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April 25, 2004
Third Sunday of Easter
Starting Over
John 21:1-19
First, a puzzle: the verses immediately preceding this morning's text sound very much like an ending.
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31)
And yet, there follows another entire chapter. The majority of scholars agree that John 20:30-31 is the original ending of John's gospel, and the rest that follows—the events of our passage plus a wee bit more—were added on a later occasion.
Somebody, somewhere along the line decided that the story wasn't quite finished. It could have been the author of the original gospel, who decided that he just needed to include that one last story. Or it could have been a well-meaning editor some years later. But at any rate, someone added chapter 21 as an epilogue, or maybe a postscript to John's gospel.
And I, for one, am glad that they did. First of all, it is a great story, just a terrific scene. But secondly, I need more stories of the disciples' encounters with the risen Lord, the post-resurrection Jesus. I mean, that's a HUGE event. For Christians, this is THE story that helps us understand everything else in the Bible. And I think we can all use a little more help in letting the truth of the resurrection-and what it means for us-sink in.
The disciples certainly needed it. I cannot imagine what all of this must have been like for them. Think about it—Jesus and the boys make a triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The disciples think they have made it; they are expecting big things from Jesus, and they are looking forward to riding his coat tails. But I don't think any of them would have guessed that by the end of the week, Jesus would be hanging on a cross and the rest of them would be running for their lives.
The disciples had gone from feeling on top of the world to hiding out from the world in only a few days' time. When Jesus was arrested and put on trial, his faithful disciples, the very ones who promised to follow Jesus anywhere, vanished. They hightailed it out of there, anxious to save their own skins, bewildered by the horrifying end Jesus had come to.
And then there was Simon Peter. When Jesus first met him, Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (Which is translated Peter). (John 1:42). Which means Rock.
But this rock, the one on whom Jesus said he would build his church, this rock had crumbled in the midst of trouble. Not much of a foundation, Simon Peter. Imagine—the humiliation of denying the one you swore you would lay down your life for (John 13:37)—just as he had predicted and you had said would never happen—and then having to live with the shame AND the name that makes a mockery of who you thought you were. Simon Peter cannot help feeling like a failure.
The risen Jesus did appear to the disciples, of course. We heard the story of two appearances last Sunday, both times when they were locked up tight, afraid of being found out, afraid that one of them was next, afraid because after dedicating their lives to Jesus for three years, they had no idea what to do now. Jesus appeared to them, showed them his hands and feet, told them to be at peace, and they believed what they saw, they believed Jesus was raised from the dead. But now what? They don't know when he's going to show up again, and they don't know what they're supposed to do next.
So, they decide to go back to the beginning. Sometime after Jesus had appeared to them in Jerusalem—we don't know how long it's been, because John doesn't tell us—Simon Peter and six others left the city and went back to Galilee. Not knowing what else to do, they went home. Simon Peter had been a fisherman when Jesus found him. Without Jesus, Simon Peter doesn't what else to do, so he decides to go back to fishing. And, he convinces the others to go with him. It's not like they have anything better to do.
It's night when they go out in the boat. Despite their best efforts, they don't catch a single fish.
I wonder if at this point they weren't starting to lose heart. I mean, clearly, following Jesus had not turned out like they'd planned. And now, when they go back to what they supposedly knew, the family business, it seems like they had lost their touch, that they didn't even know how to catch fish anymore.
So they're discouraged, and their moods may be as black as the night around them. Then, at dawn, just as the light is beginning to break over the horizon, some guy on the shore calls out to them, asking if they have any fish, and suggesting that they should try casting the net on the other side of the boat, because that's where the fish are. The disciples do cast the net on the other side of the boat—maybe to humor this guy, maybe just to prove that he was wrong, because they didn't have anything better to do.
And then the net was full of fish—impossibly full of fish, and they all knew without looking back to the man standing on the shore that this impossible turn of events could only be possible because of one person.
Peter is so excited, he does two things at once—puts his clothes back on, then jumps into the lake so he can swim to Jesus as quickly as possible. The disciples still in the boat head into shore, dragging the net full of fish with them.
When they get there, they find that Jesus has started a charcoal fire on the shore, and he's grilling fish and has bread. He tells them to put a few more fish on the grill, and invites them to "Come and have breakfast."
It is a familiar scene, as Jesus once again serves as host of a meal, feeding them, giving them bread and fish. They don't seem anxious to talk. The disciples don't ask the "Who are you" question because they know the answer, but they don't ask him any other questions either, which seems strange to me. I should think they would be full of questions for Jesus!
How is it possible that you are here?
What does this mean?
How long are you staying?
Will we keep meeting you like this?
What are we supposed to do now?
But then another part of me wonders if the silence is because they're still feeling awkward and ashamed in Jesus' presence, afraid that he may scold them for their unfaithful behavior in Jerusalem on the night of his arrest.
In any event, no one speaks until after breakfast, and Jesus takes the lead in conversation. Jesus turns to Simon Peter and asks, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Jesus asks this question three times.
And each time, Simon Peter responds by saying, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." There seems to be a growing discomfort on Peter's part. He doesn't understand why Jesus keeps asking the same question over and over again. And, indeed, we may wonder, too.
But it's no coincidence that Jesus asks Peter three times to declare his love for him. What Jesus does here is offer Peter a chance at forgiveness, maybe even a chance to forgive himself. Just as Jesus had predicted, when Jesus was arrested, Peter denied that he knew Jesus three times. In a sort of roundabout way, Jesus does address Peter's denial of him. But instead of scolding Peter, with each question, Jesus offers Peter the opportunity to counterbalance his denials with an affirmation of love.
This is an amazing moment of grace. After being the shining star among Jesus' followers, Peter must have felt like his star had burned out, fallen to the ground, never to be seen again.
But Peter was fortunate that he had chosen to follow a master like Jesus. Failure is inevitable in life. We all make mistakes. In Christian language, we call it sin. Through Christ, we are loved in spite of our inability to not sin, the inevitability that we will miss the mark again and again. Through Christ, we are not only loved and accepted, we are forgiven. And Christ invites us to forgive one another and ourselves.
But Jesus doesn't stop there. Jesus didn't only offer Peter forgiveness for the way he had failed him, Jesus offers Peter another chance.
Jesus says to Peter, "Feed my lambs…Tend my sheep…Feed my sheep." And finally, "Follow me." It's almost as if Jesus says, I don't care how you failed me in the past, Peter. I chose you then, and I choose you now. I have fed you, not only in this breakfast this morning, but during all the time you have known me. Follow me. Trust in me. I am offering you another chance to start over. Take what I have given you, and give it to others. Start again, Peter. Start again.
Amen.
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First Presbyterian
Church of Cedar Rapids
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Phone: 319-364-6148
E-mail: church@fpccr.org
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