John 21:12-13 Jesus said to them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples dared ask him, Who are you? knowing that it was the Lord.… This chapter has a sacramental character, and the words, "Come and dine," are a summons to communion. Note — I. THE ENTERTAINMENT. 1. There is already fish prepared when Jesus says, "Bring of the fish now caught." Host and guest must each contribute. "If any man will hear My voice and open the door, I will come in and sup with him and he with Me," i.e., I with him as his Guest, and he with Me as Mine. It is so here. Communion implies reciprocity. When Christ meets His people at the holy feast He is there as the Host who furnishes the fire and the fish, the bread and the wine, the supplies of grace and of the Spirit. But He is also the Guest. We partake of Him, but He looks to partake of us, though we know that He can find nothing that can give Him pleasure till He puts it there. This fish which we must bring He guided into the net. Christ having first given the grace comes to receive of it. He is spiritually present to receive as well as communicate that highest joy which is the interchange of conscious feeling and trusted love, to partake of us as we of Him. 2. If this be the case can we come thoughtlessly, with defiled hands, or with self-righteousness to offer ourselves for Christ's participation? Nay, but let us come with what He craves, the love on receiving which here or anywhere He sees of the travail of His soul and is satisfied. II. THE FEELING. "None durst ask Him." Why should they if they knew? The saying expresses that almost new converse with which the disciples after the Resurrection regarded their Lord. One there had previously presumed to question, "Be it far from Thee, Lord." It was not so now. Think with what instinctive awe we should regard a similar manifestation of Christ now. Questioning would have been impertinent. They must wait for Him to speak now. It would also have been mistrusting. Well enough did they know it was the Lord, notwithstanding the changes which the three days had wrought. There is a familiarity in words, hymns, meditations, in these times which befits not our intercourse with the Risen. Let the feeling which reigns around the Lord's table be one of reverence. This is not dread, distance, bondage, but adoring love. III. THE CONVERSATION. Some have found it difficult to maintain a spirit of prolonged communion at the Lord's table; but let them learn from this to commune about — 1. Their sins. Who can doubt that Peter's three denials were uppermost in his heart? Yet you will note that there was no remorse for an irrevocable past, and no excuses for inexcusable guilt. Be guided by this in your communion, and this one topic will provide enough for an hour's profitable discourse. 2. Their work. This communion brought reinstatement for Peter in his apostolate, and a particular designation to his future employment. Converse, then, about thy work, its past deficiencies, and thy need of present and future strength to do it. 3. Their future. Peter's was here revealed, and if thine is not in such particularity, yet the words, "Follow Me," will hearten thee to meet it, whatever it may be. 4. Their friends, "What shall this man do?" (Dean Vaughan.) Parallel Verses KJV: Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. |
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