consequently, a charcoal fire on the beach of the Sea of Tiberias converged the lead disciple’s greatest failure (i.e., Peter’s denial of Jesus), Jesus’ miraculous faithfulness (i.e., feeding of the five thousand), and a challenging call to discipleship (i.e., the bread of life discourse).

In principle, what Peter encountered in this beachside scene was what we can experience in our contemporary practice of Christian hospitality. Following Jesus’ welcoming spirit, Christians invite people to gather around the resurrected Christ. In so doing, people necessarily confront their glaring shortcomings, habitual sins, and depraved condition that make them unfit to be in God’s presence. Nevertheless, inasmuch as they come to terms with their brokenness, they also meet God’s extraordinary faithfulness, a faithfulness ready and able to restore people from their fallen state. Truly, God is open-hearted and gracious toward humble and repentant sinners. God is the first and best host. Gathering in God’s presence, Christian hospitality is a sacred practice that applies God’s faithful provision to the painful wounds of our past failures. Because this is true, disciples can only practice Christian hospitality when they first receive God’s hospitable invitation to restoration and spiritual repair.

Divine Provision and Personal Contribution. Christian hospitality is a means to enjoy God’s faithful provision and exercise our own gifts in the community. Already on the fire was fish and bread (21:9), a sign of Jesus’ proactive, preemptive, and timely provision for his disciples. But Jesus was not the only one to participate in the meal preparation. When the disciples arrived at shore, Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught” (21:10). In this request, Jesus invited his disciples to contribute to the meal out of the abundant catch of fish which he graciously provided for them. Evident in this narrative is Jesus’ loving initiative and gracious provision, dynamics which not only make Christian community possible but also undergird every act of Christian hospitality. Jesus has already provided enough for his people and purposes. The fulfillment of his work does not depend on our contributions. Still, Jesus invites his people to contribute to his work. No matter the quantity or size, each faithful gift is significant. All contributions that we offer come from the provisions received from Jesus’ powerful hand. When we give God’s provisions back to God, we serve his work and assist his people.

Consequently, in this early morning breakfast at the Sea of Galilee, Jesus invited the disciples to participate in the meal as recipients and contributors. There was a mutuality and reciprocity in this moment of hospitality that is crucial to recognize. Certainly, what Jesus “brings to the table” is the essential foundation and spiritual power that undergirds Christian hospitality. The blessings experienced in Christian fellowship must be interpreted as gracious gifts from God. The joy of Christian fellowship consists in celebrating God’s good gifts with other believers. Trust in God’s provision energizes and sustains generous and open-handed hospitality. We experience Christian community best when we offer our resources for the good of God’s people, recognizing that all we contribute toward the community of faith is really God’s gracious and abundant provision in our lives. Said another way: Christian hospitality is a privilege to contribute to the well-being of others out of the resources graciously given by God.

Table Fellowship. Jesus’ invitation to breakfast is tender and pointed: “Come, have breakfast” (21:12). Accepting the invitation to eat with Jesus resulted in fellowship with the other disciples. The centrality of Jesus in the story highlights the centrality of Christ in Christian fellowship. Although the disciples remained silent at the moment, they all knew “it was the Lord” (21:12). This shared conviction about Jesus’ identity established the community of the disciples. The togetherness of their common fishing vocation (cf. 21:2-3) could not compare with the togetherness of shared understanding of and genuine communion with Christ. The bonds of such a Christ-centered community are not weak. As the net was not torn from the heavy load of large fish, Jesus would preserve and sustain the unity of God’s people (21:11). Jesus himself sustains the community of his people. In this scene, Jesus himself served bread and fish to his disciples (21:13). He was not only the host of the meal but a servant as well. Even today, Christians enjoy the blessing of community through what Jesus has provided and continues to provide. The union of Christians—expressed in proximate locales, enjoyed throughout the globe, and experienced across the generations—is an accomplishment of Jesus’ abiding presence with his people. Table fellowship is more than just a shared meal to nourish the physical body. It is a means and demonstration of a deeper bond of unity formed and fashioned by Jesus Christ himself. He is not only the host of the meal, but also the substance that joins believers together in solidarity and unity.

When They Had Finished Eating: Receiving Our Commission Back into the World

Biblical Narrative (John 21:15–19)

After breakfast, “when they had finished eating” (21:15), Jesus had a specific conversation with Peter. In this conversation, Jesus aimed to restore and commission his lead disciple. In a series of probing questions, Jesus emphasized these relational and missional dynamics. Throughout this inquiry, Jesus addressed Peter as “Simon son of John” (21:15; cf. 21:16–17). A tender yet general question, Jesus asked Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” (21:15). Importantly, Jesus’ topic of first importance was an appraisal of Peter’s love toward Christ. The exact identity of the “these” in this question is unclear. The question could be asking Peter if he loved Jesus more than the other disciples or the fish. In the end, the broadness of the question is probably the point. Jesus wanted Peter to express that he loved Jesus more than anything else.

To reinforce this, Jesus asked a similar question two more times (21:16–17). Peter’s first two replies were “Yes, Lord … You know I love You” (21:15–16). In his third reply, Peter affirmed his love for Jesus but asserted that Christ knew “all things” (21:17). The third time Jesus asked the question Peter “was deeply hurt” (21:17). Each time Peter answered his master’s question, Jesus followed with an imperative: “Feed My lambs” (21:15), “Shepherd My sheep” (21:16), and “Feed My sheep” (21:17). The triple nature of this interchange—three questions, three confessions, and three commissions—emphasized the relational and missional dynamics of genuine faith. Jesus was reinstating Peter from his earlier denial (hence the importance of the charcoal fire in 21:9) and was preparing him for his upcoming ministry.

Jesus told Peter that his ministry would involve sacrifice. Jesus predicted Peter’s future: “When you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go” (21:18). This cryptic statement described “the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God” (21:19). After this prophetic explanation, Jesus gave him an instruction that Jesus used throughout his ministry to capture the essence of being a disciple: “Follow Me” (21:18; cf. 21:22). In commissioning Peter to his ministry, Jesus reminded him of his basic identity as a follower of Christ.

Biblical Principles

Godly Conversation. Conversation is a natural component of Christian hospitality. The discussion before, during, and after a meal infuses the gathering with meaning and substance. In this biblical story, Jesus and Peter talked after breakfast (21:15). The conversation centered on two main relationships: love for Jesus and care for others (21:15–17). This is a helpful guide for Christians throughout every age. For believers and churches to grow in faith, careful attention must be paid to the manner and topic of our conversation. Not only does the content of our conversation reveal much about our spiritual maturity, but intentional Christ-centered conversation can also cultivate Christian maturity. As a result, we should proactively seek to encourage discussion that fosters love for God and care for others. In this way, the Christian community not only becomes a mechanism for spiritual formation but also a platform for ministry to others.

Christian Ministry. True to experience and this biblical text, Christian hospitality mobilizes God’s people to ministry. Importantly, this ministry to others is rooted in genuine love for Jesus. Three times, Jesus asked Peter if he loved him (21:15–17). The first time, Jesus’ question was one of comparison: “do you love Me more than these” (21:15). The other two questions were open-ended: “do you love Me” (21:16; cf. 21:17). When Peter affirms his love for his master, Jesus enlisted Peter in his service: “Feed My lambs” (21:15), “Shepherd My sheep” (21:16), and “Feed My sheep” (21:17). The comparison of ministry to the work of a shepherd is significant. To serve others in the way of Christ is to care, provide, nourish, nurture, protect, and guide like a shepherd would do for his sheep. In this way, Jesus’ act of hospitality toward his disciples (21:9–14) became an invitation for Peter to extend hospitality to others.

Peter’s ministry would involve self-denial, sacrifice, and martyrdom (21:18–19). Sincere love for Jesus results in the voluntarily giving up one’s rights and privileges—to go where you “do not want to go” (21:18). To serve God’s purposes in the world would put a demand upon Peter’s very life, requiring a self-abnegation that could only come from a person who is complete surrendered to Jesus as Savior and Lord. The hefty commitment of Christian ministry was embedded in the rudimentary call to discipleship. This is why Jesus ended this part of the conversation with the common invitation: “Follow Me” (21:19). Recipients of Jesus’ hospitality join a community of gospel ministers. The call to gospel ministry is demanding and costly, exemplified by the life of a martyr. As shepherds who lay down their lives for the sheep, ministry leaders never outpace their foremost commitment to Jesus. All ministry leaders are sheep in Jesus’ fold before they are shepherds over his flock. The gift of Christian community and the practice of Christlike hospitality both ground disciples in the walk of faith and deploy God’s people to his service.

Until I Return: Centering Around the Word

Biblical Narrative (John 21:20–25)

Having just received a commission to the ministry and a prophetic message about the nature of his death, Peter inquired of Jesus about John, who was following them at the time. John was “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (21:20) and the one who asked Jesus about his betrayer at the Last Supper (21:20–21). Jesus immediately rebuked Peter’s natural question of intrigue about his fellow disciple. Jesus told Peter that John’s fate and future were not of his concern. Jesus would appoint John to whatever path he saw fit. In contrast, Jesus reinforced that Peter needed to prioritize his own responsibility to follow Christ (21:22). Some people misunderstood what Jesus said about John. Some thought that Jesus said that John would not die before Jesus’ return (21:23). In reality, Jesus was simply saying that Peter should focus on his personal vocation and not compare himself with the specific vocation of another.

The words of this narrative are reliable. The narrative ends by acknowledging the truthfulness of the account. It also attests to the fact that a large number of deeds that Jesus did perform that were not recorded in this book (21:15). In fact, Jesus did so many more deeds that “not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written” (21:15). All this affirms the trustworthiness of the biblical account. And, as a trustworthy account of God’s word to people, it is authoritative and binding on our lives.

Biblical Principles

Centrality of God’s Word. Peter’s concern about John’s fate (21:20–21) resulted in Jesus’ rebuke. Christ’s exhortation to Peter reinforced an invitation to discipleship (21:22) and prompted John to express the reliability of the word of God (21:23–25). John contrasted rumors that came from a misunderstanding of Jesus’ words (21:23) with the trustworthiness of his own testimony (21:24). To combat dangerous rumors, God’s people should interpret Jesus’ words with care and precision. Such an attentive study of God’s word is based upon this verifiable belief about God’s word: its “testimony is true” (21:24). Not only is God’s word reliable, but it is also sufficient. God’s written revelation word allows people to come to know the person and work of Jesus. Although much more could have been written about Jesus, John recorded what was necessary to lead people to faith in Christ (21:25; cf. 20:30–31). The written word of God is a reliable testimony to the living word of God, Jesus Christ (21:1, 14; cf. 1:1–18). This truth is essential to understand and embrace Christian community and the practice of hospitality. Christian community is minted around God’s word. Christians gather to celebrate the risen Christ through the reliable testimony of the Bible. Common to Christian fellowship is teaching, preaching, singing, prayer, and encouragement based on God’s revealed word. Such practices certainly serve to strengthen the fellowship of believers. But they also transform the believing community into a corporate witness of Jesus. Regular fellowship around God’s word in this way powerfully equips God’s people to (like John) bear testimony of Jesus to the watching world in both word and deed.

The Return of Christ. The fellowship of disciples is a community of hope. To love Jesus and serve others is motivated by the sure and certain hope that Jesus one day will return. When this takes place, Jesus will complete salvation and bring an end to all evil. In this narrative, Jesus’ admonishment to Peter mentions the important event of Jesus’ second coming: “until I return” (21:22; cf. 21:23). The mention of his future return is to rebuke Peter’s comparison of himself to John (21:20–22). Comparison, jealousy, envy, and competition can destroy a Christian community. Contrary to the division, disunity, and faction that exists in the world’s relationships, God’s people should embody a communal life of unity, harmony, peace, and mutual encouragement. To be oriented to Jesus’ second coming enables the Christian community to take on this character. To enjoy Christian community through the practice of hospitality is to participate in God’s pilgrim people, who daily follow Jesus toward life in the world to come.

Conclusion

Recorded in this final chapter of John’s Gospel account, Jesus’ act of hospitality is noteworthy and informative. Meeting his tired disciples with their empty nets, Jesus offered himself to his disoriented band of followers. After a miraculous provision of fish, Jesus hosted his disciples for a simple yet substantive breakfast on the beach. Not only did the disciples receive Jesus’ invitation, but they also contributed to the meal from the large supply of fish that Jesus had given to them. After breakfast, Jesus had an important discussion with Peter, restoring him to faith and reinstating him in the ministry. The whole narrative ends by affirming the reliability of John’s testimony, reinforcing the central importance of God’s word in the community-forming practice of hospitality.

Jesus’ practice of hospitality is a lighthouse for us all. It guides and governs the way we experience Christian community. In order to enjoy fellowship the way Jesus intended, we must first receive Jesus’ offer before we can follow Jesus’ example. Jesus’ gracious provision for his people is the foundation of the faith community. In fact, all that we contribute to the life of the Christian community amounts to faithful stewardship of divine resources God has temporarily entrusted to our care. Jesus’ life-giving presence summons people to faith, restores those who are broken, forges believers into a faith family, and mobilizes God’s people to his work. Jesus’ invitation for us to experience his hospitality is an invitation to also extend it to others, ever cognizant that genuine commitment to Christ gives birth to sincere ministry to others. When Christians practice hospitality and realize loving community according to Jesus’ way, they not only foster the bonds of Christian fellowship but also offer a resounding testimony of the gospel to the surrounding world.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 2 SYNOPSIS
Hospitality	In this passage, Jesus models hospitality and gracious welcome. After resurrecting from the dead, Jesus revealed himself to his disciples at the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. The disciples were weary and discouraged after a night of catching no fish. Jesus miraculously provided so many fish that the disciples could not haul in the net. At that time, they recognized that it was Jesus on the shore and quickly went to meet him. They shared a breakfast meal with him, and Jesus talked about important matters related to Christian life and ministry. This passage teaches us about the character and importance of hospitality in the Christian life and community. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
Christ-Centered Hospitality	Christian hospitality is centered on the person of Jesus Christ (21:1, 4, 7, 12–14; cf. 20:19–23, 24–29) and cultivates community among God’s people (21:2–3, 12–14; cf. 20:4; Acts 2:1).
Selfless Care and Faithful Stewardship	Christians practice hospitality by sharing with others what God has entrusted to their care (21:5–6, 9–12). In this way, hospitality is an act of loving and grateful stewardship, recognizing that all that we possess comes from God.
Components of Hospitality	Christian hospitality often involves food (21:9–13). Table fellowship is foundational to hospitality because it fosters close relationships among the participants. Christian hospitality is centered upon God’s inspired written word (21:24–25; cf. 20:30–31) and the living Word of God, Jesus Christ (21:1, 4, 12, 14; cf. 1:1–18).
Blessings and Benefits of Hospitality and Christian Community	Christ-centered hospitality provides opportunities for conversation (21:15–23), spiritual restoration (21:9; cf. 18:18), the sharing of gifts and resources (21:10), unity (21:11), ministry (21:15–19), discipleship (21:20–23), and celebration of our life in Christ (21:7, 12–14).
Christ’s Revelation and Coming	Christians gather together to remember the first coming of Christ (21:1, 14) and to look forward to the second coming of Christ (21:20–23).

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Practice Hospitality

Pray discerningly about whom God may want you to invite over for a meal. Then, plan out a time this week and invite them to fellowship together. Think through a variety of questions or conversation topics that would be meaningful, encouraging, and edifying to have over the course of the meal. Record these ideas below, and afterward reflect on what insights you gained, how you were challenged, and what you might do differently next time you practice hospitality.

List of Questions/Topics

How Hospitality Shaped You

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.