Sermon Third Sunday of Easter Rev. Mike Moffitt, April 10, Preparing to Serve

Transcription

1 1 Sermon Third Sunday of Easter Rev. Mike Moffitt, April 10, 2016 Preparing to Serve Last week we continued to consider the journey that the Disciples were being led on by Jesus as they prepared to continue his ministry of building God s kingdom on earth and reconciling all things to Himself. We saw how Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on the disciples as a way of commissioning them into their roles as apostles in this kingdom and also as a way of opening the door for all to come to him by faith. This week we will continue to consider the journey of Easter as the disciples and ourselves head towards the day of Pentecost. In our gospel story this morning from John 21 we find the disciples in Galilee, which according to Mark 16:7 was the place that Jesus had told Mary Magdalene to tell the disciples to meet him. By this time the disciples have already seen the resurrected Jesus who encouraged them to be at peace and breathed the Holy Spirit on them giving them new life much like when God breathed life into the nostrils of Adam s body made from dust. They were waiting to find out what would happen next. Apparently Peter didn t want to merely sit around so he decides to go fishing. Perhaps there were bills to pay or the need for food or a combination of the two. Either way the disciples decide to go with him and they fish all night without catching anything. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, Friends, haven t you any fish? No, they answered. 6 He said, Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

2 2 They have done what seemed right in their own eyes but experience utter failure. Even in this there is a lesson that must be learned, without Jesus they can do nothing. These were not just ordinary men, but ordinary men who had been called and set apart by Jesus to continue what was begun by him. They were not going to turn and go back to what they had been. Jesus had taught them this lesson before. In the stories of the disciples fishing in the gospels they had never caught anything apart from Jesus help. Remember the story of when Jesus first called his disciples in Luke 5 and they had been out all night and had caught nothing. He instructed them to go out into deep water and drop their nets and they pulled up so many fish that it tore their nets. Peter s response is to fall down at Jesus knees saying, Get away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man. Then Jesus said to Simon, Don t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people. 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. Now it was 3 years later and the scene has repeated itself again and for a very similar purpose. Again they had caught nothing but when they followed the command of Jesus they caught so many fish (153) that they could hardly haul them into the boat. This time they recognized that it was Jesus and Peter who is so impetuous jumps out of the boat to go and greet Jesus. They found that Jesus already had fish cooking and also bread to eat but he told them to bring some of their fresh catch that he had also provided them. It s Peter who went back and dragged the net to shore himself because I suspect that he was anxious to respond to the command of Jesus possibly looking for some sign as to the nature of their relationship. Remember the abundance of the wine at the wedding feast in Cana and of the abundance of bread and fish in feeding the five-thousand and the four thousand and now 153 large fish in one cast. Certainly a primary point here seems to be Jesus lordship and the blessings that attend obedience to his commands no matter how unusual they might be. After inviting them to come and eat, Jesus himself comes to the fire that he has built and he serves them the fish and bread that he has provided. Again, Jesus is

3 3 modeling a way of life that he would have them follow: the master who commands them but also is the one who serves them. I guarantee you that this was a difficult lesson for the disciples to assimilate because they now knew who Jesus was and his ways were not the usual ways of royalty. I grow weary of those who propose the prosperity gospel and teach that we should expect wealth and privilege now because we are sons and daughters of the King. Perhaps they should pay closer attention to the life of the King while here on earth, but that s another sermon. It s in this next section where Jesus reinstates Peter that I want to focus this morning. After breakfast, Jesus who had unfinished business with Simon Peter, the one who denied him three times, speaks to him personally. Throughout the gospel Peter had been referred to as Simon Peter or Peter, a name that Jesus had given him in John 1:42, You are Simon son of John, you will be called Cephas (which, when translated, is Peter). Jesus now addresses him as Simon son of John his former name as if he was not a disciple or not yet. Let s take a look at the conversation to try and glean what is being taught us here. Jesus begins by asking, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? Some commentators have suggested that more than these could be referring to the boat, net and tackle, all the things associated with returning to fishing. They are suggesting that perhaps Peter was so disgusted with himself that he had decided to return to fishing. In looking at the story it doesn t appear that fishing is his best option considering that there doesn t seem to be much blessing in it for him. I suspect that what Jesus is asking is if Peter loves Him more than the other disciples. Why would that be the question? Remember in every gospel account Peter had declared that, even though everyone else desserts you I will not! I will go to prison or even die with you. Jesus question then goes much deeper than a sense of false attachments to material things but it speaks to an even greater weakness- pride. What Jesus has in mind for the disciples will require a love that is characterized by humility, dependence and obedience. Peter had demonstrated a devotion to Jesus but he

4 4 had always been full of self will and always thrusting himself to the front. Such pride would prove to be very destructive for the new Christian community as it had already proven to be for Israel. Israel had always acted in arrogance because they had assumed that their national indemnity as the people of God made them better than other nations, instead of being humbled that the creator God of all things had condescended to use them. Jesus had demonstrated the kind of leadership that his kingdom would require- the leaders would first of all be the servants as well. In the first two questions that Jesus has for Simon, the word that Jesus uses for love is different than the word that Simon uses in response. Jesus asks him, Simon, do you Love (agapao) me and Peter replies with, Yes, Lord, you know that I love (phileo) you. Both of these words mean love and are verbs but have different strengths of meaning. Jesus asks about agape love (all giving, uncaused, unselfish love) and Peter answers with phileo love (reciprocal, friendly affection). Some translations have Peter answering "I am your friend." In considering each of these questions I think we need to look a little deeper into the heart of the questions to catch the nuance and emotion going on. One of the things I hate about texting or ing is that I can t pick up on the nuance or sense the emotion behind the words. Just for a moment let s try and dissect what is going on in this conversation. Peter is dealing with a great deal of shame and probably is feeling extremely uncomfortable having this conversation with Jesus. He has betrayed the trust of his Lord (even though Jesus had told him that he would- John 13:38). I suspect that any pride that he had was gone, for now, and he simply couldn t imagine that he had the right to declare an undying devotion to Jesus again. Jesus knows his turmoil and instead of driving home the betrayal by confronting Peter s sin, he instead brings him right back to where they had left off before the denials and says to him, if you love me Feed my Lambs. Then again Jesus poses the same question, Simon son of John, do you love (agapeo) me? In other words, Simon, is your love for me deep? Are you committed to me?

5 5 I can t imagine Peter s anguish at this point as he tries understanding what Jesus is wanting from him and probably wondering when the hammer will fall. Surely nothing could undo what he had done and the relationship that he had dreamed of having with this Messianic king was certainly forfeited by his cowardice and so he simply and humbly answers again, Yes Lord, you know that I love (phileo) you. or Lord, I do love you as a brother and friend. Again Jesus brings him back to the nature and strength of their former relationship and says, Take care of my sheep. Jesus is showing Peter that he has not given up on him and that nothing in Jesus love for Simon has changed. Jesus wasn t surprised that Peter betrayed him. After all he had told that he would but now Peter needs to see the need he has for a complete dependence on Jesus and to get past his guilt and shame. The third time Jesus uses the same word for love as Simon has been using, phileo, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Jesus essentially is asking, Simon are you really my friend? Again, let s consider the underlying emotion in this line of questioning. Simon what did I tech you about being a friend. Greater love has no man than this, than he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) Simon, I was pointing to what I was going to do for you and the others but you thought that you had my strength and found out that you did not, not yet. So apart from me can you even claim to be my friend? By this time I suspect that Peter could no longer stand it and with dismay cried out, Lord you know all things; you know that I love you. Up to this point in the conversation whenever Peter said to Jesus, Lord, you know that I love you the word for know that he used was eido which means to perceive of the fact of something, you can see that it exists. However in this last response Peter changes the word to ginosko which means to have intimate knowledge of in the same way that a man and women are physically intimate. So basically Peter is saying to Jesus, Lord you know the fact of everything but you can see my heart and read my mind so you know how I feel about you. I can t

6 6 stand what I did to you and I can barely look you in the eye. I am miserable and don t know how I can go on. This is exactly where Jesus had been leading Peter, to a place of humility and complete dependence on Jesus. Peter was right to say that Jesus fully knew his heart. He always had and he knew that what was being prepared for Peter was so amazingly wonderful. Jesus knew what the Holy Spirit was going to do in the life of his disciples and of Peter but they were still being made ready. Getting ready meant shedding any arrogance and pride that was so characteristic of those in Israel who were looking for the Messiah to rule over Rome and restore Israel to a place of prominence. That wasn t the kind of kingdom that Jesus had ushered in and finally, Peter who has been humbled will be able to enter into the role that Jesus has for him as shepherd and so Jesus replies, Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, Follow me. Three times Peter had denied that he even knew Jesus and now three times Jesus lets him know that things are good between them. What a loving and faithful God. Jesus has gotten through to Peter in the most loving way and he restores him to relationship with him. He is telling him clearly that Peter is not a fisherman anymore which he had already told him clearly at the beginning of his ministry, but that he is a shepherd of Jesus flock. Jesus himself is the Good Shepherd and now he commissions Peter to care for the flock. He is to care for the lambs and the sheep and feed them so that they will grow strong but he will only be able to do so in Jesus way and by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus will be sending to them shortly. In the example of the fish Jesus is teaching the disciples that if they are obedient to his commands that he will abundantly bless their efforts far beyond anything they could accomplish on their own but left to their own strength they will most assuredly fail.

7 7 Earlier when Jesus had predicted Peter s denials, Peter had insisted that he was willing to die for or with Jesus and now we see a stark contrast between Peter s pride and now his submission to the will of God. Peter as the shepherd of the flock of Jesus, will like the Good Shepherd, lay down his life to. He is submitting to the will of God and Jesus is revealing to him that it will cost him his life and that is how he will glorify God. After revealing this to Peter, Jesus calls him to follow him just like at the beginning of Jesus ministry but now Peter understands much more of whom Jesus is and what it will cost to follow him. He has now received a calling from the Lord and a commission to leadership in the community. This is a call to recommit himself and as with any new revelation, faith will need to be exercised. The question for us this morning is what is the nature of our relationship with Jesus? Do you merely find him interesting and sometimes enjoy stories about him? Do you merely consider him a friend, someone to turn to when you have a need or if things go wrong? I wonder how many of us are willing to say, Lord Jesus, I long for you above all else. I trust you and invite you to do whatever you want in my life. I love the Psalm 33 this morning especially the last 4 verses: Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. 10 The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. As Jesus confronts and restores Peter he does so as the promised Messiah that was prophesied long before and now stood as testimony that the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

8 8 The promises of God are still be fulfilled today and they will continue throughout eternity because there is only one God and he is Holy and true to His word. Peter never denied Jesus again and we will see in a few weeks that after the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out in power, he not only did not deny Jesus but he boldly proclaimed him as Lord and King. Just as Jesus told him, after a powerful ministry building the early church in Jerusalem, the Apostle Peter was led away, hands tied and crucified by Nero sometime around AD. Some years later, the Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation while exiled on the Isle of Patmos. I wonder when John saw the vision that we read this morning from Revelation 5 if Peter was present. Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever! 14 The four living creatures said, Amen, and the elders fell down and worshiped Rev. Mike Moffitt