Traditionally we think of women as the cooks in our homes. At our house however, that chore is my husband David’s. As previously stated, to me it is a chore. To him it’s an opportunity to try new things and prepare something delicious for the lovely wife of his youth. All he requires from me is lots of yummy noises plus the cleaning of the kitchen. Though his creativity as a culinary wizard includes every gadget and utensil in the house, I will gladly clean up after the meal if I don’t have to cook.

I guess that’s why one of my favorite stories in Scripture is at the end of the book of John where Jesus cooks breakfast for His friends. John says there were seven guys hanging out together after Jesus had risen from the dead. When Peter decides to go fishing, the others join him. The tone of the story suggests the guys were probably wondering WHAT to do. The Man they’d been taught by for the past three years had been beaten beyond recognition. Those in power had him executed. Roman guards were placed outside His tomb for good measure.

But death could not hold Him!

The risen Lord appeared to His faithful followers two other times before this one. Though they knew He had risen, they didn’t seem to have a clue what to do next.

I’ve been there. Have you?

Easter is over and life is hard. Sometimes weariness hits and our souls cry out, “What now Lord?”

John 21 tells us that the friends of Jesus went back to doing what they did before they met Him. I’m guessing those were some weary fishermen. Though they worked all night, they caught nothing. Then a familiar voice called from a dimly lit shore.

“Catching anything?” He asked as if He didn’t know about the emptiness of their nets… and their souls. “Try casting on the other side.”

I picture His playful smile as He remembered former days with similar circumstances. Then Peter, bless his heart, put his clothes ON and jumped in the water to swim for shore. He must’ve been one strong manly man to swim the length of a football field after working all night. But he wanted to see his Friend.

As Peter’s companions tried to pull in the net full of large fish, he went back out to the boat to help haul in the bounty. Can you imagine the emotions swirling around in Peter’s brain?

Not only had they just caught a boatload of fish in one fell swoop, but Jesus was back! Like many of us, I bet Peter wondered if Jesus was mad at him. After all, Peter HAD denied knowing Jesus during His time of need.

The aroma of breakfast surely cheered him. Talk about comfort food! John says that the Lord not only cooked and invited them to breakfast, but that He served them.

What a Man!

Yes dear one. Easter has come and gone.

But don’t dare let your enemy whisper, “So what?”

We serve a RISEN Savior! No matter what we’ve done, He is not mad at us. Instead He graciously invites us to breakfast which is code for fellowship. Then gently He asks, “Do you love me?”

With tear-stained faces we look into His kind eyes and nod yes; for the words won’t come when we think of how often we’ve failed Him.

He smiles and encourages us with the answer to “What’s next?”

Just as we’ve been loved in spite of ourselves, we are to do the same for others.

“Feed my lambs,” He whispers.

And suddenly our next step is not a mystery. For whatever it entails, His message is clear.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and all your mind… And love your neighbor as yourself.” –Matthew 22:37&39

Love God. Love people.

Everything God desires of us hangs on that wisdom.

All the rest will fall into place… no matter what comes next.

Lynna lives in Salisbury. Lynna’s Wonderful Life at wordpress.com