Resurrection Changes Everything
John 21:1 – 19
Our lesson today follows our lesson from last week when we read about the first and second appearances of Jesus to the disciples after his resurrection on Easter morning. As you recall the first appearance was late on that first Easter evening when Jesus appeared to all the Disciples, except Thomas, in the locked Upper Room and offered up his wounded hands and side as proof that he had been crucified and yet He had in fact been risen from the dead as they had heard. He offered them his peace and proceeded to breathe the Holy Spirit onto them and commissioned them to go to finish his work in the world.
Then one week later, Jesus comes back to the Upper Room, again to a room of disciples but this time his person of interest was inquiring and agnostic Thomas, who wasn’t with the disciples the week before but after seeing Christ, Confessing Thomas is convinced by what he sees and hears, the wounds, the face, the voice of Jesus. Thomas falls to his knees and cries “my Lord and my God.” And with that we are given to believe that without another word Jesus again disappears, leaving the bewildered disciples to ponder what happened and what was to come next.
Then turn the page and our lesson for today comes immediately next, leading with the ambiguous phrase “After these things” which implies an indefinite lapse of time, not always a long time but some time. Not tomorrow or the next day but some time later. But considering what the disciples have been through with the crucifixion, three days of mourning, the resurrection and the two appearances of Jesus over a week’s period any additional delay or waiting for what was next must have seemed frustratingly interminable.
But for Peter the stress of the wait, the anticipation of what was to come next must have been excruciating. He is clearly still discouraged, distracted, and haunted by his three-part foretold denial of Jesus on Good Friday. Previously Jesus told Peter, that he was the rock upon which he would build his church but now Peter must wonder if it was misplaced trust in him.
So, as we begin our lesson today the disciples are no longer in Jerusalem but have travelled back to a place that is familiar to them, a place that holds much comfort and spiritual significance to them. We find them in Galilee. The reasons for the disciples’ return to Galilee may have been to escape the fear created by the scrutiny and criticism of them by the mob back in Jerusalem. Or maybe they were responding to what Mary heard from the angel at the tomb in Mark’s Gospel “go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” So, they go to Galilee.
But most likely they were still bewildered by Jesus’ death, the ambiguity of the commission that He gave them in the first appearance, or as we are all likely to be, impatient with God’s timing and decided to return to their old stomping grounds, back to where Jesus was with them, where He met so many of them, where He had called so many of them. So, they decided to wait out God’s guidance for what was next for them in Galilee. As they waited, impatient Peter decided he needed to do something to get his mind off the past couple of weeks, to do something that he had done for so many years of his life, he says to the other disciples “I’m going out fishing anyone else want to go” and the others said, “absolutely!”
As Solomon told us about this week in our Ecclesiastes bible study; with much wisdom comes much grief, more knowledge brings more grief. Knowing the truth found in the works and nature of God and Christ brings responsibility to fulfill the Word of wisdom. The Disciples have much experiential information but not enough clarity of mission and direction. Hopefully that is coming but for the time being, they will fish!
For Peter and the Disciples, Resurrection Changed Everything. Peter and the others are not really trying to catch fish as much as he like Thomas last week, they are Trying to Understand what happens now. For Peter, the vexation must be even deeper and stronger. Peter may have left Jerusalem, but he cannot get away from three years of discipleship, the last supper, the arrest, the denials, and the crowing rooster. He cannot leave behind the memories of Good Friday. He cannot leave behind the cross, the empty tomb, the house with his doors locked tight, the echoes of “Peace be with you.” His mind is cluttered with thoughts, so he goes fishing!
After a fruitless night of fishing, a faceless voice from the shore called out, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No” comes the reply from the Disciples.“Then cast your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some” (John 21:6). The Galileans always fished off the left side of the boat. Yet needing to change their luck maybe, they listened to this yet unknown man and changed the way that they had always done things, they cast the net off the right side of the boat.
Instantly. the net was filled with, as the lesson tells us, “a hundred fifty-three large fish and yet the net was not torn.” Then suddenly the John recognizes that this unknown man on the shore, was Jesus! The man on the shore by the fire that had led them to the great school of fish was Jesus and John exclaimed “It is the Lord!” And with that the ever-impulsive Peter but his shirt back on and plunged into the water and swam for shore wishing to be with Jesus as quickly as possible.
When they got back to the shore, they find that Jesus had prepared a meal for them. “Come and eat breakfast,” He invited. Then as the others ate Jesus pulls Peter off to the side and asks him “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” Peter answered that he did. “Feed My lambs,” Jesus commanded.
Then again, He asked Peter if he loved Him. Peter again said, “Yes, Lord you know that I love You.” “Tend My sheep,” Jesus responded (John 21:15-16). Then for the third time Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” At that Peter was grieved that Jesus would ask him the same question three times: “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Then Jesus said, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17). The lesson that Jesus is teaching Paul is that he and the disciples are no longer Fishers of Men, gathers but they are now required to tend, feed and care for those that have been gathered. They, we, must become the shepherd to the flock that are gathered. Resurrection Changes Everything!
Jesus knew that Peter loved him, but Peter needed to admit that he truly loved Jesus. Peter needed to understand that he was not bound to or identified by his past. That through his confession of love for Jesus, that he was restored, that Peter had found his own life’s Spiritual resurrection moment, he embraced his transformation, his “Resurrection” from his “tomb of despair” to a new life committed to Christ, to help build his Church and save the lost souls. Peter’s own Spiritual Resurrection Changed Everything for him. How many of us also need to hear, understand, and experience that again and again as if for the very first time?
Jesus comes to the disciples that night not to provide them with fishing advice, he was not some sort of fishing guide but rather He had come to become their missional guide. By telling them to cast the net on the other side of the boat, Jesus was beginning a lesson to teach the disciples that now that He had died yet was resurrected, that everything has changed, Resurrection Changes Everything.
This miraculous event did more than reaffirm the calling of the disciples to be ‘fishers of men.’ It also reassured them that their Lord would be present with them in this endeavor, though not in His former physical form. It promised them divine guidance and power to accomplish the task of the evangelization of the world. Resurrection Changes Everything!
Hear the Good News my Friends….
Through his Resurrection Jesus showed himself in the empty nets that were filled with large fish, in the darkness that gave way to light, the nakedness that was clothed, a charcoal fire of denial that became a fire of welcome and invitation, a last supper that became a first breakfast, and three denials that were forgiven with three affirmations of love.
Like Peter, our Spiritual Resurrection happens sometimes in the important things of life but more often than not it is found in the seemingly small details, the grace filled, spiritually inspired. seemingly mundane experiences of everyday life. These spiritual conversations and moments of grace maybe unnoticed by others yet are transformative to us. Like Peter, our empty tomb is experienced in the ordinary yet if we listen closely, these are little poignant moments of life that lead us to redeeming and restoring moments in our life. Resurrection is not about escaping death but about becoming more alive!
Our Spiritual Resurrection Changes Everything in our lives and in our eternity. That was true in today’s gospel as well as in the daily living of our lives. The gospel details are also found our life’s experiences. The restoration, reconciliation, and redemption that we find are in small moments of grace that our Lord and Savior gives us.
When we do recognize those moments, we should embrace the power of the resurrection in our daily lives, and we find that our lives are never the same. Then we realize that we have a future, our life has been guaranteed by Christ’s life, and he has shown himself to us and that our Spirit can and will live with Jesus’ forever. Are you embracing your Spiritual Resurrection today? Friends, Resurrection Changes Everything! Amen.