Thoughts going in, Sunday April 14th

John 21:1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus ), 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. 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 Simon Peter climbed aboard 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. 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!"

            The major focus of this week's gospel reading is RECONCILIATION; RE-COMMISSIONING; and RESTORATION. In last week's gospel reading we saw Jesus reach out personally to the Apostle Thomas. We also saw Jesus commission the entire group to now 'run with the ball,' so to speak. Jesus said in 20:21:  "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." Yet, here at the start of chapter 21, what does Peter say? I'm going fishing (vs 3). What about being sent? What about receiving the Spirit? What about taking the handoff that Jesus had given them in the previous chapter and doing something about it? It seems that Peter was still haunted by the fact that he had publicly denied the Lord 3 times (Jn chp. 18).... and this haunting was an impediment to getting on with his calling. We can, I'm sure, all put ourselves in Peter's shoes. Sure, Christ calls the big group of Christians to mission and ministry; sure He calls the big group of Christians to testify regarding the faith, etc. etc., but He can't possibly want **me for that... I'm a failure. I've never been much of a Christian; there's no place for me on that team.

            And so what we have in John 21 is a wonderful story of restoration in the life of Peter. What makes this a GREAT Easter, post-baptism story is that ALL CHRISTIANS need to know that restoration is possible. Just because we're baptized doesn't mean we'll never let the Lord down. Peter's denial-dna flows freely in all of our veins.

            Notice now Christ's approach. I'm very touched that when Jesus is talking to Peter he never brings up the past. He never asks Peter if he's sorry for denying him. I also find it fascinating that Jesus never attempts to elicit a promise of future faithfulness from Peter. He never says, "now Peter, promise me this will NEVER happen again." Everything Jesus says is in the PRESENT. DO YOU LOVE ME NOW? Feed my sheep. Like Peter, we all can be assured that salvation means our past is forgotten, our future is wrapped up in Christ, and what really matters is.... DO WE LOVE HIM NOW?

Cheers,

TM