Jesus: Hope and Hospitality Against Empire's Injustice

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus is Lord Over All Powers and Injustice

On the very beach named for the emperor who crucified him, Jesus appears to his disciples and demonstrates his authority by providing an abundant catch of large fish, declaring through his actions that he—not Caesar—owns the sea, the fish, and the world itself. In a world where injustice and oppression seem to reign, Jesus stands as the true King whose power is not limited by earthly empires or the injustices they perpetuate. His presence on Caesar’s beach is a subversive proclamation that the kingdom of God breaks into the darkest, most contested places, offering hope and justice where despair and resignation have taken root. [19:55]

John 21:1-14 (ESV)
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Reflection: Where do you see injustice or oppressive power in your world, and how might Jesus be inviting you to trust his authority and bring his light into those dark places today?

Day 2: Grace Overcomes Despair and Resignation

When the disciples return to fishing, weighed down by confusion, failure, and despair, Jesus meets them not with condemnation but with a feast, turning their resignation into hope. He provides abundantly and invites them to eat, showing that his grace is greater than their failures and that his kingdom is one of mercy, not merit. In the face of the world’s brokenness and our own, Jesus’ hospitality is a radical act of resistance against despair, offering us a place at his table and a new beginning, no matter how deep our resignation. [25:00]

Psalm 23:5-6 (ESV)
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel most resigned or defeated, and how can you open yourself to receive Jesus’ grace and hospitality in that very place today?

Day 3: Love, Not Fear or Obligation, is the Heart of Discipleship

Unlike the emperor’s feast, which demands loyalty and is fueled by fear, Jesus’ feast is founded on love and grace. When Jesus restores Peter, he does not ask for obedience or repayment but for love, inviting Peter—and us—into a relationship marked by forgiveness and affection rather than duty or fear. The kingdom of Jesus is built on the question, “Do you love me?” and it is this love that transforms and empowers us to follow him and care for others. [23:15]

John 21:15-17 (ESV)
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Reflection: What would it look like for you to respond to Jesus’ question, “Do you love me?” in your actions and relationships today, rather than simply out of obligation or fear?

Day 4: Weakness is Welcomed and Transformed in Jesus’ Kingdom

In the kingdom of Jesus, our weaknesses and failures are not exploited or shamed but welcomed and transformed into strength. Jesus’ hospitality toward Peter, who had denied him, demonstrates that in God’s kingdom, there is room for our brokenness, and it is precisely in our weakness that God’s grace is most powerfully displayed. Where the world demands strength and perfection, Jesus invites us to bring our whole selves—including our failures—to his table, promising that his power is made perfect in weakness. [27:40]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Reflection: What weakness or failure are you tempted to hide or be ashamed of, and how might you bring it honestly to Jesus today, trusting him to meet you with grace?

Day 5: Radical Hospitality as Resistance and Witness

The feast Jesus sets is not just for the worthy or the powerful but for the poor, the broken, and the despairing. As followers of Jesus, we are called to practice this same radical hospitality—opening our tables, homes, and lives to others, especially those who cannot repay us. In a world that values status and repayment, such hospitality is a form of resistance, declaring that the earth is the Lord’s and that his kingdom is one of welcome, abundance, and grace for all. [29:03]

Luke 14:12-14 (ESV)
He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Reflection: Who is someone outside your usual circle whom you can invite into your life or to your table this week, practicing the radical hospitality of Jesus?

Sermon Summary

In a world that often feels dominated by injustice, power, and despair, the story of Jesus meeting his disciples on the beach after his resurrection offers a radical vision of hope and resistance. The empire in Star Wars, much like the Roman Empire in Jesus’ day, represents a system that thrives on control, fear, and the exploitation of the vulnerable. Yet, Jesus steps onto a beach named for the very emperor who ordered his execution and demonstrates that true authority and ownership belong to him, not to Caesar or any earthly power.

The disciples, having returned to their old trade of fishing, are depicted as resigned and despairing, weighed down by the failures of the past and the overwhelming brokenness of the world. Their fruitless night of fishing mirrors the emptiness that comes from trying to find meaning or security in the systems of this world. But Jesus, in a simple act of hospitality, instructs them to cast their nets again, resulting in an abundant catch of large fish—fish that, under the empire’s rules, would have been reserved for the powerful and wealthy.

This miraculous catch is not just about provision; it is a subversive act that reclaims what the empire claims as its own. Jesus prepares a meal for his disciples, echoing the imperial feasts of Rome but turning them on their head. Instead of demanding loyalty or repayment, Jesus offers grace, forgiveness, and love—especially to Peter, who had denied him. The charcoal fire where Peter is restored is a place of mercy, not retribution.

The kingdom of Jesus is marked by hospitality, grace, and the inclusion of the weak and the failed. In contrast to the world’s feasts, which are exclusive and transactional, the feast Jesus sets is open, generous, and rooted in love. This is not just a story for the first disciples but a call for all who follow Jesus to resist the ways of empire by setting tables of welcome, making room for the other, and practicing a hospitality that is itself an act of spiritual resistance. In the contested places of our world—where despair and resignation threaten to rule—Jesus invites us to feast without fear, trusting that he is the true Lord who provides and redeems.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus’ resurrection confronts the powers of injustice and empire, declaring that ultimate authority belongs to him, not to the rulers of this world. By appearing on Caesar’s beach and providing an abundant catch, Jesus subverts the empire’s claim to ownership and reminds us that God’s kingdom breaks into the very places claimed by oppression and despair. [18:02]
2. The hospitality of Jesus is a radical act of grace that welcomes the weak, the failed, and the despairing. Peter’s restoration by the charcoal fire shows that in God’s kingdom, our weaknesses and betrayals are not met with punishment but with forgiveness and a renewed invitation to love and serve. [23:15]
3. The feasts of this world are built on fear, status, and transactional loyalty, but the feast Jesus offers is founded on grace and love. In Christ’s kingdom, we are invited to receive freely, not because of what we can offer in return, but because of the boundless generosity of God. [25:00]
4. Practicing hospitality—making room for others, especially the marginalized and broken—is a form of resistance against the powers of darkness and the systems of this world. When we open our tables and our lives, we participate in the kingdom’s work of mercy and declare that the earth is the Lord’s, not the empire’s. [29:03]
5. In the kingdom of Jesus, our weaknesses are not liabilities to be hidden or exploited, but places where God’s strength is made perfect. Mercy is having hospitality for one’s own weaknesses, and in Christ, even our failures can be transformed into sources of grace and strength for ourselves and others. [27:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Star Wars, Injustice, and the Empire
[02:30] - God’s Kingdom and the Problem of Despair
[05:10] - Reading John 21: The Disciples’ Return to Fishing
[08:00] - Despair, Resignation, and the Weight of the World
[11:30] - The Historical Context: Rome, Tiberias, and Taxation
[14:50] - The Beach Claimed by Empire
[17:30] - Jesus’ Subversive Miracle: The Catch of Large Fish
[19:55] - The True Lord of the Sea
[21:30] - The Imperial Feast vs. Jesus’ Feast
[23:15] - Peter’s Restoration by the Charcoal Fire
[25:00] - Grace vs. Transaction: The Nature of Jesus’ Feast
[26:30] - Mercy, Weakness, and the Kingdom’s Hospitality
[29:03] - Setting the Feast: Hospitality as Resistance
[31:03] - Prayer and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 21:1-19 — (The story of Jesus appearing to his disciples on the beach after his resurrection, the miraculous catch of fish, and Peter’s restoration.)

Observation Questions

Where does Jesus meet his disciples after his resurrection, and why is the name of this place significant?
What are the disciples doing when Jesus appears, and what is their emotional state at this point in the story?
What happens when Jesus tells the disciples to cast their nets again, and what is unusual about the catch?
What does Jesus do for the disciples after the catch, and how does he interact specifically with Peter?

Interpretation Questions

Why does John emphasize that Jesus appears on the “Sea of Tiberias,” a place named after the Roman emperor? What message is being sent by Jesus showing up there?
The disciples return to fishing after Jesus’ death. What does this say about their mindset and their sense of hope or despair?
The sermon describes Jesus’ breakfast on the beach as a “subversive act” against the empire. In what ways does this meal challenge the values and power structures of the world?
How does Jesus restore Peter after his denial, and what does this reveal about the nature of forgiveness and leadership in God’s kingdom?

Application Questions

The disciples felt resigned and went back to their old ways when things seemed hopeless. Can you think of a time when you felt like giving up or going back to old habits because of disappointment or despair? What helped you move forward?
Jesus sets a table of welcome and grace, even for those who have failed him. Is there someone in your life who needs to experience this kind of hospitality or forgiveness from you? What would it look like to offer it?
The sermon says that practicing hospitality—making room for others, especially the weak or broken—is a form of resistance against the world’s systems. What is one practical way you could open your table, home, or life to someone who feels excluded or overlooked?
The world’s “feasts” are often about status, fear, and what you can offer in return. In what ways do you see this kind of transactional thinking in your own relationships or community? How can you intentionally practice generosity without expecting anything back?
Jesus meets Peter at the place of his greatest failure and offers restoration, not punishment. Are there areas of weakness or failure in your own life that you try to hide? How might you invite Jesus’ mercy and hospitality into those places?
The sermon challenges us to “set the feast” in contested places—places of despair, resignation, or conflict. Where in your daily life do you see these “contested places,” and how could you bring hope or hospitality there this week?
The disciples recognized Jesus through his act of provision and welcome. How can you become more attentive to the ways Jesus is present and providing in your everyday life, especially in unexpected or difficult places?

Sermon Clips

The kingdom of Jesus is always going to be set in these contested places. Places where there is resignation, despair, and death. And Jesus will show up on the shore and cook us breakfast and invite us to feast without fear because he owns the sea and everything in it. His love is boundless, a love that overcomes our failures, our weaknesses, our fears, all that resignation we feel, all that despair. Jesus announces his kingdom of grace to these resigned and despairing disciples by cooking them a breakfast of big fish. [00:28:26] (37 seconds) Edit Clip

That when we feast, when we host, when we make room for the other, we are practicing resistance against the kingdom of the devil and the kingdoms of this world. One last thought. [00:26:30] (16 seconds) Edit Clip

Here, Jesus offers a feast that he's won for us. The status of the recipients, it's given freely by grace. This is how the feast that Jesus offers is always a feast of love. It's founded on grace. Zal says, I know of no more potent force, idea, or reality when it comes to a lying, true despair and resignation than the grace of God. At the edge of the sea of despair, the kingdom of Jesus is full of grace and mercy. And the kingdom's form of hospitality, hear this, the form of hospitality of the kingdom, it is a work of resistance against the power of the devil and the flesh. [00:25:37] (49 seconds) Edit Clip

Even though I had been crucified by this Caesar, Caesar doesn't own this beach, this sea, these fish, I do. Now let's eat. Jesus here on Caesar's beach sets a feast. And he invites who? [00:20:17] (18 seconds) Edit Clip

As we live on the backside of the Jesus story, we understand what Jesus says here points to how he intended to inaugurate his kingdom. At a cross, dying for the sins of his people, vindicated by God the Father and resurrected, ascended to rule and to reign. Feasting on his body was allowing his body to feed you and your deepest need, namely your relationship with God through the broken body of Jesus as God's son and our substitute. This is the gospel. The gospel is Jesus is the king. He is the king because he goes to the cross. He dies for our sins. Friends, all the injustices our sin causes us and others. He goes to the cross and offers something better than our fealty. And we see this with Peter. Jesus feeds his friend breakfast by what? A charcoal fire. [00:23:15] (60 seconds) Edit Clip

The charcoal fire, the same words we read earlier in John, whereby a charcoal fire, Peter, his friend, denied knowing him, denied following him, denied loving him. Here, Jesus makes him breakfast, feeds him, emphasizing to Peter, he has forgiven him of all his denying offenses. [00:24:15] (24 seconds) Edit Clip

Jesus does this with Peter. Peter who denies Jesus. Peter who returns to the boat, tells the disciples, let's fish. Resigned in his failure. And we'll hit a little bit more on this next week. But Jesus displays to Peter what truth. In my kingdom, Peter, in my kingdom, your weakness is welcome. [00:26:58] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

And that feast has happened and can happen again. How? How, Redeemer? Keep setting the feast. The disciples of this true king keep setting a feast by bringing out the very best food and feeding all. The disciples of King Jesus keep setting the feast when they don't grow weary in doing what is right and showing up in a world and making room for the other. [00:29:03] (34 seconds) Edit Clip

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?