April 14, 2024
John 21:1-19
Introduction
Two weeks ago we celebrated the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Two weeks ago the stone was rolled away, the tomb was found to be empty, and Jesus was alive. So I want to ask… What difference has the resurrection made in you? Now I am not asking what difference it might make in some distant heavenly future. I am asking about our lives today… here… now. What difference has the resurrection made in us? Do I dare think we don’t have a very good answer? Do I dare wonder if after Easter we find it difficult to even recognize resurrection in our lives?
I can’t help but wonder if the Church makes such a big deal about the resurrection that it’s difficult to recognize it in our own lives. I wonder if we make such a big deal about the rolled away stone, such a big deal about the empty tomb, such a big deal about Jesus being alive that we can’t help but lose sight of the resurrection in our lives. We look for and expect it to be an equally big deal in our lives, so our expectations of resurrection are for the spectacular. And if that is the case, then maybe that’s why we don’t have a good answer to my question. Maybe that’s why it’s difficult to recognize resurrection in our lives here and now.
Now please don’t call our regional minister and tell him, “Jonathan said the resurrection isn’t a big deal.” That’s not what I am saying. But what I do what us to consider is that maybe the big deal of the resurrection happens in the small details of everyday life. Maybe the “big deal” of the empty tomb is experienced in the ordinary circumstances of life. Maybe the “big deal” of Jesus being alive is revealed in the routine rhythms of life.
In our text for today, John tells us about the third appearance of Jesus to his Disciples. And this appearance happens within normal, everyday circumstances. John could have easily said, “While the disciples were fishing, they saw Jesus on the shore. This was his third appearance.” But he didn’t. Instead, John focuses on the details in which Jesus showed himself; seemingly unnecessary, and even mundane details. Which tells us John believes the “big deal” of resurrection is found in the small details of everyday life. So let’s unpack some small details that reveal the “big deal” of resurrection.
Move 1
The Disciples have returned home, traveling some 80 miles from the place of Jesus’ resurrection to their boats on the waters of the Sea of Tiberias and have resumed their old routine of fishing, and they fished through the night, but their nets were empty— “they caught nothing” John tells us. However, it was not just their nets that were empty. The Disciples themselves were empty— as empty as their nets.
Who here hasn’t experienced emptiness? We know what it’s like. We “fish”, aka, we do our work, our parenting, our caring for aging parents and family, our service to others and our community, we do our best… but still…at times, we come up empty. We have nothing to show for our efforts and nothing left to give. We have to accept the limits of our own self-sufficiency—which makes us feel even more empty.
And that was the Disciples as they fished. But that is also when Jesus, still unrecognized by his followers, shows himself and says, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” Which is not so much a question as it is a statement—a statement that almost echoes the voice of Mary at the wedding in Cana when she said to Jesus, “They have no wine.” And we know what happens next. Empty nets. Empty jars. No fish, no wine, no life. And that is exactly when Jesus showed himself.
Nets and jars cannot be filled unless they are first emptied. In the same way we can never be filled with Jesus until we are first emptied of ourselves; until we come to willingly accept the limits of our own self-sufficiency. Emptiness is not an end, nor is it a failure. Our emptiness is an opportunity for resurrection.
The miracle begins when the wine runs out. Jesus shows up when the nets are empty. So let me ask you this… What are your nets empty of today? What jars have run dry? Don’t throw the jars away and don’t abandon your nets, because they are the very places Jesus is showing himself to you. They will be places of resurrection—jars overflowing, and nets filled to beyond their capacity. And new life will come.
Move 2
It’s worth noting, all this happens just after daybreak. The bleak night of fishing has given way to the dawn of a new day, new hopes, new possibilities—the dim night does not win— the light always prevails. And in the light of this new day, in the light of a full net, in the light of 153 fish, Jesus shows himself. This isn’t just about the rising of the sun at daybreak. It’s about the risen Son who has come into the Disciples’ lives shows to them that everything he said was true.
Whatever bleak night has overcome you; whatever dimness you might be going through today… it is the circumstances in which Jesus will show himself to you. These small, yet significant details of your life, are the context for the resurrection Jesus will reveal to you.
Move 3
The Disciples are in the boat, and as soon as Jesus is recognized, naked Peter gets dressed and jumps in the water. Now we probably could have gone a long time without needing to know Peter was naked, right? It seems a strange and unnecessary detail. But if John is telling us that Peter wasn’t wearing any clothes, gets dressed, and then goes to Jesus, you can be confident there is something to pay attention to.
We’ve heard a story before about Peter jumping out of boat to go to Jesus, but before he did Peter said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” But this time is different. Peter has no conditions, no requests for a miracle. Peter simply gets dressed and jumps in the water. John is showing us Peter is clothing himself not just with clothes, but clothing himself with courage, with joy, with an urgency to get back to Jesus. And once fully clothed in such a way, he then plunges into the water and goes to Jesus.
What places or circumstances of your life need to be clothed with courage, or joy, or urgency? If you were to put on those clothes, how would that change your life? What new possibilities would open to you? What might you do differently? How would that change your outlook on life? What does a life clothed in courage, joy, and urgency for Christ mean for you? Whatever your answers might be… they are the small details in which Jesus is showing himself to you.
Move 4
Given all that happened, I got to wonder what Peter was thinking. What was he thinking when he was swimming, what was he thinking when he got ashore, what was he thinking when he saw that charcoal fire. I wonder if remembered another fire, the one where he warmed himself… and then denied Jesus three times. I wonder if he, like that night, was overcome with guilt and regret. I wonder if he became very afraid. I wonder if he mentally beat himself up for what he did.
Admittedly, I only wonder such because that’s often what I do with my guilt, regrets, and sins. Maybe you have too, and you know what I am talking about. And yet, whatever Peter might have been thinking or feeling, whatever guilt was growing in Peter’s memory, it was all interrupted, banished, and silenced by Jesus showing himself and saying, “Come and have breakfast.”
Jesus shows himself to us in the charcoal fires of our guilt, regrets, and betrayals. Those fires, however, have been extinguished and a new fire kindled. That was true for Peter, and it’s true for us. The Bread of Life himself has prepared a place for us at his table. The last supper has become the first breakfast, and the fires of denial and shame have become a charcoal fire of welcome and invitation. And once again, the small details that looked like endings have become new beginnings.
Move 5
For most of us shared meals also mean shared conversation, and the same is true for Peter and Jesus. Thiers was a conversation of love, freedom, and moving forward; a conversation where Jesus asks Peter “Do you love me?” Asking not once but three times. And why three times? One time for each of Peter’s denial. And all three times Peter answers, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Now of course Jesus knew Peter loved him, but Peter needed to know he loved Jesus. Peter needed to understand he was not bound to, or identified by, one particular detail of his past.
How many of us also need to hear, understand, and experience this truth again and again as if for the very first time? It is yet another small detail where the big deal of resurrection is revealed to us.
Conclusion
Like the Disciples, it’s now two weeks after Easter Sunday and I’m willing to bet we’ve all returned to the routine of our lives—to the small details we task ourselves with every day. But maybe that is exactly where we can expect Jesus to show himself to us.
Jesus showed himself in the empty nets that were filled with fish; the bleak night that gave way to light; nakedness that was clothed; a fire of denial that became a charcoal fire of welcome and invitation; a last supper that became a first breakfast; and three denials forgiven with three affirmations of love.
Resurrection does not happen apart from the small routine details of life, but rather resurrection happens in the small routine details of life. And when we are open to experiencing resurrection in the small routine details of life, we discover that we have a future filled with courage, joy, and urgency; we discover our life has been guaranteed by Christ’s life; and we discover that the bid deal of resurrection is truly in every small detail of our lives. And thanks be to God for it is truly a big deal. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer, April 14, 2024
Merciful God, we come before you today aware that on the cross you bore the guilt and suffering of our sin and rebellion. We come as well because of what followed, and changed all of history—your resurrection, your victory over death that has given us new life.
Holy God, through the power of the resurrection, your Spirit has empowered us to go into the world proclaiming your grace, your mercy, your forgiveness, your unconditional love for all your beloved children. Hallelujah! Thanks be to God for this unbelievable, and undeserving gift!
We are truly thankful, Lord. When we take the time, we shudder at even the thought of what our lives would be like without you, without your constant and abiding spirit blessing us with strength and courage and perseverance when needed.
And though we are eternally thankful, Lord, we must confess we have too often failed your calling to live in the world as you lived among us and showed us to live. Too often we have assumed your resurrection power and new life is exclusive to the miraculous, to rarified and special circumstance. And, too, we have even assumed your resurrection power was exclusive to simply a date on our calendars.
Forgive our tepid witness. Forgive us when our courage and joy and urgency are lacking. Forgive us when we forget how every day holds the possibility for resurrection.
Forgive us Lord, then make us like Peter so that when we see you, our hearts and spirits are filled with courage, joy, and urgency to get to you, to share you, to bring awareness of your presence to those who still don’t know your resurrection power. Help us to not just know, but to be living proof of how you are Creator of the universe, and still, you are fully present to each of your children, no matter the day, no matter the circumstance, always blessing us with your gift of new life.
Please listen now, we ask, to the prayers that come from our hearts, and our lifted to your heart, in this time of Holy Silence.
All this we pray in the name of our resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, who taught us to pray saying, “Our…”