John 21:12

In these words the believer is invited to a holy nearness to Jesus. "Come and dine," implies the same table, the same food; yes, and sometimes it means to sit side by side, and lean our head upon the Saviour's bosom. It is being brought into the banqueting house, where the banner of redeeming love waves.

"Come and dine," gives us a vision of union with Jesus, because the only food that we can feast upon when we dine with Jesus is himself. Oh, what union this is! It is a depth that reason cannot fathom, that we in this way feed upon Jesus. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. It is also an invitation to enjoy fellowship with the saints.

Christians may differ on a variety of points, but they all have one spiritual appetite; and if we cannot all feel alike, we can all feed alike on the bread of life sent down from heaven. At the table of fellowship with Jesus we are one bread and one cup.

As the loving cup goes around, we heartily pledge to one another with it. Get nearer to Jesus, and you will find yourself linked more and more in spirit to all who are like you, supported by the same heavenly manna. If we were nearer to Jesus, we would be nearer to one another.

We also see in these words the source of strength for every Christian. To look at Christ is to live, but for strength to serve him you must "come and dine." We suffer from much unnecessary weakness because of neglecting this precept of the Master. None of us needs to put ourselves on a low diet; on the contrary, we should fatten on the marrow and fatness of the gospel so that we may accumulate strength from it, and urge every power to its full tension in the Master's service. So then, if you would realize nearness to Jesus, union with Jesus, love for his people, and strength from Jesus, "come and dine" with him by faith.