Clarified Faith

A scripture reading this morning comes from John, chapter 21, John chapter 21, the whole chapter. If you are able to stand, encourage you to do this, as we read God's word together. If you are not able that is also fine. But we want to stand in in in honor of God's word is. So we will read this together.

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'm going fishing, they said to him, we will go with you. They went out and got into it with the boat, but that night, they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking Jesus. Stood on the shore of 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 cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. So they cast it. And now they were able, they were not able to haul it in because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved Air Force said to Peter 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 go out of tonsil, 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 signing. Peter went aboard and hauled the net Shore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many internet was not torn, Jesus said to them, and have breakfast. Now, none of the disciples dared. Ask him who are you? They knew it was the Lord, Jesus came back 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'd 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. You said to him tend my sheep. Because you want a 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 don't everything. You know that I love you. Jesus said to him feed my sheep truly, truly, I say to you, when you are were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and carry you, where you do not want to go this. He said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God. They're saying that she said to him, follow me. Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. The one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and said, Lord, who is it that it's going to betray you. When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus Lord. What about this man? Jesus said to him if it is my will that he remain until I come. What is that to you? You follow me. So the saying spread abroad among the brother is that this disciple was not to dye, your Jesus did not say to him that he was going to die, but if it is, my will that he remain until I come. What is that to you? This is the disciple, who is bearing witness about these things and who is written these things? And we know that his testimony is true. Also many other things that Jesus did where every one of them to be written. I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. This is the word of the Lord. Please be seated.

I grew up in a time before smartphones existed, as both device dead. And there was a time before the smart devices and screens that we have, where we enjoy pictures in a different way, didn't we?

We open these books and that had very thick Pages because they were they were tacky. And you and in somebody lovingly placed very selected pictures into the photo albums. Remember as a child looking at them and you you view page through and you it jogs your memory and Nae even Beyond where your memory goes and there's some particular pictures real. I don't remember it. Quite that Waits and there's some pictures. I recall that we're completely blurry and completely fuzzy and no one likes a fuzzy picture. In fact, I don't think anyone really keeps those pictures. You don't keep blurry pictures of yourself that you would, you would get them and use all this was clearly, not what we intended to capture will throw it away because of blurry picture isn't helpful.

Jesus understands that blurry pictures are not helpful in in determining a safe course for life. And so we see in this last of the Resurrection accounts and appearances that we read about in John. We see that it. We says here at the beginning of our texts that Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of tiberias and he revealed himself in this way. And then later on top of the stalking and description that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples, this is the idea of making something clear, when you reveal something, it becomes clear.

So that you can understand so that you can better identify so they can work better for you in, in some way this is what Jesus is aiming to do in the resurrection. Now initially, he's just trying to impress on the disciples. Look, I am in fact alive. This is actually me. But what you see in this particular revealing of Jesus, is there some more work that needs to be done? Greater formation that has to take place. Because we remember what the the purpose of this book that John writes about that, these are written that you would believe that Jesus is the Christ that by believing you have life in his name and sometimes we get to the believing parts. Have a hard time though with the Life part so I can believe well enough but it doesn't take much. It doesn't take much for that face to get a little blurry.

Circumstances of your life going into a place that maybe you didn't intend to. I didn't plan for this and I believe in Jesus, but it seems a bit fuzzy as a result.

People in your life. Disappointing you Hurting you. I said, how could they do that? Or how could this happen, or horor? I thought they were better or, or, or whatever. The case is orenda. I thought the relationship was different and it hurts. And it's and you say, well, I believe in Jesus. But why is this happening? It creates a bit of blurriness.

Habits that you do day over day over day. Week-over-week month-over-month begin to ring a little empty. And like, why am I doing this again?

Why am I here again? Cuz it really doesn't.

Doesn't feel very clear as to why even the Pursuits of your life being shifting and uncertain. Circumstances like the pandemic where you like I don't even exist is all filled. How can we have faith when everything just seems like? It's not, it's not clear. And what Jesus dies in this instance, here is provide for his disciples some clarity within their faith. That the Risen Christ shows up and provides an offers Clarity within there within their faith and it isn't continuing in their faith that they, they need to progress and they need to do this. But if you have to say how how does this happen How does the the revealing of the Risen Christ than clarify, our faith in him?

How does the reveal Christ reveal? Clarify our faith in him.

For the disciples are gathered, seven of them, not the whole company but seven of them.

Peter says, I'm going to go fish. Sure, let's go. Let's go. Fish already from the outset, a lot of commentators, a lot of Scholars all you see what's happening with the disciples. We sometimes you're more clever than we then we we think to believe all the disciples are doing this Peter's doing this because he doesn't know what to make of the Resurrection. He still processing, he's got internal angst, he's got you know he's he's working things out and the other disciples are with him and ours are sorrowful or they're sad or or even that they're turning away from the faith and then someone finally comes long as his maybe they're just hungry. Maybe it's what the fish cuz they're ungrateful. Maybe it's cuz that's the way they make a living that there are from some very practical matters that need to be attended to, and

persons got to eat.

What commentator says, it's such kinds of remarks where you are speaking about slipping, back into the role of the fishermen aimless activity in desperation. In light of the Resurrection, such remarks amounts to a psychoanalyzing of people in a story that is outside of the text.

We don't get that motivation is just simply I'm going to go fish.

And it's in the midst of the very basic rhythms of life that Jesus appears on the scene, he appears on the shore. And He's recognizing. And then they listen to a minute. And there's a miraculous catch of fish in, it would be reminiscent to what Jesus has done earlier in some of these disciples lives with the miraculous catch of fish. And as soon as John disciple, whom Jesus loved that, we understand that is John John, the Evangelist was the author of this book.

Peter gets wind of it and he talks in his robe in and swim. Hastily for sure. He has to see him. And what we, what we see then is that how the Risen Christ clarifies our faith, he confirms his own presents to the disciples Even in the everyday, even in the specific things where it's like I have to eat, I have there is a confirming presence of Jesus. In everyday auction.

It's not hard to forget the Risen Christ in our daily activities. I knew that we've got errands to run and responsibilities to maintain kids to school businesses to run the season right now for the farmers. That's the High Time Field got to get in and there's other stuff to do that. Every everything is is busy. And in the midst of the busyness, in the midst of the bustle, there is a confirming presence of the Risen Christ. He remains with you,

even shaping those everyday practices. We read this this nice reacquaintance, the scene on the shore where they, they just simply spend time and saw the Risen Christ. Clarifies. Our faith by confirming, his own presence in our lives, so that we don't forget him.

We're not nebulously spiritual people, we have a specific object of our faith and that is Jesus Christ.

The Risen Christ confirms his presence in our lives.

So you have this delightful scene of reconnection.

This is when they finish breakfast in Jesus says to sign Peter. Presumably

There's a bit of question here but presumably, they went for a bit of a stroll together, but there's some some commentators that thinks the Jesus having this conversation in full view of everyone around the fire here, around the breakfast table as at work. And

Jesus asks, Peter Simon. Son of John, do you love me more than these? What what these more than the more than the breakfast more than the fish. More than that? The successful catch that was just done more than the boats in the making the living more than more than once. Exactly. While I think it's in relationship to the rest of the disciples.

Never had someone throw your own words back at you. It's a it's a little galling. Sometimes it's done with the best of intentions sometimes. It's not, but Jesus, here is recalling up a bit worth around again around the table right before he was to be betrayed. Peter says, I'm going to go with you all the way to the end. I'll die with you. And Jesus says, you know, Simon, you're going to deny me.

You won't just deny me, but three times over, you will emphatically deny, that you even know me and Peter can't even wrap his head around it.

I'm sure it's with a small. Small bit of cheek that Jesus says so Peter Simon. You love me more than than the rest of these guys?

He asked three times.

and I believe that many of us have read this before and understand the implication that when you read about the denial of the Peter three times over, I don't know him to the point where, at the very last moment, he's like, ice ice, we're using curses to say, I don't know this man that your your dragon before this kangaroo court

Three times. Do you love me?

What commentator says a mere glance of the text tells the reader, the reason that Peter experiences a major on doing about his self-assertiveness because Jesus asked him the third time about his love the third time did it. Imagine again this scene is the Evangelist frames at a charcoal fire. Three questions about Peter's relationship to Jesus. It hardly takes a genius to relate this event to that of the denial. And facing up to oneself is a traumatic experience.

There's a sense that Jesus is going to question us as well about our love for him.

when we turn inward lie to ourselves for our own motivations, let me just send against him. We deny him with our words and actions similar to Peter and I believe it's appropriate that every single turn at every single decision had every single moment of Our Lives. When we we say, I want it my way.

I don't, I don't know Jesus. I'm not associated with him. Every single time we do that, it's appropriate for Jesus to press the question into our life. Do you love me?

It will grieve us. It should grieve us. It should cut us to the heart and it should do. So, as a way of of, of undermining our own, Her own sense of self.

The Risen Christ, clarifies, our faith, by reaffirming our commitment to him, leading us into a reaffirms commitment that each day, so that we're not so self-assured.

Not so self-confidence not so not so absolutely certain. Well, ask me not doing this a long time now. This Christian thing, this following Jesus thinks I've done it for so long is simply second nature. When in fact, if we're honest with ourselves at almost every single day, we have to answer the same question. Do I genuinely love Jesus

All Peter can do is. defer, back into the nozzle he said, Lord, you, you know, You know that I love you and yet, you know how I failed you.

The Risen Christ clarifies, our faith by a reaffirms commitment to him, so that we have to rely on him.

It Grieves us but not sexual is such a way as to utterly destroy as it Grieves us, so that we can come to grips with ourselves and rely most deeply and holy on him. Remembering our faith has an object, we're not just nebulously spiritual people.

And we don't operate in and of ourselves.

But Jesus presses into us and says, I want you, I want to know that you love me.

And so with this, with this affirm horn, do you know everything, you know that I love you at every single turn Jesus replies with a with a similar comment. I want you to feed my sheep, tend my Lambs, feed my sheep.

But the Risen Christ after confirming his presence in our lives, at that comforting warm presence even in the everyday, and after this reaffirming of our commitment to him, he sharpens our own purposes for our lives.

Feed my sheep. care for them, instruct them feed them in in in the word that I have provided in that I have given

It sometimes said about this text that this is the re institution of Peter that after his denial and and even as he's a bit unsure of now what and light of the resurrection of Jesus saying there's work for you to do, there is purpose for you to fulfill and I want you to do these specific things. I want you to feed my sheep and 10 my Lambs.

And so we read in 1st Peter 5 how it is Peter Zone, the words that he himself is talking about when he encourages others to do the same thing. to Shepherd the flock of God among you exercising, oversight, and doing so willingly, and end doing so eagerly, not under compulsion and and not for shameful game and not to domineer, but to be examples of the flock and that everyone involved Both the, the shepherd and the flock is designed to exercise and be clothed in humility.

That's what Jesus sharpen. The purpose of Peter in sankt. Feed my sheep 10, my Lambs care for the people that I will lead into your life.

And I think true to form weed.

We've been given something and it doesn't take long for us to look around us and say what? We'll wait a minute. What about what about them? Cuz it's exactly Peter turns and sees the disciple that Jesus loved. He was, he was kind of following along may be in earshot or something. That will what about him? And Jesus answer is pretty matter-of-fact. You know, what if I If he if I want him to stay alive until the very end of time when I return back, what's that to you? What is it to you? What other people are doing. And this is so often especially now if it is as the cop out of our particular cultural I can't I mean look at the way they're acting look at the way they're acting. What about this person? What about it doesn't matter? Jesus has given to each of everyone of us a specific purpose to do to fulfill To Go Make Disciples. Teaching them to obey everything that he's commanded them to. And then he said, look, I'm with you always to the very end of the age helping people to experience the the presence of Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter about this person or that person. It is as Jesus says here, if it's his will that he could work something in them, what is that to you?

He says, You Follow Me.

You follow me.

So, as many ways work, we're doing this together as a community as a group button in all so many ways, this is very specific and very, very individual.

The Risen Christ, clarifies, our faith by sharpening our purpose, so that we work with him. The face of an old working that has to be expressed. Clear face clarified. Faith keeps his focus on the Risen Christ.

I saw the circumstances you didn't intend in the people who disappoint you in the habits, that feel empty, the Pursuits that are shifting and uncertain, they become much clearer when you focus on the Risen Christ,

To say I the habits of my I'll discipline myself for the purpose of a prayer to dedicate myself in and look to him and look to his word and how can I how can I continue working this out so that I can show and demonstrates that I love him and that I follow him.

The people in your life that disappoint or frustrate you or or make things difficult for you and it is a people are not the Lord and and they are not to be held in a higher regard for others. The inevitability of the failures of people will come. But the Risen Christ, helps us temper that relationship seeing that. Oh, they're working things out. Same as same as me. The Pursuits of my life that I'm moving to a future by moving to a future Beyond. Even my the very, the very death that I will die because I have hope in the Risen Christ that he's the first fruits of that, which is to come.

Looks like Reggie today, do not settle for a blurryface.

Focus on the Risen Christ, recognizing his continuing presence in your life. Even in those everyday actions, reaffirm your love for him. Each day, each moment and realize he's greater purpose for your life and that he's working to to help you accomplish that Look to Him, believe Have life in his name. Let's pray together.

For Jesus, we are so grateful.

did you are alive and yet that as we keep our eyes on you,

The other elements of our life's just fade out of focus that we stay remain our eyes fixed on you.

Jesus. You are the only hope that we have in this life and in the life to come. And so may we use these words as a way to believe in you and then have a life that is in you.

And as we celebrate the Lord's table. Now, father How to celebrate, you are the provision of your son to save us.

We love you and pray this. In your name Jesus. Amen.

We want to enjoy the blessing of communion.