Not Back To Where Things Were...

What a week it’s been. Seriously. People are getting genuinely upset at what all has happened. There are conflicting reports to what is going on and...

Oh, you might think I’m talking about the COVID 19 but I’m talking about the week after the resurrection. OR

you might be thinking I’m talking about the week after the resurrection but I’m talking about COVID 19.

The truth is the Scriptures are very pertinent to what we are dealing with today and everyday. As we look through todays text, I want you to pay close attention to three things.

What it says about the disciples.

What it says about us.

What it says about God.

As we always do, before we get to Scripture, lets take a deep breath, pause, and ask God to reveal to us the Message as our hearts are opened today.

Let’s pray:

Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as the Scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen

Our Scripture this mornings comes from the Gospel of John 21:1-17, here this reading from God’s Holy Word:

John 21:1–17 ESV

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 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. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on 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 of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out 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, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 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.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved 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.

This is a reading of God’s Word from The Gospel according to John.

Thanks be to God.

Reflect on Where We’ve Been

For a moment let’s imagine the journey that the disciples have been on. Entering Jerusalem as a King they thought, this is the Messiah. They gather for the passover, but Jesus washes their feet - something very much beneath the dignity of a teacher. They celebrate the passover and the disciples are thinking, this is the Messiah and Jesus doesn’t speak of triumph or victory but of his betrayal and the scattering of his disciples and his death.

They’re confused. They go to a garden to pray and the teacher they’ve followed for 3 years is arrested, they all flee. Their teacher is tried and sentenced to die. And then, he’s dead.

That was last week.

This week, on the first day of the week they are told by Mary Magdalene the tomb is empty! Peter and John check it out and then just go home. Then, Jesus appeared to the disciples that evenings when they were in a locked room for fear of the Jews.

A second time Jesus appears to them and reveals himself to Thomas who proclaims, “My Lord and My God!”

Jesus is ALIVE! Hallelujah! Jesus is ALIVE!

Everything Is Different!

Everything is different! Right?

I mean, come on, Jesus is alive, they thought he was dead, but no he’s alive!

They’ve seen him.

They’ve touched him.

They’ve heard him.

Surely this would change them to the core of their being! There is no turning back. They are emboldened and empowered to go and shout His name from the mountain tops!!!

So Peter says...

“I am going fishing.”

Of course.. and that’s just what…wait, what? “You’re going fishing?” we want to shout with incredulity. You’re gonna what?

Of course that’s what the disciples thought too, right?

Look at v. 3

John 21:3 ESV

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.

Whose they?

We know there’s Peter, and there’s Thomas, Nathanael, James, John, and two others. In other words 7 of the 11 remaining inner circle of Jesus decide that despite everything that has happened over the past week or so that changes everything, they seem to be going back to exactly as things had been when Jesus first found them.

Matthew 4:18 ESV

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

Has nothing that has happened in the past 3 years changed them?

Let’s just focus on Peter, here’s a brief synopsis of Peter’s experience with Jesus:

He’s walked on the water with Jesus. (Mt 14:22-33).

He’s seen the Lord transfigured. (Matthew 17:2)

He’s the one who pronounced Jesus as the Christ, the son of the Living God! (Matthew 16:16).

He’s been told that upon this Rock I will build my church. (Matthew 16:18).

He was among the few invited to pray with Jesus in the garden. (Mt 26:37).

He’s the one who swore “though they all fall away, I will never fall away…I will not deny you!” (Matthew 26:33, 35)

This is Peter - Peter, the ROCK, the great leader of the early church.

Well....Yes, ....but not yet.

This is Peter to whom Jesus responded, “Peter, before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.” (Matthew 26:34).

And of course we know, he did.

Perhaps that’s why Peter wanted to get back to “Normal”. Yes, it’s been three years full of miracles, bold teaching, the lame walking, the blind seeing, meals being provided for thousands out of a few loaves and some fish, walking on water, the dead being raised...

But it’s over. That’s done. Peter when it counted most…failed.

Back to Normal

So Peter goes back to his normal; he goes back to fishing. As do 6 of the other disciples.

Can you really go back? Can you ever pretend that your life experiences haven’t changed you? I guess you can pretend...

For the past 6 weeks our church building’s doors have been closed. We’ve been sheltering in our homes. We’ve been social or as I prefer to call it “physical” distancing. We’ve avoided close contact with our grandchildren, and perhaps our elderly parents. We’ve avoided crowds. We’ve only gone shopping when we REALLY needed to.

We’re tending to buy things we need rather than the latest fun gadgets.

We’re coming to realize what things are important:

Family and Friends, our health, our communities health

And what things aren’t so important:

Working 60+ hours / week to buy more toys.

We’re learning there is value in time to think, time to pray, time to reflect, time to rest. Things that we may have given less thought to in the past.

We’re relearning old ways to connect with people - we can actually use our cell phones to call people rather than just texting, emailing, or posting on social media.

We’re writing more cards and letters than we have in the past.

We’re more aware of those who are alone during this time, and we’re finding ways to stay connected with them.

And yet, we hear people saying, “when things get back to normal.”

Not Normal…

Or At Least Not the Same

Could it be that we’re changed?

Could it be that we’re changed for the better?

Could it be that this was a wake up call for all of us?

…to understand what it means to go without.

…to understand the blessing of friends and family.

…to understand the value of the work we do.

…to better set our priorities.

…to find new ways to connect and share our lives.

We have an opportunity as we move forward in the midst of this crisis.

What is our opportunity?

What Opportunities?

Peter struggled after his denial of Jesus.

In front of all the other disciples so that they heard him, he had declared he would never fall away or deny Jesus. They had all agreed. And yet…they ALL had deserted Jesus. Even after his death they weren’t found carrying on the ministry they’d been doing while Jesus was alive, they were cowering behind locked doors in fear.

Even 8 days later they are behind locked doors again.

And Peter has a little talk with Jesus.

John 21:15 ESV

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.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

John 21:16 ESV

He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

John 21:17 ESV

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved 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.

Three times Peter denies knowing Jesus before he was crucified.

I don’t know him, I don’t know him, I don’t know him.

Three times the resurrected Christ asks Peter if he loves him.

Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?

Three times Peter affirms his love for Jesus.

Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.

Yes Lord; you know that I love you.

Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Three times Jesus tells Peter what to do:

Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.

It’s just a few pages in our Bibles from where we’re at in the Gospel of John to the 2 chapter of Acts boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost.

The Light of the World

The cloud of this crisis has cast a shadow over so many.

I tried to make a run to the store yesterday and I saw it in people’s eyes. They’re anxious. They’re worried -

Is this 6 feet?

Am I safe here?

Should I wear a mask?

If I buy toilet paper will I be accused of hoarding?

Then there’s the more subtle fears...

How long is this going to go on?

I’ve been without pay for 5 weeks…now what?

Will my job be there when this is over?

And yet Jesus refers to himself as the light of the World. Better yet, he refers to us as the light of the world in Matthew 5:14.

It Comes Down to...

It all comes down to two simple words spoken by Jesus in his first encounter with Peter (Mt 4:19), and in this final encounter with him.

John 21:19 ESV

(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

That’s It.

Jesus said, “Follow Me.”

“Follow me” - the first thing Jesus said to Peter and the last thing he said to him. It wasn’t about how Peter denied him. It wasn’t about how Peter had walked on water or seen the transfiguration. It was about is Peter following Jesus.

Are we doing the things that Jesus did? When the church is meeting it’s easy to say “we are” because others are. Now it’s down to the individual. Are YOU shining the light of Christ as you Follow Jesus? Are you?

If we are feeding the poor, binding the wounded, giving water to the thirsty, and caring for the least of these - feeding his lambs, tending his sheep, and feeding his sheep, we too will know the love of God.

We’re not going back to the old normal, we will continue to press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has already taken hold of us. (Philippians 3:12).

We will conquer this because of God at work within us. Not even this can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39).

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Let’s pray:

Go out into the world in peace; have courage;

hold onto what is good; return no one evil for evil; support the weak;

help the suffering;

honor all people;

love and serve the Lord,

rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen .