By Herb Reese
“When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’”
I love so many things about this story of Jesus appearing for the third time to his disciples by the Sea of Galilee.
Here we have the resurrected and glorified Jesus coming down from heaven, once again, and fixing breakfast for his disciples like he must have so many times before. I like the concreteness of it all:
But it isn’t just the earthy details that draw me to this story. It’s also the thoughtful tenderness with which Jesus addresses these defeated and discouraged professional fishermen who have been fishing all night and have caught nothing. It’s the compassion Jesus manifests as he deals with “the issue” he has with Peter: Peter’s arrogance and pride in thinking he loved Jesus more than anyone else, a hubris that resulted in him denying Jesus three times.
Jesus gently, yet directly, deals with Peter by asking him three times – once for each denial – if he loves him.
I like to think of this encounter that Jesus’ disciples had with the post-resurrection Jesus as the archetypal men’s breakfast, for Jesus’ invitation to them to “come and have breakfast” is the same invitation he gives to us…and for the same purpose:
“Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
Simply put, every men’s breakfast should have these elements: real men with real problems, great food, an encounter with Jesus Christ, an affirmation of his love for us, and an honest appraisal of – and response to – anything that blocks our fellowship with him.
This post first appeared in NewCommandment.org.
Published: 2020-02-28.
Updated: August 31, 2026.
Teams of four men serving widows, single moms, fatherless children and others with long-term pressing needs in their churches and communities.
