The Scene

We would like to think that the first followers of Jesus would have caught on by now and would be out among the community transforming lives through Jesus the Christ.  They have seen the risen Lord.  They have heard him and have received the Holy Spirit, what else would they need to get to work? 

Well, they’re not out converting people.  In fact, they are not out at all; some are gathered back in the old familiar territory they had called home before Jesus called them to follow.  Peter akes the next big step and announces, “I’m going fishing.”  Others, who are themselves fishermen, quickly join him in their family work and head for the boats and nets.

Apparently, they have fished all night and the sunrise is announcing a new day.  I can tell you that it is a beautiful and powerful sight to watch the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee.  Perhaps they are sitting back, disappointed in their lack of fish, but taking a moment to just feel good about being back at work with what they know for certain and of watching the sunrise.

            Jesus Speaks to Them

It is pretty amazing that Jesus doesn’t say something like, “What in the world are you guys doing?  Do you really think that I gave you all I had to give for three years just so you could go back to fishing?  I’ve given to you the keys to the kingdom of heaven and you are out here fishing.  I make you fishers of men and you continue to look for these fish.  What’s going on?”

No, Jesus doesn’t do it the way I might.  He does not chastise them at all.  He does, however, teach them a lesson that I believe should reverberate through the centuries right up to our day.  In fact, I think we should hear his speech to them during this time of worship.  Not just the words that Jesus spoke but the message behind those words.

            Cast the Other Way

Jesus told them to cast their nets to the right side of the boat and they would catch fish and after a little grumbling they did.  The message that I hear is that one may or may not catch fish using the old familiar methods.  In fact, there may be times when the familiar process will actually keep you from reaching your desired result.  Jesus tells them to leave their familiar patterns and do it his way.  I believe he was saying to them and us, “Live my way and you will be surprised at what will happen.”

I believe that it is important that Jesus wanted to give this message while the disciples were doing what they knew best.  He wanted them to be involved with the familiar in order for him to demonstrate that what they were sure about would actually create a barrier to what he had called them to be about.  He desired they discover him anew and his newness within their personal comfort zones.  They followed his instruction and it did not take long for them to have loaded nets but more importantly to recognize who it was that was giving instructions.  When the ordinary became beyond-ordinary they were able to recognize the Lord.

I think it works the same for us as well.  Even while we live within our Christian comfort zones, Jesus will speak new ways to us.  If we follow his voice we will find a new way that will be his way.

The Uneasy Gift of Grace

Peter jumps into the water and heads for Jesus.  As they are all gathered Jesus asks Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”  Jesus does not call him Cephas here.  He does not recognize him as “the rock upon which I will build my church.”  In fact, it is my understanding the word, love, which Jesus uses here, is cold and harsh.  It is possible that Jesus has added, “more than these” in order to remind Peter of those times when he had jumped out in front of his peers with his assurance of his love for Jesus.

John 13:36-37  Simon Peter asked, "Master, just where are you going?" Jesus answered, "You can't now follow me where I'm going. You will follow later."   "Master," said Peter, "why can't I follow now? I'll lay down my life for you!"

Matthew 26:31-33  Then Jesus told them, "Before the night's over, you're going to fall to pieces because of what happens to me. There is a Scripture that says, I'll strike the shepherd; helter-skelter the sheep will be scattered.  But after I am raised up, I, your Shepherd, will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee."   Peter broke in, "Even if everyone else falls to pieces on account of you, I won't."

Peter answers Jesus with a much softer and warmer word “love” and leaves off the “more than these.”  He just states that he loves Jesus.

            A Second Time

Again, Jesus asks Simon son of John if he loves him.  This time Jesus leaves off “more than these.”  He, however, continues to use the colder word for love.  Peter answers, “Yes Lord you know I love you.”

            The Third Time

Jesus asks a third time, “Simon son of John do you love me?”  This time we are told that Peter’s feelings are hurt.  Why in the world would Jesus keep on asking this question?  Can Jesus not believe what Peter is saying?  Can he no longer trust Peter and he’s trying to find a way that he can invite him back into the fold?

How many times in life do we do the same thing with one another?  We keep attempting to have assurance that someone likes or loves us.  We will ask them over and over to give to us the information that we already know.  I think Peter is right on when he responds that he knows that Jesus knows he loves him.  So what’s happening?

                        Peter Needs to Know He Loves Jesus

No doubt, Jesus knows that Peter loves him.  The question is whether or not Peter knows he loves Jesus.  It is so easy for us to say, “I believe in Jesus.”  We allow, “I love God” to slip off our tongue without even thinking about it.  Those words are really easy to say and they sound and feel so good.  I think this is what we’re saying when we say that we are a Christian nation – we are actually saying, “We know what words to use!”

You see, knowing the right words in the right order with the right tone means absolutely nothing to Jesus.  He wants to know if we love him enough to:

                                    “Feed My Lambs”

Peter understands what Jesus is asking him even though it he may not have at that very moment.  Listen to these words written by Peter, I Peter 5:2-3  “Here's my concern: that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously.    Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.”

Jesus wants Peter to look down into himself and know that he is the rock upon which Christ’s Church is built.  He wants us to do the same.

                                    “Tend My Sheep”

There is far too much ground to cover here but there are a few things about shepherding that Jesus taught that stands out.  The shepherd is to be vigilant about the flock.  His or her mind must be on taking care of the flock and even knowing each by name.  Again, this is not something the hireling will do but the flock must be one’s own.  Jesus wants Peter to look down within himself and see if he can discover assurance that he will even die for the flock.  Jesus is asking the same of us.  Are we willing to carry God’s Good News to others even when we don’t know how or when it would mean being uncomfortable?

                                    “Feed My Sheep”

Peter’s pain at this point is that Jesus may well be seeing something about Peter that he is not seeing within himself.  Perhaps Jesus is seeing that same old dark place that would have Peter, the Rock, claiming to love Jesus so much that he would follow him all the way through death and then turn and run.  I can certainly understand Peter’s hesitation to say a third time, “Jesus, I love you.”  However, he does.

I think it is important to realize that in this third questioning and response, Jesus uses the higher, warmer word for love that Peter has been using all along.

Conclusion

Jesus, I believe, is asking us the same question that he asks Peter, “Do you love me?”  And I believe that his instruction is the same for you and me as for Peter, “Feed my Lambs,”  “Tend my Sheep,” and “Feed my Sheep.”  There is absolutely no question that these provide the foundation for my job as your pastor but I don’t believe it stops with me.  I am totally convinced that we are all ministers of the Gospel and that our ministry is to the world.  The only way we will ever be able to claim our love for Jesus goes far beyond saying the words and calls us into the world where we are to Feed His Lambs, Tend His Sheep, and Feed His Sheep!

One of our church family members in a meditation reminded me that Jesus never identifies any of these as belonging to Peter.  In every instance Jesus identifies the lambs and sheep as belonging to him.  I want you to know that those folks beyond this wall, as well as us within these walls belong to our Lord.  Some don’t know it.  Everyone, even those who are evil, belong to God.   Our neighbors and our brothers and sisters belong to Jesus.  Each of us belongs to Jesus.  It is our calling to make sure others know the Good News of God’s transforming powers and redeeming salvation.

Jesus is calling upon us to cast our nets on the other side of the boat.  He is telling us that our way is not the way but that his is.  If we will break out of what is familiar, usual, comfortable, and understandable he will lead us along new paths in this life and the one to come.  Folks, if we want to grow, not for the sake of numbers but for lives being transformed, we will need to cast our net on the other side of how we do things and follow Jesus.  Amen.