Why did Jesus make a fire on the shore Lake Galilee after His Resurrection? I did a bit of research on fire in Judaism and found out!
Fire has multiple meanings in Judaism:
Passion for study
Reverence
The Lord’s Presence (Holy Spirit)
Paradox
Sacrifice
The fire was Jesus’ way of telling His disciples to study the Scriptures and to live by every word that comes from the Lord’s mouth. It is no coincidence that when He spoke to the two disciples on their way home, their hearts were warmed - burned - with every word that came from His mouth. The fire was Jesus’ way of telling His disciples to be reverent in the Presence of the Lord, for the ground on which they stood - precisely because it was where the Holy God is - was holy, just as the ground on which Moses stood when the same Holy God spoke to him from a bush was holy. The fire was Jesus’ way of telling His disciples to not be afraid because it was not ghost on the shore but He who created Heaven and Earth, He who freed Israel, He who burned atop Mount Siana, He who led His Children through the desert, He who’s mercy endures from generation to generation. The fire was Jesus’ way of telling His disciples - and this in light of the fire being beside a body of water - of the paradox of the Cross, for in Judaism fire and water are together in the World to Come. But now the paradox of Judaism is fulfilled: the Cross reveals the ultimate paradox of religion: fidelity and obedience to God even unto death. Finally, the fire was Jesus’ way of telling His disciples that He is the Lamb of God, the Lamb whom the many burnt offerings of the Old Law foreshadowed and prepared Israel for, the Lamb whom must be eaten, Body and Blood, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, the spiritual fulfillment of the Passover and memorial of His Death, which is the physical fulfillment of the Passover; this is made especially clear when we find what Jesus has with Him: fish and loaves, ancient symbols of the Holy Eucharist in light of Jesus’ words and works (most especially the Last Supper).
I always enjoy people sharing of how they are impacted by study and application of scripture. I hope you are edified by your look into this scriptural account.
I always enjoy people sharing of how they are impacted by study and application of scripture. I hope you are edified by your look into this scriptural account.
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