FOLLOWING

Sermon for April 18 , 2010

Scripture: John 21:1-19

The last chapter of the Book of John is an interesting addition to this version of the gospel. The previous chapter, chapter 20, ends with a final-sounding postscript: “These things 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.” Sounds like The End in capital letters! Scholars wondered for a long time if Chapter 21 was tacked on by a later writer, but then discovered it is included in the earliest known manuscripts of the gospel.

So why did the author of John find it necessary to add this additional material?

The Gospel according to John is the most symbolic of the four; and the author always uses words and images for a specific reason. If a character is named in John, you can be sure that person is important to the story. So who is named in Chapter 21? Simon Peter, who denied Jesus three times right before the crucifixion; Thomas, who has been known for millennia as Doubting Thomas; and Nathanael who derided Jesus when they first met, by asking if anything good can come out of Galilee. They are what one commentator calls the “faulty followers.”

More text is devoted to Peter than the other two, so let's focus on him as John does. Peter is overcome with emotion to see Jesus again—once the other disciple recognizes Jesus, Peter hastily tugs on some clothes and impulsively jumps into the water—to hide in shame? Or to get to shore faster because he is impatient to see Jesus? We don't really know.

Regardless, Jesus draws him in by asking the disciples to bring some of the fish they have caught to the charcoal fire he has made. Peter hauls in the catch, one hundred and fifty three large fish which strain the net but do not break it.

We remember that Simon Peter warmed himself at the soldier's charcoal fire in the courtyard of the High Priest, that awful night while Jesus was on trial. When asked if he was with Jesus, Peter denied it, saying, “I do not know this man!” Three times the question was asked, and three times Peter said no. When the rooster crowed, Jesus was taken away. And Peter cried; and crept away, ashamed, heart-broken, angry at himself; remembering his boast just a few weeks ago, that he was willing to die with Jesus…but he had turned away in fear instead…

This morning, what joy! The charcoal fire which called to mind Peter's former shame becomes a charcoal fire on the beach cooking fish, lovingly tended by Jesus himself! The disciples are no doubt cold and tired—they fished all night, catching nothing—and Peter has been swimming and hauling in the abundant catch of the morning. A warm breakfast of grilled fish and bread warms the body as well the soul.

Peter gets a chance to redeem himself by proclaiming his love for Jesus no less than three times. In addition, Peter is given a special commission by Jesus, to be a shepherd to the flock.

Yet overall, Peter doesn't come off too well in this chapter. Notice he never actually commits to taking on the role of shepherd, although of course we learn later in the Book of Acts that he does become a leader of the fledgling church. One scholar, Dr. Sharon Ringe, argues that Peter's commitment is lukewarm even after this redemptive moment. He replies to Jesus, “You know I love you” but never extends that love to others. We know from the gospel of John that members of the church are called to “love one another as Jesus has loved them.” Loving Jesus alone isn't enough. We are to love God and love and serve each other; and love and serve even the unlovable ones. As John tells the story, Peter just doesn't get it.

Peter's inability to fully commit may well be the reason this chapter was added by John or one of his followers. In the early church, some of the Christian communities put Peter on a pedestal, and John's community may have found it necessary to demonstrate that while he was a valued leader, still he was a fallible human being capable of making mistakes. Or perhaps leaders in John's community needed a reminder that they, too, are called to feed Christ's sheep, to serve the poor and not just focus on the more glamorous work of growing the church.

We too are sometimes faulty followers of Christ. I know I am at any rate. Like Peter and the other disciples, we may occasionally need a jolt to remind us that knowing Jesus is supposed to make a difference in our lives and in the lives of others we meet. Following Jesus is not easy. We are all different. Some things come more easily and some are very difficult, depending upon our individual gifts and the baggage we carry. To one, serving the poor directly may be natural and easy, but devotional prayer is not; to another, leading a church committee is a joy while reading the gospel in church may be a struggle. There is no one right way to serve God and neighbor.

However, there are certain elements of discipleship, pieces of the puzzle if you will, that form the picture of a “Christian.” Belief in the Virgin Birth is not one of them! It's tragic that so much blood has been spilled in the millennia since Jesus' time over minutia of belief! I submit that belief, at least specifics of belief, is really not all that important in the Christian life.

Marcus Borg, in his book Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, says that traditional views of Jesus lead to two types of Christianity: Jesus as Teacher leads to moralistic Christianity, where we are mainly concerned about being good and doing the right thing. The image of Jesus as savior, on the other hand, makes belief in a set creed the primary requirement, and the afterlife the primary goal of Christianity. There is nothing wrong with these two pictures of Jesus, they are true images for me and I suspect for many of you, but they are limited. They only go so far, and leave out much that is important both to the individual and the rest of the world. Instead, Borg argues, Christianity is mainly about being in relationship with God, a relationship that transforms both us and the world.

The Jesus of transformation tells us how and where to set our nets, so that our catch in life will be abundant. The Jesus of transformation loves us, and wants us to be able to let go of our preconceived notions and the baggage we're dragging around, so that we can not only receive his love, but be able to share that love with the world. Jesus sets a table for us, a table where we are allowed to transform our past mistakes and suffering into a banquet on the beach. Jesus not only feeds us, but he wants us to feed others. He calls us to bring some of our catch to the feast, returning part of God's abundant gifts to us so that they may be used to feed the world.

In Godly Play we ask the children, where are you in this story? So I ask it of you as well. Where are you in this story of breakfast on the beach with Jesus? I invite you to see how you can let this story speak to you. Trying reading this or other Bible stories of discipleship during your private time, and substitute your own name for Peter's. Where does he tell you to set your nets? Listen for Jesus when he asks you, “Do you love me?” What stirs in your heart? When he says, Feed my sheep, what is your response?

May we be in prayer together.

God of mercy and grace … You call us into relationship with you. When we put up a “Gone Fishing” sign, you meet us at the lakeshore and point to the school of fish.  When we can
only see a bonfire that flickers with shameful memories, you invite us to breakfast around a new bonfire.  You raise our heads so that our faces might reflect your Light.  When our last memory of eye contact was that of omission and denial, you ask us to look into your eyes once more … and we now see love and forgiveness.  When we hunger to be the disciples you have called us to be, you hand us bread and fish and affirm our callings.  And when we struggle with words of Love for you, you help us form the words.  O God, thank you for this great breakfast.  Amen. [prayer by Rev. Anna Murdock, a United Methodist pastor]

Rev. Patricia Barth

April 18, 2010

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