The altar of fish is never discussed or the bread that was there when the disciples came ashore towing a large company of fish. Fish and bread is what had once feed the five thousand. Fish and bread is a major staple of food in that region. It was the trade/work history of several disciples. In fact Peter took several men with him when they went to fish at night and no one caught anything, but in morning Jesus came and told them to cast their nets on the other side. When they did they caught so many fish that they were not able to draw it into the boat. When Peter realized it was the Lord he grab his coat and jump into the water and went to Jesus. The other disciples dragged the fish to shore. There was baked fish waiting for them with bread. They counted those fish they caught and it was large catch. The first fish was at the altar that was Peter the rest of the fish yet to bow to Christ but more concern obeying Jesus and getting the fish to the shore.

Jesus had a meal for the disciples why was more fish and bread needed. It takes people willing to stand in faith despite what happens around them. Peter was seen as being naked and he put his cloak on to cover himself as he jumped into the water and swam to Jesus. Jesus had called his disciples in the early days of ministry to be fishers of men and this is after resurrection when Peter said to disciples I going fishing. Disciples followed. Yet Peter lead the men in a wasteful journey at night in the darkness of the night trying to catch fish. Peter had no fish for the disciples by morning. Jesus was on shore and spoke to the disicple why not cast your nets on the other side. As soon as disciples followed that instruction the nets were full. Peter hearing Christ and seeing the fish, grabed his cloak and put it on and went to Jesus. He came to altar where fish and the bread was laid out. Dinner was already prepared when he got there. The other disciples knew it was Jesus and they began to pull the net of fish to shore not able to put in in their vessel. There was no room in their vessel for that amount of fish. How often we think to bring people to Christ we must put them in our vessel and wine and dine them and show them the power of God. Yet we can not show anyone the miracle of Christ without Christ in the lead. Peter called to the disciples to fish was in the example of Christ but not his place to call. Disciple followed not realizing they still needed Jesus's instruction to be able to catch the fish and bring them in. We can not lead alone without the power of Jesus, we can not lead or do the work of God without Jesus or it is our own work and we flounder in the darkness of the night with no luck of catching anything.

Even fishermen know at night to fish you need a little light, not much but enough to see what you are doing and where you are casting your fishing line. To fish in the darkness you will come up empty handed. Without the light of Christ without the direction of Christ your nets will be empty for the altar of grace. The altar of grace by which each disciple of Christ is feed, the meat and bread of life. Each believer must come to the foot of the cross of Jesus, the place Christ was sacrifice and confess their sins. Laying our burdens down at the cross because without Christ strength we can not carry our burden of faith. Faith is not a burden but at times it can weigh one down, but the net that surrounds the people of faith will not break by the power of Christ. That fishing net should of broke with the weight of fish. Did not early in Christ ministry when the first fishing story in Gospel of Luke chapter 5 took place tell us when the nets got full they began to break, they began to break because they were pulling those fish in by their own power and strength even beckoning to their friends for help only to need to call on Jesus. Peter seen the miracle only to tell Jesus to depart for he was a sinful man. The nets could not be broken in John 21, because Christ had told the disciples to cast them over and bring it in. When the nets began to break in the first account in Luke they knew not to seek Jesus and to allow Jesus to enable them to carry the load. When Peter seen his own sinfulness in Luke 5 we see he knew he need Jesus to help with this load. In chapter 21 Peter seen his own sinfulness and ran to meet Jesus because he had need.

Is not Peter in John 21 in disobedience by jumping over the boat, because he did not help with the burden of pulling the fish to shore, only in the since he seen his own need to be at the altar first before pulling those nets in. Other disciples were already cleanse and ready for the labor of Christ and were able to do what Jesus said. Peter was leader but he had to solve the issue of who was in charge. After all did not Peter rebuke Jesus and say he would never deny him, but Peter did deny Jesus three times(Mark 14 & 22). It was with this he learn that he would obey Jesus even if his desire at first was not too. Peter's denial would protect him the night of Jesus' trial (Mark 22). Yet it would cause Peter to take up his own cross and follow Jesus and see the need for Christ to lead him, for he could not catch fish in his own power. He could not catch one little fish without Jesus. He could not labor with others til he went to the Jesus. Yet Peter did lead the disciples that followed him to the boat, but they needed to followed Jesus in order to catch fish. Do not worry if Peter not helping you carry your load, he has to be at the altar of grace and dine on the meal Jesus prepared for him. He knew his need of Jesus was greater then bringing the fish in. He need to make it right with the Lord because he tried to call his disciples to follow.

If you are disciple of Jesus follow Jesus, Don't jump in the water following Peter follow Jesus in order to bring you burden in, for Jesus will still be on the shore. Disciples already use to working together began to beckon to each other to help pull the load of fish in. The nets held as they drugged the heavy load of fish onto the shore. Jesus did not tell you to try it on the other side of the line to fail. He told the disciples to cast their net on the other side and disciple would catch fish, because he said bring what you catch in. He did not tell you to worry about the load, he said bring it in. That means if he tells you to do something he will prove what you need to do so. Do the will of God as good stewards of faith, knowing that he will provide a portion of meat in due season. Dinner was ready when the disciple fish got there. No other fish was needed to feed the disciples. Those fish were those he was bringing to the feast Jesus prepared.

Dear Heavenly Father help to follow you alone and dragging the nets you require us to pull. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study for Devotion:

Luke 12:40-43 KJV
40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.