John 21:1-13 (paraphrase by John Shea *)
After Jesus had passed through the dark door,
his friends returned
to what they knew best,
Galilee and the sea.
One evening Peter said,
“I am going out to weep.”
But they thought he said,
“I am going out to fish.”
So they all went with him
and they wept and fished the night away,
catching nothing but their tears.
With the dawn
came a fire on the shore
and the smell of fish across the water.
Through the mist
a man was crumbled over coals.
He rose like an arrow
from the bow of the earth and turned.
“Come, and eat your meal.”
No one, John says, presumed to inquire,
“Who are you?
. . . They knew who it was.
Jesus told so many stories that he became one. It is through these stories that we know whatever it is we know of him – from the stories of his birth, through the stories of his death and resurrection. Stories told by him, stories told by others about him.
Easter Sunday was two weeks ago and last Sunday I was just returned home from our region’s Annual Gathering and there had been no time to prepare a formal message. This week’s message is about one of my favorites stories among all the many Jesus stories that we all know.
The reading we opened with today is the lead-in to that particular story but it isn’t the story itself. This is the third of Jesus’ post Resurrection appearances as told in John’s gospel account and it is, perhaps, more of a story about Peter, than a story about Jesus, but it is, for me at least, the most important of all the various post-resurrection Jesus stories.
Before the crucifixion, before the resurrection, there had been a night of a shared meal and promises given, and finally, a kiss of betrayal which ended with Jesus being taken away, a prisoner, to be judged by his own religious authorities. These pompous, angry men, wanting his death but not having the power to condemn him, sent him on to the Roman authority to do that job for them.
Through all these maneuvers a handful of disciples followed wherever Jesus was taken and among these was Simon Peter who professed to love Jesus more than all the others. Peter, who -- stunned that the thing he had so long feared was actually happening, or perhaps having convinced himself that now Jesus would make his play and be saved by God’s army of angels -- or maybe it was just plain terror for his own safety – who really knows? – but Peter publicly denied ever even knowing Jesus. Three times he denied it.
And Jesus died. And Peter never got to say how sorry and ashamed he was. I’ve often wondered how Peter managed to survive the guilt and shame and self-loathing he must have carried in the weeks following that crucifixion.
And that is the point of why this is my favorite story. Because the truth of this story from John’s gospel is simply that there was never any blame from Jesus. When they met again, Jesus did not call Peter out and berate him for abandoning him -- there was only love and understanding and trust, because after they all shared bread and fish on the beach that day, Jesus called Simon Peter aside and said, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Master, you know I love you,” and Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” – in other words, “watch over my little ones”.
He then asked him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Master, you know I love you” and Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.” – in other words,” take care of my people.”
Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.” And Jesus said, “Yes, I do know and I trust you with it all. Simon, Feed my sheep.”
Three times the same question was asked, to wash out the shame of those three denials made on a night of betrayal and fear. Three times to make it clear that Peter absolutely was forgiven – and that he was trusted. That he was loved. And that he had always been loved.
The beauty of this short story within a story is that there was never any need for forgiveness – because there had never been any blame, only deep understanding.
And that is why I love this story so much because it tells us that no matter how badly we screw up, we are loved. Our fears are understood. No matter how deeply we may find ourselves mired in failure and shame, that is not what Jesus sees when he looks at us. What Jesus sees is love --- just love.
And that is why we tell ourselves and each other the stories that are Jesus because when we look at Jesus we don’t see blame or judgment. We see Jesus looking at us with understanding and love. All the stories we read and share about Jesus reflect compassion and joy back at us. And the world shines brighter.
Thanks be to God
* John Shea “Stories of Faith,” The Thomas More Press, Chicago, © 1980, p.181
Easter Sunday was two weeks ago and last Sunday I was just returned home from our region’s Annual Gathering and there had been no time to prepare a formal message. This week’s message is about one of my favorites stories among all the many Jesus stories that we all know.
The reading we opened with today is the lead-in to that particular story but it isn’t the story itself. This is the third of Jesus’ post Resurrection appearances as told in John’s gospel account and it is, perhaps, more of a story about Peter, than a story about Jesus, but it is, for me at least, the most important of all the various post-resurrection Jesus stories.
Before the crucifixion, before the resurrection, there had been a night of a shared meal and promises given, and finally, a kiss of betrayal which ended with Jesus being taken away, a prisoner, to be judged by his own religious authorities. These pompous, angry men, wanting his death but not having the power to condemn him, sent him on to the Roman authority to do that job for them.
Through all these maneuvers a handful of disciples followed wherever Jesus was taken and among these was Simon Peter who professed to love Jesus more than all the others. Peter, who -- stunned that the thing he had so long feared was actually happening, or perhaps having convinced himself that now Jesus would make his play and be saved by God’s army of angels -- or maybe it was just plain terror for his own safety – who really knows? – but Peter publicly denied ever even knowing Jesus. Three times he denied it.
And Jesus died. And Peter never got to say how sorry and ashamed he was. I’ve often wondered how Peter managed to survive the guilt and shame and self-loathing he must have carried in the weeks following that crucifixion.
And that is the point of why this is my favorite story. Because the truth of this story from John’s gospel is simply that there was never any blame from Jesus. When they met again, Jesus did not call Peter out and berate him for abandoning him -- there was only love and understanding and trust, because after they all shared bread and fish on the beach that day, Jesus called Simon Peter aside and said, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Master, you know I love you,” and Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” – in other words, “watch over my little ones”.
He then asked him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Master, you know I love you” and Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.” – in other words,” take care of my people.”
Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.” And Jesus said, “Yes, I do know and I trust you with it all. Simon, Feed my sheep.”
Three times the same question was asked, to wash out the shame of those three denials made on a night of betrayal and fear. Three times to make it clear that Peter absolutely was forgiven – and that he was trusted. That he was loved. And that he had always been loved.
The beauty of this short story within a story is that there was never any need for forgiveness – because there had never been any blame, only deep understanding.
And that is why I love this story so much because it tells us that no matter how badly we screw up, we are loved. Our fears are understood. No matter how deeply we may find ourselves mired in failure and shame, that is not what Jesus sees when he looks at us. What Jesus sees is love --- just love.
And that is why we tell ourselves and each other the stories that are Jesus because when we look at Jesus we don’t see blame or judgment. We see Jesus looking at us with understanding and love. All the stories we read and share about Jesus reflect compassion and joy back at us. And the world shines brighter.
Thanks be to God
* John Shea “Stories of Faith,” The Thomas More Press, Chicago, © 1980, p.181
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