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3/31 Reading Portions: Leviticus 2-3; John 21; Proverbs 18; Colossians 1
John 21:12
Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”
Now none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”
They knew it was the Lord.
PERCEIVE
Before the Lord Jesus was crucified, He told them that He would meet them in Galilee after He had risen from the dead (Matt 26:31-32). So, there they were, fishing in Galilee. They had fished all night and caught nothing (John 21:3). From the shore, Jesus appeared and told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat (John 21:6); a miracle indeed, especially to anyone who has fished. Although their net was full of 153 large fish, Jesus already had bread as well as fish laid out over a fire. While Jesus’ face may have looked different physically in His resurrected form, viz., His face was beaten with fists and rods (Matt 26:67; 27:30), and His beard was ripped completely from His face (Isa 50:6), the disciples had already seen the risen Lord Jesus at least twice after His resurrection; as we have read in John’s twentieth chapter. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, as recorded in Luke’s last gospel chapter, Christ’s appearance was hidden from their eyes until it was Christ’s will to reveal Himself to them. And even after this revelation, there was still something veiled about His appearance. We perceive this here from our verse today. This provides us with at least two important and significant truths: first, as it pertains to the salvation of unbelievers; and second, as it pertains to the growing sanctification of believers. Regarding unbelievers, this models the truth that Jesus must be revealed by God to sinners for them to be saved. The facts about Jesus may be acknowledged by an unbeliever, but his or her salvation will never come unless Christ has revealed Himself to them. Regarding you and me as sinners already saved by God’s grace, our risen Lord Jesus is still veiled to our sight. By faith, we perceive Him, just as His disciples of old knew it was the Lord. When we experience the Lord, rejoicing in His invitation to commune with Him, encouraged by His presence, nourished by His miraculous breakfast following our labors, we need not ask, we dare not ask, “Who are You?” Jesus is with us in every circumstance for He has promised,
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
Hallelujah! What a Savior!