Easter 2026 - Homeward

3:33 - Welcome back into the room!

Congratulations! You did it! You made it to church on Easter! Seriously that’s not a small task. Easter kinda elevates the game doesn’t it. And it gives you the sense of needing to feel like you gotta dress up and make the day special. AND YOU DID IT! Seriously, can we just celebrate for a moment that you did it!

For some of you it took a lot. You maybe had to overcome the chaos of kids, or maybe you had to get beyond the body aches and pains, for others…well it was more of an emotional rollercoaster. You are walking in with a little luggage so to speak. Your experiences in the church or maybe your preconceived notion of what a church is all about, you had to carry that or work to drop it off before you came.

So, I will say it again - Congratulations you did it! I’m proud of you.

Whether its the kids, the pains, or the luggage - it all reminds me of a road trip AND the realities of the struggles that come with it. Have you ever had a road trip? A long road trip. Like I mean one that takes you more than a day to get to where you’re going. Or a full 24 hours plus. Like Minnesota to Florida or Southern California to KS and back.

Road trips can be exhausting. Vacations, Work-related, Family stuff - doesn’t matter - at the end when its time to come home, the trip tends to drag but we usually look forward to being home…at least I know I do.

Roadtrip - Homeward

Sure you want to stay in the resort for the rest of your life, but eventually we all want to go home. Especially, if the trip wasn’t particularly enjoyable.

I’ll never forget the road trip I had when I was younger. Before I had a family before I had all the weight that came along with it. I was driving back to Southern California from Kansas. Its a long trip 20 plus hours, and I would just drive straight through…especially when I had to report back to duty at a specific time.

I got to somewhere on the east side of California a few hours away from camp Pendleton when the truck I was driving broke down. I had a 1980s dodge ram truck. It was a cool truck. It was one of my favorites that I owned. But as I’m coming around the road, the fan blade falls off. The Engine Fan, just loses a blade and cuts the radiator hose.

By God’s grace, I was in a town - a very small town but a town. Everything was closing up, but I was able to get the hose - install it on the side of the road - and keep traveling. The only problem was the fan was now off balance and if I went to fast, it shook the engine so bad I thought the truck was gonna blow up.

I was never so happy to pull onto base as I was that day…making it home feels so much more important with adversity on the journey.

Over the last several weeks we have been on a road trip of sorts with Jesus a road trip from the time he walked in or, rode into Jerusalem on a donkey until the day he went to the cross. That week was packed with pressure, intensity, opposition, celebration, confusion, fear.

You name it, they felt it. Those on the road with Jesus that last week - they felt all the feels.

To include complete despair. The one they followed was put in the tomb - the light of the world extinguished and stuff into a dark cave…If you were with us on Friday for our evening service - maybe you felt the weight of that a little. You heard the story and felt the pain…even if only a little.

Can you imagine the feelings they had…not knowing that Sunday is coming! Not knowing that Friday would be called Good Friday followed by Silent Saturday turning into Resurrection Sunday!

The day Mary - I love that its her by the way - Mary gets to hear from the Angel:

Matthew 28:6–7 (CSB) He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”

She and the other ladies with her get to be the first messengers of the GOSPEL of JESUS - the GOOD NEWS that Jesus is who He said he is! Jesus is Lord, He told them he would be back, and this moment, this is the place and space he PROVED IT!

And today, you and I we get to live in the reality of the empty tomb! The risen Christ! Our God is not dead our God is alive!

It is the moment, when all of the talk of Jesus setting the direction HOMEWARD

Roadtrip - Homeward

Roadtrip - Jesus spent time telling them He was the way Home to the father, He said he was preparing a place for them, a place they can spend with him…in eternity…They too would go HOMEWARD.

The last week of his life he spent telling them how to follow HIM HOME - How to be faithful out of love not obligation, - How to see the signs and stay prepared for his return, - How to be a lamb of HIS flock… That anyone is welcome to join the journey and do life with Jesus…yes anyone…

Which is why this scene that unfolds in John’s Gospel is so interesting to me…It shows how human the disciples were…how relatable they are you you and I.

By the way, if you weren’t aware, there are 4 different eye witness accounts in the Bible - 4 different books within the Big Book of the Bible that all cover the life, death, and ressurection of Jesus. Matthew - Mark - Luke - and John. Not just one but 4 and each - and each one highlights different things along the way - to include the days after the ressurection

Each Gospel closes with or maybe even speaks to a different struggle - FEAR, DOUBT, PURPOSE - But John shows us something deeply personal…What does Jesus do with People like Peter?

To which you my be asking…What about Peter…

We will be hanging out in and around John 21 for a bit…if you want to go there in your bible or on your personal flatscreen go for it. Otherwise, it will be on the screen.

John 21:1–3 (CSB) After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples were together. “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Some of you like Peter a whole lot more than you realized right now. Minnesotans must be related to Peter -

(Gone Fishing Slide)

I love this historical moment. This very real, very human moment in the lives of the first follower of Jesus. The ones who were the closest to Jesus . 7 of the 11 Disciples who were still left - 7 of them went fishing.

Were they hungry? Maybe…Were they going back to what they knew? Possibly…

Maybe they were trying to fill their time, clear their head…Mary told them to meet Jesus in Galilee so they went…

They went and tried to be productive, or wanted to do something familiar when the world was in disarray - They wanted to use their talents wisely (Shout out to Pastor Isaac from last week) while they wait for the Master to meet them.

You know, the Y isn’t really that important to me. There are a number of emotional factors that could play into this.

Stress - Obedience - Fear - Anxiety - Hopeful - Unsure -

The Specifics of the why are less important. What I love about it is it proves to us…

The Disciples are Human too

Just like you and I. I’m curious…what’s your “Gone Fishing?” When you are exhausted, stressed, unsure, excited, weak, challenged, been on the rollercoaster of emotion…what is your “Gone Fishing?”

What is your “Gone Fishing?”

What things do you run to? Peter - He went Fishing…I have no doubt Peter was feeling all kinds of emotions post Easter.

If you recall the Good Friday Story - you will recall Peter saying he would never abandon Jesus - only to deny knowing Jesus 3 separate times.

Peter heard Jesus teach -

Matthew 10:33 (CSB) But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven.

I guarantee Peter recalls, Jesus saying:

John 14:2–4 (CSB) In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.”

Peter was there for these and countless more…Hopeful and yet…I wonder if he had any questions about his security in Jesus because of the gap in his loyalty to Jesus.

WE DON’T KNOW WHAT PETER IS THINKING OR FEELING BUT THIS WE KNOW…

Peter went fishing…

How often do we do that? When we have more stress or our challenges or our fill in the blank. And we run to the thing that we think will bring us comfort or peace or purpose. Have you ever been there?

Like I said, the text doesn’t tell us why they went fishing, no one is giving us the deets…about the why…but it does reveal what happened…

They came up Empty - On their own - They came up empty.

Literally, he and the boys went fishing and caught nothing. (I wonder if that’s where the saying “Came up empty” comes from).

Metaphorically speaking - this is true for us too.

What do you do when your distraction from the emotional Road Trip comes up empty?

What do you do when your stress reliever doesn’t produce?

When your in a season of waiting on direction and the distraction fails to distract?

What do you do when you are struggling to find purpose? Or wondering if there is more to like than the 9-5 grind or 7-6 grind I guess is more like it.

What do you do when the things that used to be familiar to you, and help you feel some kind of way…what do you do when they come up empty?

Well, I hope you do what Peter does! Look what happens…

John 21:4–6 (CSB) When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not know it was Jesus. “Friends,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish.

Then the best part…This is what I want you to see…

John 21:7 (CSB) …When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer clothing around him (for he had taken it off) and plunged into the sea.

Peter unashamedly jumps at the invitation of Jesus!

Why is this a big deal???

Peter messed up a bunch while he was walking with Jesus. He said dumb stuff, acted arrogantly, even flat out denied knowing Jesus. He knew the teaching of Jesus - He knew all the text we talked about - the I will deny those who deny me…He knew Jesus prepared a place for HIS flock…He KNEW he messed up!

BUT…BUT…BUT

HE knew that Jesus came to reconcile the lost, to forgive the sins of many…He knew that the ressurection of Jesus meant HE WAS AND IS TOTALLY FORGIVEN!!

The Ressurection Proves Jesus Power over Sin Death and the Grave

Peter didn’t allow any doubt or shame or guilt get in between him and Jesus. He dove into the sea and swam, ran, and got to Jesus as fast as possible. To sit and be in community with Jesus.

Here’s what I want you to know this Easter. - It doesn’t matter if you have argued against God, doubted his reality, or balled up your fist in rage and anger.

It doesn’t matter if you have: - ignored Jesus, - disregarded Jesus, - Questioned Jesus, or - Abandoned Jesus like Peter Did…

Jesus is willing to meet you on the “Shoreline” of your life and invite you to journey with him.

My hope is you will not disqualify yourself from meeting with Jesus.

Whatever you may be chasing after right now - whatever thing you are searching for…

You might be in a great season life is good the boat is full and you are enjoying the ride…when the day comes that you realize the nets just keep coming up empty…Jesus is on the shoreline calling out to you.

He proved his love for you on the cross. He Proved His love for you by defeating the consequence and control of sin, when he broke free from the grave.

Or maybe, things aren’t going so well. You know it. You have pulled up the empty net so many times you are losing count. You are ready for a change. The only problem…you don’t think you are worthy of Jesus calling out to you from the shoreline.

You’re thinking PC if you knew what I have said and done - you probably wouldn’t even want me in the church building. You’re thinking “I hope you have lighting insurance, because any minute God might hit me with it.”

God proved His love for you on the cross. Actually, let this story be a blessing to you - Jesus didn’t just forgive you - you are not disqualified FROM a RELATIONSHIP with JESUS!

AND…YOU are NOT disqualified for service for JESUS!

Nope - KING JESUS is setting the table for you and is going to ask you a very important question…

Back to Peter.

After they ate…There is a lot of hope in that reality right there…after they ate…Peter didn’t have to fix it, or perform, or do anything other than realize Jesus is welcoming him around the fire for community…

After they ate - Peter and Jesus have this really cool moment together.

Jesus asks Peter

John 21:15 (CSB) …“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

Do you love me more than your brothers, or fishing, or whatever Jesus pointed to when he said “These”

Peter Do you love me more than Your Pride, Your arrogance, your Machismo

Peter do you love me more than even your closest friends

Peter do you love me deeper than your own desires, your own purpose, your own talents and skill.

Peter do you love me more than your concerns, your questions, your doubts, your cynicism?

John 21:15 (CSB) …“Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him.

Jesus is going to ask Peter two more times…Do YOU LOVE ME - using both Agape and Phileo - Two meaningful Greek words for love. they are somewhat interchangeable in John’s Gospel - The combination does carry a weight of love - a deeply affectionate familial bonded kind of love.

Like I choose you as family kind of love, I love you like a wife loves her husband, and a husband his wife kind of love.

And each time Jesus asks He answers “you know that I do.” and each time Jesus says

Feed my Lambs, Shepherd my Sheep, Feed my Sheep, and Follow Me

Paraphrased - but that is how Jesus responded to Peters answer.

3 times…How many times did Peter deny Jesus the night Jesus was arrested…yup 3

Here’s what I hope you discover…

Jesus’ ressurection reconciles and reinstates Peter’s kingdom purpose

The story is coming full circle - Jesus Called Peter from the shores when he first called him to follow and told him to fish for people- Jesus called Peter onto the water from the boat in the middle of a storm - Jesus calls Peter again to get out of the boat and onto the Road. Fully Restored to be on mission.

Here is what’s wild -

Jesus didn’t ask Peter about his past, or to explain why he failed. Jesus didn’t ask Peter to prove anything…

He Just Asked one Question

“Do you love ME” ~ Jesus

Jesus is asking you the same thing.

Not did you grow up in church? Not - Did you fix your mistakes Not - Did you get your life cleaned up Not - What did you call me?

NOPE right now…today…Jesus is just asking

DO YOU LOVE ME?

I think someone needs to hear this today…

When you get to the shoreline and readily profess your love for Jesus! The same thing Jesus did for Peter he will do for you.

Jesus’ Ressurection gives you FORGIVENESS and PURPOSE

You - yes you - yup all of you

Because of EASTER -

You are not ignored - You are Loved You are not guilty - You are Forgiven You are not disqualified - You are given PURPOSE

Jesus’ Life, Death, and Ressurection proves His love for you. His restoration of Peter’s purpose is enough evidence to say no matter what you have done…

You know I told you the story about a road trip to California from Kansas. During that road trip I did not know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I was all about living for myself and doing life my way.

In fact, I spent years rejecting Jesus, arguing against Jesus, and debating Christians.

But God never gave up on me…It was on a roadtrip home from KS after my dads funeral that was my shoreline moment.

I knew about Jesus, about a year earlier I started to investigate the faith seriously, but it was on that roadtrip home that I felt liek God asked me the same question he asked Peter. The same question He s asking you…Do you love me?

I will never forget it. Not did you change your mind, or did you fix your life yet, nope Do you love me?

I said Yes Lord -

I have not looked back since. In that moment, my past didn’t matter.

Today, your past doesn’t have to matter either.

Right now I want to talk to those of you who have not said “I Love You Lord” - to Jesus

You know about him, but you haven’t been sure.

Or maybe this is all new and you are just realizing Jesus is real.

Some of you have been running away - maybe even for years.

Some of you chasing distraction and coming up empty

Some of you - well you just don’t think you even belong here.

BUT BUT - I am telling you Jesus is on the Shoreline calling out to you…

So what are you going to do?

Jesus is asking you - Do you Love Me?

In a moment I going to ask you to respond…

Maybe you realize you are missing out on forgiveness and purpose. Maybe you can relate to Peter, and today is the day you finally realize that you too can run to the shoreline and sit with Jesus. You realize you have a purpose, Jesus has given you forgiveness and purpose, and today you are ready to say

Yes, You Know I love you Lord. In a moment I am going to ask you to be courageous. To jump out of the boat and run to the shore like Peter in front of your friends and family. No I am not going to ask you to run to the front - although that would be awesome if you just decided to do that.

In a moment I am going to ask you to simply raise your hand - if you are ready today for the first time to say

YES JESUS I LOVE YOU LORD

Prayer…Moment