December 18, 2023

Greeted With Breakfast

“Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples ventured to question Him, ‘Who are You?’ knowing that it was the Lord.” John 21:12 (NASB)

            Quite often, we get an opportunity to share a meal with friends after church. It is good to sit with folks who love, serve, and share Christian fellowship. Many times we are a few minutes late to the eating place, because of other needs after the service. When we arrive, it is always good to hear a voice that says, “Hey, come on in, we saved a place for you!” It is such a welcoming voice to hear.

            “Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’” The word Come is deute; come![1] It is the plural form of deuro, which means Come here! The singular form of deuro would be one person calling to another Come here! In this usage, the word applies to more than one person, as Jesus would call to the group of disciples. Note one other thing that is interesting in both words. It is the usage of the exclamation point at the end of the word. The translation specifically places it on each word. Jesus would have used His welcoming shout to the disciples as excited to see them once again. You can also read the excitement He felt to see His disciples again as they got out of the boat, after fighting with a large catch of fish. He must have thought to Himself, “There they go again.” When Jesus called to them to have breakfast with Him, the original Greek word used is ἀριστησατε [aristēsate], which meant to literally, “break your fast.” [2] The disciples had been laboring all night fishing and were hungry for a meal. Jesus indicated they should join Him with the fish and bread He already had, bring some other fish, and join Him. They essentially broke their fast at this time from food. This success of the disciples was only by the fruit of Jesus’ work. This is the way it is for all of us who see success in God’s work. “In fact, the ‘limited fruit’ of Jesus’ earthly ministry has been followed by the massive harvest of His heavenly ministry as disciples still proclaim the gospel throughout the world in His name.”[3] “None of the disciples ventured to question Him, ‘Who are You?’ knowing that it was the Lord.” Lange expresses this thought so well by saying, “The ἐτόλμα is not pleonastic (Kuinoel), not expressive of velle (Lampe), or of a fear of doubt (Augustine and others), but of reverence, in connection with a quiet, blissful assurance in regard to the presence of Jesus (εἰδότες, etc.). [Comp. ch. 4:27.—P. S.]. What was so particularly new to them at this manifestation of the Risen One was the feature of His partaking of a meal with them once more, like a house-father, after having miraculously prepared it for them.”[4] Brown also adds, “… implying that they would have liked Him just to say, ‘It is I’; but having such convincing evidence they were afraid of being ‘upbraided for their unbelief and hardness of heart’ if they ventured to put the question.”[5] They were tired of asking questions that might appear stupid or unfaithlike.

            When it's lunchtime, for the average Baptist, we are starving. I don’t know why either when we have some of the largest meals in the world. We normally don’t go out and go fishing the old-school way all night and then come to bed hungry. Maybe we should fast instead.

[1] Thomas, R. L. (1998). In Foundation Publications, Inc.

[2] Robertson, A. T. (1933). (Jn 21:12). Broadman Press.

[3] Dongell, J. (1997). (p. 246). Wesleyan Publishing House.

[4] Lange, J. P., & Schaff, P. (2008). (p. 632). Logos Bible Software.

[5] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). (Vol. 2, p. 170). Logos Research Systems, Inc.