Well, it’s hard to believe, but this Sunday is the Fourth Sunday in Advent (the last Sunday before Christmas).  We’ll continue to light the Advent Wreath, sing Christmas Hymns (and hear the Christmas Choir), and spend some time seeing Jesus accomplish some important things over a meal.

This Sunday we come to our fourth meal in our Advent series on “Meals with Jesus.”  We feasted at a wedding in Cana of Galilee, then we invited ourselves to a meal with Zacchaeus, we ate with Matthew and his friends right after Jesus’ calls him to “Follow Me,” and now we see Jesus as chef.  In John 21, Jesus cooks breakfast for the disciples and uses that occasion to restore Peter to ministry.

Peter has failed Jesus in a spectacular fashion, walked away from his calling, and Jesus comes to him as a shepherd in search of a lost sheep.  And He reminds Peter that his calling is to “Follow Me” (wait, that sounds familiar).

Have you ever felt like you’ve failed Jesus?  At one time or another, most of us have or will feel that way.  We don’t think that there’s any way we can possibly measure up and so we quietly walk away and hope that Jesus doesn’t notice.  But Jesus does notice, and He calls us back to Himself, and therein lies the gospel.

Since this is one of Jesus’ last resurrection appearances in the gospels, it’s normally preached shortly after Easter.  So, how does this post-Easter story become a pre-Christmas message?  Well, that’s what we’re going to find out on Sunday.  I hope to see you there, Dr. Dave