Easter 3C

3rd Sunday of Easter, Year C

In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Brothers and sisters in Christ: grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed; alleluia!

There is much we could and should talk about from today’s readings. The conversion of Paul is a truly remarkable and important story in the New Testament; but this morning, I’d like us to focus on the Gospel reading from John.

As the chapter begins, we find that Peter has returned to his old profession, at least for this one night. Since the resurrection, as John recalls it, Peter has seen the empty tomb and the little hints to be found there that it was not a grave robbery, but Jesus had, in fact, risen from the dead. He then heard the witness of Mary Magdalene who was the first to see the risen Jesus on that first Easter morning. And then that very evening, Jesus came to be among the disciples behind the locked doors and revealed himself to them. He repeated this one week later for Thomas’ benefit…to help him with his unbelief. In view of these appearances, it should have been clear to Peter that Jesus had done what he said he would do - conquer death and the grave, and rise again.

Jesus’ resurrection makes people uncomfortable. You either believe it, or you don’t. It’s very polarizing. Those in our society today who don’t believe it often mock it. That’s the “Zombie Jesus” I mentioned last week. They toss that title around to show not only their unbelief, but their disgust at anyone who would actually believe that Jesus did rise from the dead. They cannot accept that what Jesus did by rising from the dead validates him completely. It makes him to be exactly who he says he is: the Son of God, the Savior, the Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. If all of this is true, then they have been wrong. Obviously, they cannot admit that, so instead, they mock him.

But Jesus’ resurrection makes even Christians uncomfortable. Because if his resurrection is true, then so are all of his teachings. Apparently, we really *are* going to have to love our neighbor as ourselves. We really *are* going to have to forgive those who sin against us, so that God will forgive our sins as well. We really *are* going to have to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. Much of what Jesus taught made people uneasy, because what he taught was definitely not easy, even when it was simple.

So it’s no wonder that Peter returned to fishing…even if it was just for that night. First of all, it was his livelihood, as well as his brother’s and James and John - they had all been fishermen before this Jesus guy came around. They had left it all behind to follow the Nazarene craftsman. And maybe they just missed doing what they knew. There’s definitely comfort in the familiar. But Jesus did not call them to be comfortable. He called them to follow him, and it was unfamiliar, and uncomfortable, and it was going to be difficult. But it was going to be blessed, and it was going to be rewarding.

For Peter, the arrest and crucifixion of his Master must have been a crushing blow to his ambitions. To see the One in whom they had all placed their hope die such a horrible death must have felt like a tremendous failure. I can imagine another reason why Peter might have gone back to his old work: maybe he just needed to know that he could still do something… that he could still enjoy a success. He could go spend a night fishing, catch a small bunch of fish, and have something to eat and feed his friends, and some to give to his family…to sell or to eat. It would have been a small success, but it would have been a nice change from the massive failure he had just felt. But in doing this, Peter is going back to relying on what he knew before he knew Christ. He is relying on his own skills and talents and knowledge; he is not doing this out of faith. He is doing this out of fear…which is the very opposite of faith. Jesus did not call him to avoid fear. He called Peter to lean on Jesus and to trust him in the midst of things that are scary…but to do them despite their scariness. He was calling Peter to follow him, and it was scary. But it was going to be blessed, and it was going to be rewarding.

In addition to the failure that Peter was feeling, he was clearly also dealing with his own personal shame. He had boldly declared that he would “lay down his life for [Jesus]” (John 13:37) but instead he had publicly denied even knowing him. And not just once, but three times. And Jesus told him it would happen. Jesus KNEW. And Peter had done it just to save his own skin… and the full weight of his own personal failure hit him full-on when the rooster crowed that next morning.

By the time we get to the scene in today’s reading, Peter has had a couple of weeks to dwell on this guilt. By now, he must not feel worthy to do what he had been appointed by Jesus to do. He likely doesn’t even feel worthy to follow Jesus, let alone be the Rock upon which Christ would build his Church. His guilt must have been weighing heavily upon his heart. But at the very least, he has done what Jesus had commanded after his Resurrection according to both Matthew and Mark: he instructed them to meet him in Galilee. The Sea of Tiberias (the Sea of Galilee) is where they were from. They were fishermen, and that is where they fished.

Scholars tell us that for them, night time was the best time for fishing. Again, a good catch would have been a welcome boon to their time spent waiting for their Lord to give them some instructions. John doesn’t tell us why they don’t recognize him on the shore. It might be just that he was too far away, and the sun wasn’t fully up yet. We simply don’t know.

Jesus asks about their catch…but we know that he was well aware that they hadn’t caught anything. He wasn’t asking for information. He wanted them to say out loud that they had nothing so that he could tell them exactly what to do. [Lenski, 1405.] At this point, they only heard what they thought was a stranger speaking to them. It’s fairly strange that these professional fishermen would let a stranger tell them how to fish, and they would just follow his orders. To them, he might know nothing about their business. But the Risen Jesus speaks with such authority that even though they don’t recognize him, something inside compels them to obey. (That’s the Holy Spirit!) And the miracle he brings them is instantaneous. Their faithful obedience is rewarded.

Now we get to see the old Peter - the jump-before-looking apostle. The miracle of the catch opens his eyes, and Peter just abandons everything, boat, friends, fish, and runs straight to Jesus. (Ibid.) He cannot get to Jesus fast enough. He’s not leading the other apostles; he’s acting on his own. He’s leaving the others to act on their own impulses. Each one would have reacted in their own ways…just as we do. Like them, we’re always going to find such differences - Christ’s disciples are really complements to each other [Ibid.]; that’s the beauty of the differences God put into each of us.

So Jesus feeds them. He has prepared a meal for them, and he invites them to bring a part of the catch. John is quick to point out Peter’s obedience here. He does what Jesus wanted done. And once the fish are put away, the disciples are able to rest and eat. Now listen to how my favorite scholar describes this scene: “The entire appearance of Jesus on this occasion is remarkable in that no word is uttered regarding himself and none regarding the relation of the disciples to him. From beginning to end everything is action, and every word spoken by Jesus pertains only to the action, omitting to add even the slightest reason for, or explanation of, the action. The disciples longed for more, especially for some word from Jesus that it was indeed he. But none of them ventured to make investigation… something held them back. They did not feel bold and free to speak as under other circumstances in their former familiar intercourse they would have done without hesitation.

The reason for this reverent timidity is given: ‘since they knew that it was the Lord.’” [Lenski, 1411.]

“When Jesus first called the two pairs of brothers to be ‘fishers of men’ he taught them by means of a miracle that their success was absolutely sure if they would obey his command and rely only upon his Word, no matter what their own skill and reason might advise, or how foolish they might appear to the multitude. All night long, fishing in the best places, with their own best skill, they had caught nothing. But, as Peter put it, ‘casting the net at thy word,’ now at the worst time in the middle of the day, in the worst place out in the deep of the lake, under the worst circumstances with a critical crowd looking on from the shore, their net had been filled miraculously by the Lord even to breaking, and they had to call for help to bring in the catch.” [Lenski, 1415.]

Did you catch that? “Their success was absolutely sure if they would obey his command and rely only upon his Word, no matter what their own skill and reason might advise, or how foolish they might appear to the multitude.” This is the advice of the Gospel narrative to all who participate in the Missio Dei - the mission of God. If we listen to the world, the world will tell us we can’t do it, or it’s not practical, or there’s not enough support, or… you get the picture. If God wants a thing done, God will make sure it gets done.

What happened to these professional fishermen, who KNEW what they were doing, when they relied only upon themselves? “Again, a night of fruitless labor—human effort alone is nothing. Again the Lord’s Word, and the net is filled. Only on the other side of the boat, which the experience of fishermen and all human wisdom would say amounts to nothing, and yet the net is filled. The Lord’s Word and his promise filled it, these and nothing else… What the Lord revealed in the day of his humiliation he now corroborates in the day of his glorification.” [Lenski, 1415–1416.]

So now we see why John has written this chapter after his conclusion in Chapter 20. This is a supplement to the rest of his Gospel account. The purpose of John’s Gospel is to bring about faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. But “the purpose of the appearance of Jesus to the seven beside the lake is far narrower, namely to establish them in the specific apostolic work to which they were called.” [Ibid., 1416]

What follows is the restoration of Peter, which we’ll save for another time. But remember this: Jesus knew that Peter had denied him three times, so he gave him the opportunity to confess three times, and to forgive him and absolve him three times, in public. And notice that Jesus reinstates him to his office. He puts Peter back in charge of caring for the flock. And Peter was fed at Jesus’ table, just like the other apostles who were with him. Jesus treats him as he does all of them - even Thomas, who had been brought from unbelief to belief. Peter is fully reinstated.

What it means to each of us when we hear Jesus say “follow me” is something that will be different for everyone who hears it. And rightfully so. We are all different individuals with different gifts and different callings. But in our Baptism, we *are* all called to follow him. What that means for each of you is going to be different, and it may take time to discern, if you don’t already know. If you do know, please remember that sometimes your calling can change. Please be open to that. And deep down, I know that some Christians often don’t feel worthy to follow Jesus, because of something they’ve done or something they are doing. This story about Peter sets the record straight. If it was about worth, no one could follow Jesus. He calls even though we’re NOT worthy.

As a congregation, we also have a collective calling. What does it mean for us to follow Jesus together? That is something we must discern together. There are things we are already doing…and those are good things. And our discernment should always include what we’re already doing. Should we still be doing it? Are we doing it enough? Or are we doing it too much?

But we also should discern if there is something we aren’t doing yet that we should be doing. What might that be? As the world around us changes, is there anything we need to do to adjust? Are our neighbors’ needs changing, and are we resourced to help them in their needs, as we follow Jesus command that we “love our neighbor as ourselves?” This is not unique to this year. This is part of the life of faith of any Christian church. What is God calling us to be and to do?

It is my hope and prayer that in the weeks and months ahead, we will have the opportunity to consider a variety of different things that we might do as part of our calling as a congregation. We must all discern this together and through prayer and discussion, seek the path that God is calling us to. I invite you to add this to your personal prayers as we walk this journey together. And wherever God leads us, I pray that it will help us to grow in faith and love both for him and for our neighbors. This is, after all, His ultimate goal. That is a goal I think we are all happy to work toward.

In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.