John 21:1-14
Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
This is the third appearance by Jesus since his resurrection, at least according to John’s gospel. In this gospel, Mary is the first to meet Jesus face to face, and speak with him, after first mistaking him for the gardener at the now-empty tomb. Then later that same day Jesus appears to the remaining disciples (minus Thomas) where they are gathered in an upper room. This is the appearance we discussed last week.
So today is number three—and, as I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, it is my favorite. Before we get into this reading I want to ask if anyone noticed a sense of déjà vu when we read this scripture today? Besides just having heard it in other Easter seasons? That would be because we’ve heard a very similar fishing story already this year.
Back in Epiphany season—between Christmas and Lent—our readings were all from Luke and they chronicled the very earliest events in Jesus’ public ministry, starting from his baptism by John, through the calling of the disciples, to his first forays into public teaching.
On the fifth Sunday of Epiphany, sometime in February, we heard this story: Jesus has been healing people in the region of Capernaum and now the crowds were so great they were in danger of shoving Jesus right into the lake. So he climbed into a boat, which happened to be Simon Peter’s and had him pull out from the shore. From there he could teach the people without being swamped himself.
When he finished teaching, he told Peter and the others to put out into deep water and throw out their nets. They complained that they’ve been doing just that all night without catching anything, but Jesus insists they do as he says – and of course they catch so many fish they can’t handle them and have to call another boat over to help. This is at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, remember.
Sound familiar?
That was from today’s story. It is interesting that we find such very similar stories bracketing Jesus' public life -- one at the very beginning and one at the end of his time in human form. Now, either that was a single happening tucked into two different stories told by two different communities, or it is the sort of metaphor Jesus used often to explain the overwhelming abundance of God’s provision for us all.
Because that is what it’s all about – not fish, but God’s abundance – the richness and profusion of God’s love for us.
And that’s what today’s reading from John is about – Love. And especially the love it shows that existed between Jesus and his disciples; not just awe and admiration, but simple human-to-human affection.
And that’s why I love this story. We’re told throughout the gospels that God loves us. That Jesus lived and died with us to show God’s love for us. And that is all true – God loves us.
But sometimes it all seems a little distant. We can’t get over feeling that God seems to be loving us from afar. Jesus came to love us in person, yes, but it still sometimes in scripture seems as if the disciples’ response -- and our own later response – is compounded of a little bit of love and a big amount to awe. It doesn’t always convey plain old kitchen variety love.
The story tells us that Pater announced he’s going out to fish. Well, he was a fisherman. That's what he did. Why the big announcement? In author John Shea’s telling of this particular story he says what Peter really said, “I'm going out to weep,” but the others heard him say “I’m going out to fish,” and decided to go with him.
This just seems to fit, for me. Sure, they have seen the risen Jesus, but then he disappeared again...and they’re alone, again. They don’t know what is going on. They are most likely still lost because they still really don’t understand.
So, confused and grieving, they all go back to the one thing they know – fishing. And even there, they fail to catch a single fish, so no they can add failure to grieving and confusion.
When they come in to shore, there’s Jesus again, just as he had been so many times before – even though they don’t immediately recognize him. Once again he tells them where to go cast their nets, and they do – with the expected results. And when they come in this same guy is just sitting there, inviting them to share his breakfast–no fanfare, no formality–just a guy on the beach. And, finally, it clicks. It’s Jesus!
Peter is so excited he jumps into the lake to swim in to shore. He literally cannot wait to be with Jesus again. And for a while, they are just a bunch of guys having breakfast together.
This isn’t a story about theology, although some sneaks in here. This is a story about a bunch of guys who have, over the years together, grown to love each other. Not command, not worship, but love with the intimacy that comes with old friendships and having gone through good times and bad times--together.
This is a squad, a family, a posse, and after being torn apart, they’re back together again, if only for a while.
But the love goes on forever.
So today is number three—and, as I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, it is my favorite. Before we get into this reading I want to ask if anyone noticed a sense of déjà vu when we read this scripture today? Besides just having heard it in other Easter seasons? That would be because we’ve heard a very similar fishing story already this year.
Back in Epiphany season—between Christmas and Lent—our readings were all from Luke and they chronicled the very earliest events in Jesus’ public ministry, starting from his baptism by John, through the calling of the disciples, to his first forays into public teaching.
On the fifth Sunday of Epiphany, sometime in February, we heard this story: Jesus has been healing people in the region of Capernaum and now the crowds were so great they were in danger of shoving Jesus right into the lake. So he climbed into a boat, which happened to be Simon Peter’s and had him pull out from the shore. From there he could teach the people without being swamped himself.
When he finished teaching, he told Peter and the others to put out into deep water and throw out their nets. They complained that they’ve been doing just that all night without catching anything, but Jesus insists they do as he says – and of course they catch so many fish they can’t handle them and have to call another boat over to help. This is at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, remember.
Sound familiar?
- Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.
That was from today’s story. It is interesting that we find such very similar stories bracketing Jesus' public life -- one at the very beginning and one at the end of his time in human form. Now, either that was a single happening tucked into two different stories told by two different communities, or it is the sort of metaphor Jesus used often to explain the overwhelming abundance of God’s provision for us all.
Because that is what it’s all about – not fish, but God’s abundance – the richness and profusion of God’s love for us.
And that’s what today’s reading from John is about – Love. And especially the love it shows that existed between Jesus and his disciples; not just awe and admiration, but simple human-to-human affection.
And that’s why I love this story. We’re told throughout the gospels that God loves us. That Jesus lived and died with us to show God’s love for us. And that is all true – God loves us.
But sometimes it all seems a little distant. We can’t get over feeling that God seems to be loving us from afar. Jesus came to love us in person, yes, but it still sometimes in scripture seems as if the disciples’ response -- and our own later response – is compounded of a little bit of love and a big amount to awe. It doesn’t always convey plain old kitchen variety love.
The story tells us that Pater announced he’s going out to fish. Well, he was a fisherman. That's what he did. Why the big announcement? In author John Shea’s telling of this particular story he says what Peter really said, “I'm going out to weep,” but the others heard him say “I’m going out to fish,” and decided to go with him.
This just seems to fit, for me. Sure, they have seen the risen Jesus, but then he disappeared again...and they’re alone, again. They don’t know what is going on. They are most likely still lost because they still really don’t understand.
So, confused and grieving, they all go back to the one thing they know – fishing. And even there, they fail to catch a single fish, so no they can add failure to grieving and confusion.
When they come in to shore, there’s Jesus again, just as he had been so many times before – even though they don’t immediately recognize him. Once again he tells them where to go cast their nets, and they do – with the expected results. And when they come in this same guy is just sitting there, inviting them to share his breakfast–no fanfare, no formality–just a guy on the beach. And, finally, it clicks. It’s Jesus!
Peter is so excited he jumps into the lake to swim in to shore. He literally cannot wait to be with Jesus again. And for a while, they are just a bunch of guys having breakfast together.
This isn’t a story about theology, although some sneaks in here. This is a story about a bunch of guys who have, over the years together, grown to love each other. Not command, not worship, but love with the intimacy that comes with old friendships and having gone through good times and bad times--together.
This is a squad, a family, a posse, and after being torn apart, they’re back together again, if only for a while.
But the love goes on forever.
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