May 17, 2026 • Pastor Steve
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Through the post-resurrection story of Jesus restoring Peter on the beach, we discover that Jesus meets us in our failure and shame, not to condemn us, but to invite us back into love and purpose.
Come and Have Breakfast: Restored by Grace
After the resurrection, the disciples find themselves drifting back to what they know — fishing — and coming up empty. It's a picture many of us recognize: the feeling of going back to old routines even after encountering something life-changing, and still feeling stuck. But Jesus doesn't abandon them there. He shows up on the shore, fills their nets, starts a fire, and simply says, "Come and have breakfast." No lecture, no shame — just an invitation to connection and restoration.
At the heart of this passage is Peter, a man who had publicly denied Jesus and carried the weight of that failure. Jesus doesn't ignore it or gloss over it — he tenderly addresses it, asking Peter three times, "Do you love me?" not to humiliate him, but to fully restore him. That same restoring fire is available to us. Jesus meets us exactly where we are, calls us by name, and invites us to stop comparing our journey to others and instead focus on the unique calling and love he has placed in front of each of us.
- Jesus meets us in our emptiness and failure, not after we've cleaned ourselves up.
- Restoration is an act of love — Jesus addresses our shame directly and tenderly, not to condemn but to heal.
- "Come and have breakfast" — Jesus is always offering connection before he asks anything of us.
- Stop comparing your calling or your struggles to someone else's path; focus on following Jesus yourself.
- True love for Jesus naturally overflows into caring for the people he places in our lives.