Communion Continued

On this final day of the week, before we continue with the fourth and final move of Jesus, as He is with His disciples by the Sea of Galilee, a few factual statements have been brought to our joyful remembrance.

You don’t have to come to Jesus for Him to come to you.

You don’t have to recognize Jesus for Him to recognize you.

You don’t have to call out to Jesus for Him to call out to you.

You don’t have to pretend or make excuses to Jesus, in responding to Him. He already knows it all.

You don’t have to change yourself, for Jesus changes you.

You don’t have to try prayer, fasting, meditating or any good and useful practices, to receive change. Jesus does it all. Just respond to His works and words.

Having been told that the final move, that of Communion, has been divided into three main portions and having already pondered upon the first portion, Jesus’ communion brings Serving, we now turn to the other two.

Jesus’ Communion brings Sharing

Jesus has come to share with His seven disciples. 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 fish,153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Note, the essence of this sharing is the sharing of what the disciples have in their hands, in their possession. You and I, with our carnal eyes, see fish, but with our eyes of faith, we are shown what is deeper and more of the will and desire of Jesus. Think about it carefully.

Jesus already had fish and He knew the exact amount of fish He would need for breakfast for eight. But Jesus, in a most beautiful and endearing way, shows the communion of togetherness in the work they will be commissioned to do in the Kingdom of God. Jesus ensures that His fish, or the fish from His Hands and the fish of their obedient hands, are used to feed all eight of them. He joins the catch or produce of their obedience with His produce, for a perfect feeding.

Oh! The sweet communion of togetherness!

The point being made to us is that Jesus, despite the failed and futile attempts of His friends, was only too ready to share with them in this special first meal, on such a most empty, dark and dejected day. Jesus changed them and convinced them of who He was by sharing breakfast with them. It was Jesus who asked them to share with Him, not the seven who asked Jesus to share with them. 

Oh! The beautiful communion of Partnership! Share with us, Risen Jesus, share with us!

Jesus’ Communion brings Sealing

Jesus has come to show sealing of, not just truth, but personal truth in all of His present friends. None of the disciples asked him, Who are you? They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish. Notice the result of Jesus’ persistence, patience and open love for His disciples. He does all that it takes in serving Himself to them and sharing His mission with them, to seal the fact of His resurrection in each of them. These friends of Jesus, who did not even recognize His Person nor His Voice, on that early morning time, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, now knew Him without a doubt. His Person and Presence are so sealed in them that not one single one of them has to ask, Who are you?  

This is the part that gives us, not just hope, but unmistakable joy, as we look at this breakfast beach scene. Jesus and seven of His friends are eating together. He is no ghost, or apparition, or desire of the heart. They are not in some surreal, spiritual trance either. It is all live, real, as Jesus is not just among them, but He is eating bread and fish with them. This joy is doubled, if you like.

Believe! Jesus is both chef and waiter. He has planned the perfect early morning beach breakfast menu.

Accept! Jesus is the One who cooks the breakfast Himself. He has ensured and collected His supplies and cooks a satisfying meal for them.

Receive! Jesus serves them the food individually. This is no buffet-style, beach breakfast menu. To think of it, it’s not even an à la carte menu. Each one is lovingly and individually served by Jesus, table d'hôte, chef’s menu.  

Enjoy! Jesus expects His disciples to do as He does to them. He expects them to be as their Master, since no servant is above his or her Master.

The point being made to us is that Jesus still uses ordinary and everyday occurrences to fit and fix Himself with His believers. Jesus has so changed them, they know Him in a way they have never known Him previously. It was Jesus who fed them, they did not feed Him. Jesus did it all - the idea of the breakfast, the choice of meal, the sorting out of the supplies, the cooking of the meal and the serving of the meal – everything was all done by Jesus. It was our Lord’s pleasure, His expressed joy to serve His downcast disciples. They found unspeakable and lasting joy, from a beach breakfast, all the Chef’s choice, which changed them forever. All those friends of Jesus had to do was to Believe, Accept, Receive and Enjoy fully, all that was provided for them.  

Oh! The communion of Fellowship! Bring enjoyment to us Lord, bring enjoyment! 

Even in your downcast, despairing and low state, Jesus can come to you and has come to you in this Word. Believe and Receive. Our Risen Lord will do the rest. Here are statements of fact.

You don’t have to placate or pacify Jesus, He will come to you of His free will.

You don’t have to make any first moves to attract Jesus. He will come to you and serve you, His menu so that you will know His unsurpassed Love.   

You don’t have to change yourself, for Jesus changes you.

You don’t have to try prayer, fasting, meditating or any good and useful practices to receive change. Jesus does it all. Just respond to His works and words.