We are on a road to Pentecost.
But, if we look at things from the disciples perspective, they don't see that.
They have no idea what is coming around the corner. Jesus is alive. They know that much.
They have seen him. Touched him. Witnessed him eat.
Later, the apostle John would write words to support what they have beheld.
But, if we look at things from the disciples perspective, they don't see that.
They have no idea what is coming around the corner. Jesus is alive. They know that much.
They have seen him. Touched him. Witnessed him eat.
Later, the apostle John would write words to support what they have beheld.
1 John 1:1-4
New International Version (NIV)
The Incarnation of the Word of Life
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our[a] joy complete.These same disciples are now back where it all started. Sitting on the seashore.
Watching the waves. Looking at the sky. The same places where they were once cleaning their nets and finishing up a hard days work when a would-be messiah came by and called to them.
Matthew 4:18-20
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.After 3 years of walking with him, watching his miracles, witnessing his death, what do they have to show for it? Now, apparently, Jesus is alive. But, where do they go from here? What's the next step? As the ponder their future, they go back to where it began. The fishing business.
For one man, this moment is personal.
He has been the closest to Jesus. He has been outspoken. At times, maybe too bold. Peter swore he would never leave Jesus' side. Swore he would go with him all the way. He refused to have his feet washed, then asked for the his head and hands also. I wonder what must be going through the man's mind as he sits there on the shore.
Our scripture opens the door...
John 21
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.[a] It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m
going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go
with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they
caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Lets pause for a moment...
"I'm going out to fish" and Peter is back where it all began. Fishing.
And, like so many times before, he goes out and has nothing to show for it.
Such is the life of a fisherman. To put it all out there, trying to catch something, but many times finding nothing. It was such a time as this that Jesus came and told them to cast their nets on the other side. They caught a load so heavy it nearly sank the boats. Oh, for times like that again, Peter might be thinking. And in the early morning, the call comes.
"Friends, haven't you any fish?"The answer comes back, "No". Then this stranger suggest a familiar thing. “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” They catch a load so big they can't haul it in. I imagine them looking at the fish, then at the shore. It is John who blurts out the now obvious. “It is the Lord!” Immediately, Peter does what you would expect. He jumps in and swims for shore. No thought for niceties or etiquette. He needs to see the Lord now!
Did anyone catch the all important thing that stands out in this passage? FOOD!
It's breakfast time. And, it seems Jesus has taken it upon himself to make some food for his hungry disciples. Fish and bread. How many times now has it been this simplicity? Fish and Bread fed 5000+ on a hillside. 4000+ on another. When Jesus revealed himself to the men from the Emmaus road, he broke bread. When he appeared to his disciples on the first day of the week, he asked for fish.
Come on, if you don't get who this man is by now..... None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” It is the third time Jesus has revealed himself. 3 times. Hang on to that for a moment.
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
You have to eat. Sometimes it's better to eat first and then deal with the issues at hand.
Comfort food before comforting the soul.And, Peter is in need of comfort.
Maybe that's why he came out to fish in the first place. He is in need. And, Jesus knows what he needs.
He needs someone to relieve his guilt. He didn't follow through on what he said he would do. And, now it eats at him.But, how did he get here? That's an important thing to ponder. Did he get here because he failed at some point in following God's Law? Absolutely not. Jesus predicted that this would happen, true. But, Jesus didn't put any requirements upon Peter. He did not demand that Peter follow him to the end, to the cross, through death. Peter declared that he would. It was Peter who heaped those interjections upon himself. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”
Isn't that how it happens in life? We get to caught up in an idea that goes through our own minds, our hearts. Words come slipping off our tongues and we find out that we don't have what it takes to stick with those original notions. Or, maybe, we can't help but let the sarcasm and the crass words fall from our lips and we end up hurting those near and dear to us. The truth is we end up making it more about ourselves than the people around us. And, we end up hurting those around us. Peter said he would never leave Jesus' side. He was pretty adamant about it too. But, it wasn't so much about Jesus as it was about Peter. He spoke up and out based upon how he felt about the issue rather than simply letting Jesus lead the way. Maybe, Jesus actually knows what he talking about guy. Maybe you should sit this one out. Nope, Peter barges forward and opens his mouth and now he sees where he has fallen short.
The blatant truth about this passage of scripture is that Peter is the cause of his own hurt. But, he can't find forgiveness on his own. And, so he does what any person might do. He goes back to what is familiar to him. Fishing. And, it is in that place that Jesus comes to look for him.
3 times. 3 times Peter denied Jesus that night. Three times he opened his mouth thinking he could avoid the truth. "This night before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times" Have you ever been in a place where you probably should have spoken up and said something about your faith in Jesus? Peter has. I'm willing to bet many of us have as well. But, we conveniently have ways to sideline the subject. We talk about the weather or bring up the local sporting event. We change the subject. Or, maybe we are even as blatant as Peter was that night. We just don't think anybody really needs to know about our faith. We know better.
Or, at least we think we do.
Jesus comes now to Peter, Simon son of John, and ask him the most basic of questions. "Do you love me?"
"Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." And, Jesus gives him one request. "Feed my lambs."
I cannot process this passage as a straight discourse. Three questions and it's over that fast. I wonder if there was that awkward silence between the questions. They sit there eating fish and bread. Looking out at the water. Thinking about life. Pondering the last three years.
Jesus extend a question to Peter again, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”“Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” And, again, a simple request. "Take care of my sheep"
Does he really understand what Jesus wants? "Feed my sheep" "Take care of my sheep." Take up the same work I have been doing Peter. Feeding, caring, making sure people know about the kingdom of God. If doesn't get it now, he will after one more question. We are spoiled in the reading of the scriptures. We can see it coming. I wonder what be going through Peter's mind. Is he thinking, "Man, don't ask me one more time. I don't know if I can take it." Or, maybe he is completely oblivious.
Either way, Jesus extends the third question. “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter is crushed. Three denials. Three questions. Three times of asking if he loves Jesus.
As hard as it might seem, this is Jesus extending grace.
It is grace that draws people to Jesus and it grace that brings us back.
Back to the beginning. Back to the place where we can see what we really need.
The guilt has been wiped away. Forgiveness extended. A relationship made right.
This is what Jesus does. He brings comfort and peace to us. And, then tells us to go do that same.
"Feed my sheep". "Take care of my sheep". "Feed my lambs".
Bring them the comfort food they need just as the same comfort was brought to you.
When you have opened your mouth, when you have said to much.
Jesus comes to the place you have run ans beckons you to come back.
Back from the depression. Back from the gates of hell. Back to the path of righteousness.
Forget about what you don't know or what you don't understand.
Peter wonders about John and Jesus tells he to forget it. Focus on this. Focus on what just happened for you. The quickest way to lose our comfort is to focus on this things that don't matter or pertain to us.
The passage from John's gospel said it last week and returns with the same emphasis for us here.
"These things were written that you might believe"
Believe. Follow the grace. Find comfort.
And, get ready. The Holy Spirit is coming.
