‘Would You Like Fries With That, Lord?’

By Al Perrotta Published on April 17, 2017

“I’ve defeated death. I’ve reversed the curse of Adam. I’ve paid off the sins of every man, women and child who’s ever lived or ever will live. And I’m famished.”

In the wake of Easter, we can look at Luke’s account of the resurrection story and reach a few simple conclusions: Jesus is God, Savior, Messiah. He’s also something of a prankster.

Let’s set the scene: The stone’s rolled away. The tomb is empty. Jesus is gone. Angels have told a couple of his female disciples “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” Two of Jesus’s followers have encountered Him near a village called Emmaus. They race back to Jerusalem. The disciples are in an uproar. And then:

Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.

The most amazing thing in the history of, well, EVER is happening right before their eyes! Jesus, who had been ripped to shreds and crucified and buried three days before, was standing right before them, alive! Alive! A-L-I-V-E! And he asks if they have any grub. “Have you anything here to eat?” Can you imagine? “Uh, no problem, Jesus. Got some fish. Want any fries with that? Do a whole fish and chips thing? Some club soda? Pepsi? Iced tea? Three days in a tomb in Jerusalem this time of year has to leave you parched.” Oh, sure that happened.

Put yourself there. Who in the world would have the presence of mind to actually fetch some fish? My money’s on Martha. But the rest of the disciples? They’re “terrified.” They’re “disbelieving.” They’re babbling idiots. Even Peter’s thinking, “Fish? What’s a fish?” They stare at him as he eats. 

Understand, they’d seen water turned to wine, sickness turned to health and the sea turned into a sidewalk. They’d seen Lazarus raised from the dead and the great teachers of the day made low. A few had even seen Jesus’s Transfiguration. But Jesus chowing down after his death and resurrection had to take the cake. It’s so … so … normal. 

Part of me believes Jesus got a kick out of watching the reaction of his beloved friends. But shock would not be his objective. After all, he didn’t jump out and say “boo.” (For that matter, he didn’t pop ’round the Sanhedrin and give it a “Nice try, boys.” No stopping by Pilate and his wife’s for dessert.) 

Eating would be further evidence he was flesh-and-bone rather than a ghost. But he had even bigger fish to fry. So to speak.

Kingdom Work, Casually Speaking

Jesus made snatching the keys of hell right out of the devil’s hand as natural as picking up a stone by the side of the road. Defeating death as casual as winning a game of goldfish. He’s telling us that life and the miraculous are the expected state of things. When we score a victory for the kingdom, we can rejoice, but there’s no need for spiking the ball and crazed end zone dances. People should be healed. People should be delivered. The enemy should be trampled underfoot. Make it so, and move on to the next opportunity to bless. 

What’s exciting for us is the Lord’s followers picked up the lesson pretty quick. In John 20, we see Jesus later meeting up with seven disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. There’s a miraculous catch of fish, but no record of the disciples being awed. Instead, Jesus already has the charcoals burning and invites the group to breakfast. This time, no terror. No disbelief. No staring. Here’s the Risen Son of God and the whole group’s acting like it’s your typical church men’s breakfast. 

Sure, Simon Peter flung himself out of the boat in a race to get to shore. But there’s one in every men’s group, isn’t there?  

Prayer: Lord, thank you for coming to us, for demonstrating that you are indeed real. Thank you so much for being our friend, for wanting to spend time with us. Thank you for showing us that encountering the divine is as natural a part of our day as having breakfast. Thank you for not only promising that “great works than these” shall we do, but for demonstrating that miracles are to be expected. 

Lord, let us never lose the enthusiasm of Peter and race toward you at every opportunity. Amen. 

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