Come & Dine

John 21:1-14 KJV [Read this Scripture Passage before

reading the blog entry]
Greek = arist, ar-is-tah'-o; to take the principle meal:
to dine.
These words of Jesus Come and dine were not a command (John
21:12 KJV). They were, however, a loving invitation. The invitation
to come and dine with Jesus still stands today. There may not be
fish on the coals of the fire, but there will always be the bread of
heaven. More than that, this is not just any invitation. It is His
invitation. It was then and it always will be. He had actually made
a similar invitation before to a crowd that had followed Him, and it
appears in this fashion:
John 6:32-35 NIV
Jesus said to them, Very truly I tell you,
it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is
my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the
bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and
gives life to the world. Sir, they said, always give us this
bread. Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. Whoever
comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me
will never be thirsty.
(emphasis mine)
If we are not careful, we will miss the fact that there are actually
two parts to the simple invitation in John 21:12. The first is to
come. Jesus makes this invitation in so many instances (in
scripture) that, quite frankly, it is very hard to miss. Fewer times,
though, does he announce the second part of the invitation; to
dine. Perhaps it appears silly or somewhat out of place, but
coining the old adage here and drawing a comparison will help
us see the difference.
You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him
drink.

Come & Dine

You can come to Jesus, but you wont necessarily come to
dine.
I must admit, I am not much of a breakfast eater, at least not
habitually. Most often I am too much in a hurry to sit down to a
hearty breakfast, and particularly during a work week. In fact, this
is not uncommon for many people I know. If they have a big
breakfast, it is likely on special occasions. This habit or
association with what breakfast is may cause us to get a wrong
impression from this passage or miss out on some of its
significance. I trust the following insight may help.
Unfortunately and as well, our English language likely causes us
to miss out on a very important feature of Christs invitation.
Notice that the word dine (only in the KJV) or breakfast (in
most other Bible translations) in the original Greek language is a
word that actually means the principle (or primary) meal of the
day. The significance of this is quite paramount. Figuratively
speaking, Christ Himself indeed is meant to be our main meal, our
chief nourishment of the day. I believe the inclusion of give us
this day our daily bread in The Lords Prayer (Matthew 6:11) has
far reaching implications well beyond physical food. And there is
more.
These words also imply that Jesus desires to have us near. It
implies the same table; the same food; and a nearness such as
gives opportunity for face-to-face fellowship. It implies that He
has invited us, so to speak, into His house, into His banqueting
house, where His banner over us is love (see Song of Solomon
2:4). Is it any mystery, then, that a time is coming where we as
believers will enjoy that ultimate dining experience at the
wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9)? But for now, while
on earth, what else might come and dine imply?
Notice also that Jesus met them and made this invitation in their
normal lives and in their accustomed surroundings (John 21:1).
2

Come & Dine

His invitation to dine with Him and to feast upon Him is in the
places we already find ourselves. In this particular case, it was
by the sea, a place that many of the disciples had spent much
of their lives. His invitation is made where we are, and the dining
is done, where we are.
Notice further that some of what we dine upon, with Jesus, can be
a result of our faith. Jesus encouraged the disciples to bring
some of the fish which you have just caught (John 21:10). This
same group had recently seen this same Jesus multiply five loaves
of bread and two fish to feed a much larger crowd. Could He not
now multiply the fish & bread already near and at His disposal on
the beach? Certainly. Rather, by invitation to use their catch, He
indirectly draws attention to the fact that they had heeded His
voice. Remember that they had fished all night and caught
nothing. Yet, by virtue of one cast on the opposite side of the boat
(which must have appeared to be shear nonsense), they now
could and would participate in providing for the dining
experience. Their catch would supply the food for one another.
They had something to contribute to the dining experience.
If we are to look at this figuratively, our faith (and often
obedience) can provide nourishment for the body of Christ. Jesus
invitation to come and dine is twofold:
Come and dine with Him, and come and dine with each other.
This is not an either-or proposition; both aspects must take place
in our lives. Some people continually wrestle with the notion,
What do I have to bring to the table?; (the pun is intended and
again, this is figuratively speaking). If they would but see that the
entire body of Christ, including the Head, can feast upon the
results of their faith and obedience. What we have to offer, as
meager as it might seem, can literally provide spiritual
nourishment to the entire body. What you as a believer bring to
the table matters to Jesus, and it matters to the body. What we
have to offer contributes to the principle meal of our lives.
3

Come & Dine

To be sure, I speak of what nourishes the soul rather than what
fills the stomach.
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may
have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18
holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished
and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the
increase that is from God. Colossians 2:19
Just recently, and in addition to Jesus and His Word, I had several
individuals greatly encourage me and provide nourishment for my
soul. Some even came to me privately and a bit sheepishly,
wondering if what they had to bring to the table was
worthwhile. I could tell that a couple of these people wrestled with
offering their catch; their increase from God. In the process,
their faith was obviously being challenged. Nonetheless, they
obeyed the Holy Spirits nudging.
I must say that indeed my soul was nourished with what they
shared, and Jesus was magnified and was nourished with joy as
well. In turn, with the soul nourishment I received, I will most
certainly nourish others. They in turn will nourish others still.
Christ by His faithfulness will be present at each of these dining
experiences. If faith and obedience are involved, He as well as
His body will be nourished with joy, yet again and again!
Come and dine! Jesus has promised life, and that wed have it
more abundantly.