Christ Walk
Third Sunday of Easter
John 21:1-19
Today we continue on our Easter walk with Christ.
After everything that has happened with the crucifixion, death, resurrection, and the previous surprise appearances of Jesus with the disciples, I wonder is Peter reaching back for some sort of normalcy as we often do when we have been traumatized.
I suspect that in the boat all night, they recall the early days before Jesus came on the scene when they were catching nothing. I’m sure they are recalling how it was when Jesus filled their boats after telling them where to cast their nets.
I would imagine there was a somber mood, a longing for the “good ole’ days,” when Jesus was there to assure their bountiful supply of fish.
Jesus approaches the disciples in the quiet of the day. He observes them from the shoreline. Most likely, he has been there for some time watching them. Listening to them.
As is the case with Jesus, he comes to us when we are drifting. When we are in need of many securities that life doesn’t offer without him.
The disciples are laboring, but with nothing to show for their labor, until Jesus speaks. Until Jesus leads them with instruction to the required action needed to bring in the fish, they are exhausting themselves with no positive outcome.
It is in the quiet daybreak that Jesus appears to them for the third time. Once again they do not recognize him, until the fish are hauled in with the now heavy nets after Jesus has instructed them where to cast their nets.
John, believed to be the Beloved disciple, says to Peter, “It is the Lord!”
Peter, we are told, puts on clothes and jumps into the water and swims to shore.
None of the disciples want to ask Jesus who he is because they are embarrassed that they did not at first recognize Jesus.
As they approach Jesus on the shore, they find he has already prepared a fire with bread and fish cooking. Jesus asks for additional fish from their catch, and he prepares and serves them.
Notice in this story, it is Jesus who provides, prepares and serves the nourishment that the disciples required.
There is a lot in this story, and we are reminded that we should always be prepared to be in the presence of our Lord.
First, unlike Peter, we need to be clothed and ready to receive him.
Second, unlike the rest of the disciples, we need to be aware enough or in touch enough in our relationship with Jesus that we do not lose sight of him, and that we are able to recognize him when he arrives on the scene to direct us to our mission.
Third, it seems that there is a contrast between the Beloved disciple who recognizes Jesus, as he is more aware of the presence of Jesus than Peter who finds himself naked and ashamed as he jumps into the water unprepared to meet Jesus; however, it is Peter who enthusiastically runs to meet Jesus, or in this case swims to greet him at the shoreline. He does not run from him or hide as did Adam and Eve in their nakedness when confronted by God.
John may have been the first to recognize Jesus, but Peter is the first to come to him.
Both of these men recognize Jesus through faith, one through authentication and one through action. Both are examples of our one true faith.
In our Christ walk, we are required to have eyes that see Jesus, and we are required to be prayerfully ready; clothed and prepared to come to him for whatever action is required of us by him.
This brings us to our last verses of this scripture, feeding Jesus’ sheep.
Peter denies Jesus three times upon his arrest, and here, Jesus questions Peter three times as to whether he loves him.
In his frustration for Jesus to understand his love for him, Peter pleads after the third question his love for Jesus, and goes a step further to state, “Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you.”
Is it possible that after Peter’s denial of Jesus on the day of his arrest, was Jesus getting reassurance from Peter that Jesus was indeed the Son of Man, the God of all-knowing? Or did he want Peter to truly recognize it and say it out loud so Peter could hear his own words attest to it? Maybe it’s both.
Jesus is calling Peter into leadership to go and feed his sheep, because Jesus knows he is about to leave them, and when he does, the disciples will be called upon to do the work of Jesus on earth, to continue the gospel that is love and care of his sheep.
Jesus ends with the call of the Christ walk, “Follow me.”
We are all called to follow Jesus. To feed his sheep, and to love and care for his sheep. It is in the loving and the caring that Jesus is revealed to those we help.
This story shows us the darkness of hunger, the inability to see and recognize our Christ, and the darkness of our denial whenever we are called upon by Christ to have faith.
However, the beautiful revelation of this story is that it also gives cause to celebrate that this darkness has been overcome by the light. Christ is risen and still calls, still feeds, and still empowers even doubters and deniers of the ministry.
The risen Christ still continues to share in the table of fellowship of the church, and continues to supply the nourishment that we need to love each other as well as those we are called to reach out to who stand in need of the love of Jesus.
In a few moments, we will recognize our graduates.
As we send them off, let us do so with the love of Jesus, not just for today, but every day, so they will be able to walk confidently in their faith in a new journey in their life.
May we pray for them each day that they will have eyes to see Jesus; that they allow themselves time to be in his presence in the midst of their days, and that they will follow wherever Jesus calls them to be able to use the gifts by which they have been blessed.
Lastly graduates, may you go in peace knowing that you all are children of God, redeemed by Jesus Christ, and breathed upon by the Holy Spirit.
When things get tough and confusing, just remember, you are not alone. Jesus is standing on the shoreline, watching over you, and calling, “Follow me.” There, you will find clarity.
To God be the glory!