In the story, the disciples have fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus shows up and they catch a great haul of fish. And then Jesus invites them to breakfast on the beach.
In a way, it reminds me of the ending of Harry Potter. You get the end and then you get "19 Years Later," a second ending.
So why two endings? What's the deal here?
Hopes for resurrection faded in war and death. You can actually feel the despair in many 2nd century Xian writings.
So, what do they do?
Their friend is dead (or not) and their dreams are dead with him.
They return to the only thing they know.
A picture of complete despair.
Jesus shows up on the beach at dawn. At first they don't recognize him. But they wind up catching a big haul of fish after he tells them to lower their nets, and a couple of them realize it is him!
But he doesn't say sell the fish and get rich. He says, "Let's eat! Breakfast time!"
They eat the BIG fish. The fish usually eaten by the elite, by people like Herod and Pilate and Caesar.
They are poor and in despair, but Jesus feeds them as if they are the most important people in the world.
An imperial feast would end with people declaring their loyalty to Caesar, loyalty based on fear of violence & death.
He feeds his friends. And, interestingly enough, there is a "loyalty" oath.
Jesus asks Peter if he loves him.
Caesar asked: "Do you fear me?" "Do you obey me?" "Do you worship me?"
He asks the same question a second time. And then, a third time he asks, "Do you cherish me?"
Jesus feast = a feast of love
This is what they "fish" for the rest of their lives.
They will set the thanksgiving table, God's feast.
This is what it means: breakfast at the edge of the sea. Feasting like the richest people in the world, but freed from the violence that attends their power.
Follow this way. This is the way to the gracious feast. The feast of true victory, the feast that has already begun. Follow me. You are invited. Sit. Eat.
Sit and eat. Partake of God's endless abundance. The table has seats for those gone before, those sitting on the beach even now, and all those yet to be born.
Come and feast.
Make sure all are fed.
The mystery of all this is everything I have to offer you, everything I need my own heart to hear.
You are loved. You are cherished. We love. We cherish.
Amen