Image: from John 21, © Ally Barrett (www.reverendally.org) and used by permission.
May 4, 2025: Easter 3C
John 21:1-22
Last week, John’s Gospel ended. Or so we thought. There are three resurrection appearances in John chapter 20. In the first, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. In the second, he enters a locked room where his fearful disciples cowered. Instead of condemning them, he gave them his peace and sent them to continue the work of forgiveness with the power of Holy Spirit. And in the third, he invites the incredulous Thomas to touch his wounds, leading to his confession, “My Lord and my God.” The gospel then ended with this explanation: “….these (words) are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through believing, you may have life in his name.” It’s a tidy ending. Three appearances—a complete number. The disciples have been sent; the Holy Spirit has been given; the purpose of the book stated. The end.
But it turns out that this isn’t the ending. The evangelist, it turns out, has one more tale to tell.
If you’re thinking, “Haven’t we heard this story recently?”, you’re right. This is a parallel story with one in Luke’s Gospel, which we heard on February 9. But unlike Luke’s story, this one is placed sometime after the initial appearances of the risen Jesus. We don’t know how much time has passed, but it appears it is after the initial appearances of Jesus came to a close. Seven disciples are present. We don’t know why Peter went fishing that day. Maybe he still needed to provide for his family. Maybe he needed more time to process what had happened. Maybe he needed to go back to what he knew for a little bit. In any case, they’re out on the lake. And like Luke’s story, they’re skunked. Absolutely nothing ends up in their nets.
But then Jesus shows up again, uninvited, unannounced, and at first, unrecognized. Like Luke’s story, he tells them to let down their nets, and they raise a huge catch of fish, so many that they can’t bring them into the boat. Like Luke’s story, there is an epiphanic moment after they catch the fish, where they recognize Jesus’s power. Unlike that story, though, Peter doesn’t tell Jesus, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man.” No, Peter jumps off the boat and swims to Jesus! And on the shore, Jesus already has begun preparing a meal for them. Even after his ascension, even after breathing the Spirit on them, Jesus continues to show up and provide for his disciples.
And part of that provision includes helping Peter recommit to his call. We remember back in chapter 18 when Peter denied his discipleship three times. In contrast to Jesus’s “I am” statements when asked about his identity, Peter says three times, “I am not.” Here, after breakfast on the lake, Jesus ever-so-gently agitates Peter. “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Every time Peter says yes, Jesus says some variation of “Feed my sheep.” Even though Peter is hurt by this, it is a constructive hurt. At Jesus’s invitation, Peter recommits to his Lord and to his call to provide for Jesus’s people just as Jesus provides for them.
Sometimes in our lives, we can feel like we’re left to our own devices. I had some dark nights of the soul, particularly during COVID. And while I didn’t feel abandoned during Abby’s hospitalization last summer, I did wonder sometimes why we had to go through it. Sometimes we can feel like we’re on our own when we go through tough times. Sickness, job loss, divorce, financial hardship, trauma—all these things can make us feel isolated and alone. And the disciples felt this way from time to time; otherwise, they wouldn’t have been behind locked doors.
But just as Jesus breaks through to them, Jesus breaks through to us. Just as Jesus invites them to eat at his table, Jesus invites us. And just as Jesus remembers Peter and gives him renewed purpose, Jesus remembers us and renews our own calling as disciples. And we know what that calling is. “Feed my lambs.” “Feed my sheep.” Or as it is stated in the previous chapter, “Receive the Holy Spirit. When you forgive the sins of others, they are forgiven them.” We are called to provide for Jesus’s people. We are called to forgive the sins of others. And while pastors are especially called to these ministries, the truth is that Jesus gives these ministries to the whole church. Some of you may remember how Pastor Dennis began worship services with you all before I got here. After greeting you all with “Good morning, church!” he would say, “You are the body of Christ; you are the priesthood of all believers.” We are given great power as part of our calling to care for Jesus’s people. It’s not a light thing to forgive someone’s sins. In a world often bent on revenge, forgiveness is often seen as counter-cultural at best if not downright foolish. But it is the ministry that brings God’s shalom to a hurting, lonely, and anxious world.
That invitation is extended to you all today. You are invited to come and have breakfast at the table Jesus has set today. And while there isn’t fish there, there is bread and wine. And in, with, and under the bread and wine is the true body and blood of Jesus, given and shed for us all. In that meal is the forgiveness of our sins. In that meal is the empowerment of the Spirit that enables us to go out and do what Jesus has told us to do. In that meal is abundant life, for us and for the world. Come forward today and be renewed, refreshed, and empowered. Amen.
© 2025, David M. Fleener. Permission granted to copy and adapt original material herein for non-commercial purposes with appropriate credit given.