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Showing Up Sherry Lohman - April 18, 2010 John 21:1-19 If you were here on Easter, you may remember our reading from John’s gospel, when Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb and found it empty. A short while later, Jesus appeared to her as she stood weeping. Last week, the 2nd Sunday of Easter (by the way, we celebrate Easter for 50 days!), we heard Lowell speak about Jesus’ appearance to the disciples (remember, Thomas missed out the first time around, but Jesus returned for another opportunity). Today, we will be looking again at John’s gospel. I’ll be reading a portion, and then we will stop to reflect on it. We’ll be looking at chapter 21, vs. 1-19 (p. ? pew bible), if you would like to follow along. 21:1-3 “After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.” Nothing. This wasn’t a little fishing excursion for the thrill of it. Most likely, the disciples were hungry. Disciples or not, they still have to eat. So when Simon Peter announces that he is going fishing, the others join him. Together, they fish, all night; stomachs, growling. Is there not one fish in the sea? Can you believe it? They catch nothing. Imagine their disappointment as night moves into dawn; from hope, to despair, from patience to annoyance or maybe anxiety. Have you ever worked late, into the night with no progress? / Couple that with pangs of hunger./ We all know what babies do when they’re tired and hungry---they are quick to let us know. By the time we reach adulthood, we have found other ways to communicate our exhaustion and hunger; it spills out as impatience, insensitivity, aggression, blame. We do that, sometimes, without hardly noticing---empower our negative thoughts and actions. That power lends us a feeling of control, though, it’s the negative sort. I suspect the disciples experienced these same kinds of things, like any of us. They might have sighed as they raised yet another empty net out of the water, or when stepping on another’s toes. It’s entirely possible they began blaming one another in their failed attempts at fishing. At least a couple of them were fishermen, by trade, before meeting Jesus--so that might have packed an extra punch. Nothing like failing at your own business. 21:4-6 “Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. When the light of day breaks, the disciples see a figure on the beach. They don’t recognize him as Jesus. Whoever it is, inquires about their catch, then offers some direction. Willing, and with nothing to lose, the disciples cast their nets to the opposite side and almost immediately, the net becomes full. How can this be? 21:7-8 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.” The identity of that disciple…the one whom Jesus loved, may send us, wondering. Didn’t Jesus love all of the disciples? Or did he love one, more than the rest? In any case, this disciple is the first, in this story, to recognize that it is Jesus, there, on the beach. With great excitement, he yells to Peter, “It is the Lord!”/ We probably can’t remember the first time we actually recognized our parent’s face. Even if we could, we couldn’t have formulated the words to declare it. But we can recall a time, when we’ve been surprised by someone; a close friend or a relative who we haven’t seen in awhile. Remember the joy in the reunion; how the joy replaces any troubles you’re going through. That’s how it must have been for the disciples, except greater, because this recognition took place after Jesus’ crucifixion. Suddenly, now, Jesus is once again among them….there is no doubt. Respectable Peter throws on some clothes and jumps into the sea. John’s gospel doesn’t talk about Peter’s doubt and going under, like another story in Matthew’s gospel (14:28). He’ll swim the hundred yards; his hunger, now abated. 21:9-14 “When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.” Jesus has prepared the fire for cooking, inviting the disciples for breakfast; fish is already on the grill; they will add more from their catch. Peter returns to the boat, still amazed at the large catch, delighted, too, finding the net intact—no repairs to be made; life is good! And as they gather around the fire, Jesus shares with them bread and fish./ This time, though, something is different. Something’s changed, but it’s still the same; reminiscent of the days before Jesus’ death. They couldn’t quite name it; couldn’t quite put their finger on it, but it was unmistakable, the overwhelming, un-nameable presence, known only in the Spirit of God, feeding them. 21:15-17 “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me? He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Now that their bellies are no longer hungry, Jesus calls Peter aside and calls for some answers. He comes down a little hard on him, don’t you think? It’s not as if Peter is a child, and yet, Jesus speaks to him as if he is. Three times he asks him, “do you love me?” We know God loves us./ But if God is all powerful, does God really need our love; the kind of love that falls short of God’s perfect love….why would God need it?/ 21:18-19 “Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” ( He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.” Let’s consider the disciples. They are experiencing loss. Jesus has been taken from them. For awhile, they were boarded up in a locked home, but as time goes by, they are hungry; hungry for food to fill their stomachs, and spiritual food. How will they survive, continue, without Jesus?/ Cautiously, they move in numbers; where one goes, the others follow. Thomas has already been out on his own, but this time, Peter takes the first step. He will go looking for food…. We have a name for such folks. In church language, we identify them as, “seekers,” but Jesus calls them “children”; remember? “Children, you have no fish, have you?” It is anyone who is looking for the spiritual food Jesus prepares for us. Children, seekers, disciples; anyone who is looking for love, forgiveness, acceptance. They may travel from church to church, looking for it. When God the pursuer finally gets our attention, and when we are willing to risk pulling up the empty net and trying another way, then, sometimes we find God there, in a song, a face, a word, or even a feeling that we recognize even though we can’t quite name it. And once we recognize that love of Jesus; that love that casts out all fear, we are quick to abandon our boats; they may even forget their nakedness and hunger in their urgency to make their way toward shore. Things don’t seem to take on the importance that they once did. There’s more clarity, the closer you come to Jesus. We are invited to share the gift which was given to us, by no means of our own. And there, we feast and grow. These are a different kind of fish, too, for our own nourishment….not the kind of fish Jesus talks about in Matthew’s gospel; no we are not fishers of men and women, yet. We are children, needing spiritual food, to grow, so that in time….God’s time, we might become fishers of men and women. It’s important we feast well at this meal, because there may come a time, just as we heard in the scripture when, matured, we will wander into areas where we would rather not be, but because of our God, because of justice and peace, we will need to speak out. Our Christian responsibility calls on us, like Jesus called upon Peter. And it’s a serious call, for us. “Do you love me?” Oh really? Feed my lambs…take care of the earth./ “Do you love me?” Really? Tend my sheep…the creatures of this earth.// “I’m not so sure….Do you love me?” Love my people; all people, all nations. I am a God of love. Because you love me you need to be well nourished, mature and ready, because I will take you into the world….to place you might rather not be…. Do-you-still-love-me? Then, follow me. Follow me, and I will go beside you; I am never far away. I will continue to direct/guide you, nourish you with my grace and love. I will see to it that your net is full, and I will give you rest from labor. I may question you, at times, but always, with love. I am here to prepare a meal just for you and invite you to come and show me the gifts you have acquired. You may not recognize me, at first, but my presence remains among you. Follow me. Yes, Lord, you know that we love you. Amen. |