The Guy on the Shore

John studied the man who had been standing on the shore.

"Come and have breakfast," he said.

Now that Peter had dragged the net of fish over, the group moved to sit around the fire again. John took a seat beside Jesus.

Jesus started passing out bread and fish to the disciples. Everything tasted just as good as it had smelled while cooking. While John nibbled on his bread, his mind wandered to another time the group had seen Jesus, only that time, they hadn't recognized him so quickly.

And it wasn't because of the wind and waves.

It was because they hadn't really known Jesus, even then.

John shook his head. This time none of them had dared to ask "Who are you?"  They all just knew. They knew Jesus was the man on the shore.

The man who had ever so patiently waited for them to recognize him.

Based on John 21:12-14

"Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus." John 21:4

"That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!'" John 21:7a

"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. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish." John 21:12-13

I want to call to remembrance the time when the disciples were on a boat in the middle of a storm, and they see Someone walking on the water towards their boat. They thought Jesus was a ghost. Jesus had to call out to them in order to calm them down. "No, guys! It's me!"

Now they are in yet another boat, and a man is calling to them, only they realize pretty quickly that it's Jesus.

I love that. I love that they understand who Jesus is now. I love that they are not questioning things anymore. I love that they don't jump to the worst case scenario anymore.

Have you been praying for providence, only to get a raise? Coincidence? Nope. Have you been praying to be used by God, only to be offered a chance to really serve in a type of ministry? Coincidence? Nope. Have you been desperately trying to determine your worth and purpose as a person, only to find the most perfect, random Bible verse? Coincidence? Nope.

Are we at the point were we can see the guy standing on the shore for who He really is?

Our Savior.

Or are we still scared? Are we still questioning who He is? It's okay. He will always answer, "It's me! I'm here to provide!" But one day, will you be able to recognize Him and all He does? He's patient enough to wait for us recognize him.

V. Joy Palmer