2 - Mission Month

Passion, Purpose & Joy

Last week I spoke about the disciples going fishing.

After they had seen Jesus risen - they seemed a bit lost - without purpose.

Peter said: “I’m going fishing” and the other disciples joined him.

But - they caught no fish.

Until a stranger came and told them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat…

And they realised it was Jesus.

Jesus called them aside. Gave them bread and fish to eat.

And he restored Peter - reminding him of his call…

Feed my sheep.

May - in the Methodist Church is ‘Mission Month.” And it is not about missionaries going off to far away places.

It is about us thinking about what God has given us as a mission.

It might be going off to far away places.

But it might just be responding to the circumstances in which we find ourselves and asking ourselves What Would Jesus Do?

Following the Path

I mentioned a book I found while I was thinking about this - but Sister Joan Chittister…

Finding a life of Passion, Purpose and Joy.

Her basic thesis is that if we connect ourselves to Jesus’ path - and follow him. We will find that he leads us to connect with the world’s needs. And in those places we figure out how to be his hands and feet where we are called.

And in finding our Passion in Jesus’ Passion - our humanity is realised. Our purpose is realised… and everybody wins. Joy is made complete.

John 21:1-19

Last week’s gospel passage was John 21:1-19 - Peter has lost his sense of purpose. He has returned to where he was when Jesus first called him.

Fishing.

I guess he had given up.

But Jesus called him and the disciples ; restored him - and gave him a new job…

Feed my sheep.

Seeing as it was John’s gospel - we might realise that the image of Jesus as shepherd is quite strong in John’s gospel.

In John’s gospel Jesus says:

John 10:14 NRSV

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

Jesus as Messiah offers an image of himself as shepherd - and then appoints Peter as his successor.

Peter the successor of Jesus - called to leave his fishing boat and follow Jesus.

Now called to leave his fishing boat again and lead the church - in following Jesus.

We jump from John 21 all the way to Peter in Acts 9.

Acts 9:36–38 NRSV

36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.”

In Tabitha - also known as Dorcas - we learn something about the call of God on our lives.

But also in Peter’s actions in this passage.

Let’s deal first with Peter.

Peter the Fisherman

If Jesus hadn’t stepped out on the shore that day. If the disciples hadn’t found their nets empty - then Peter might have missed Jesus call to him to get out of the boat again.

To get out of the boat and be healed restored and sent on his way.

Peter might still have been plying his trade on a fishing boat somewhere on the sea of Galilee.

But because Jesus called him to the shore.

Because he was faithful to leave his nets behind.

Peter was now in Joppa.

He had been preaching all over Judea and Samaria. And now he was heading to the coast - to Joppa - when he had a vision and was called to Caesarea.

But before that - when Tabitha died - he was called to return there.

Just think - he could have just been fishing and failing - but instead he was following the path that Jesus had set for him.

And he is quite different.

From being unsure.

Denying Jesus.

Then restored.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit and preaching.

He is now called to this place where Tabitha has died.

Acts 9:39–40 NRSV

39 So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.

And in answer to his prayers - she is raised.

He could have been fishing fish out of the deep darkness of the sea - but now he is rescuing people from the clutches of even physical death.

In following Jesus call - Peter finds his mission, his purpose, his passion and we see great joy in this miracle.

But there is more to this story isn’t there.

There is the story of a community that is coming to realise its purpose in Christ.

Tabitha the Disciple

Acts 9:36 NRSV

36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity.

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary says of her -

She is the only woman called a mathetria, a Greek word meaning “female disciple.” Possibly Luke thought she best exemplified what a female disciple of Jesus should be like, for we are told that she was literally “full of good works”

In the New Testament - a disciple - or the word ‘disciple’ usually specifically refers to a person who stood in intense and special relationship to Jesus.

Learning from Jesus, following Jesus, imitating Jesus.

And as a result of this - she was literally as the commentator puts it: “Full of Good works.”

God’s call on her life seems to have brought her in to particular care for the widows in Joppa.

Remember that the scriptures command care of widows as of a high priority - and it especially needed in those times because widowed woman might have no claim to any property or agency.

When she had died and Peter came to pray for her -

Acts 9:39 NRSV

39 …All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

This indicates that she had served them generously and practically.

And maybe that she was - like Peter - an itinerant preacher or missioner - I’m not sure whether the phrase ‘while she was with them’ refers to her being alive - or maybe - during her time there.

People like Tabitha - like Peter - in response to Jesus’ call - found their path - their passion and purpose - and brought joy to themselves and those whose lives they touched.

And so important was their ministry - that Tabitha - although dead - was raised - when Peter went to pray for her.

These miracles of life - pointed to Jesus as the Messiah and as the text says:

Acts 9:42 NRSV

42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

The good news about Jesus was heard - not just because of preaching - but because those who had heard about Jesus - followed Jesus. Learned to live lives that were full of kindness and goodness.

Mission

Each of us is called to follow Jesus. And to follow him where he goes.

Jesus tends to go to where the pain is - to where the struggle is - to where compassion is needed.

On this Mother’s Day.