Pleasant Stone Devotional Meditation: October 21

“As soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught … Come and dine …” ~ John 21:9-10 and 12a

The bewildered disciples, unable to cope with the glorious fact of His resurrection, yet knowing He had risen, decided to “go fishing.” They caught nothing all night. But when morning came, “Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.”

But it was. And the first question He called out to them from the shore, had nothing whatever to do with what they believed about His resurrection. He showed His deep concern for their physical well being! “Children, have ye any meat?”

Not only did He tell them where to cast their nets in order to find fish, He had brought bread and fish with Him and began to build a fire on the shore in order to cook for them. My [Eugenia Price, the author] joy overflows as one after another of the bright facets of this “green stone” verse come to life. God Himself, their Master, their Redeemer, who had just died for them had risen from the grave and had breakfast waiting! But more than that, He showed His great caring for their human dignity once more. He showed He cares that we do succeed in our efforts. He called out to them, “Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.” He wanted them to feel needed.

“Bring of the fish which ye have now caught … [and] Come and dine.” One more cause for rejoicing packs this “green stone” passage and that is the fact that Jesus not only brought bread and fish, built a fire, told them how to succeed, let them feel needed, He served their breakfast to them! He was the glorified, resurrected Christ but His heart remained the same. It is the same today.

“Take eat; this is my body. Drink ye ALL of it, … this is my blood … the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”