Third Sunday of Easter
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Scripture |
John 21:1-1921 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2 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. 3 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. 4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 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. 12 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. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
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Devotional |
This is an unusual story. The story relates the extremes. First there are no fish and then too many fish, no recognition of Jesus and recognition of Jesus, Peter puts on his clothes to go swimming, and then the fish count. Jesus serves as camp cook. So far in the story, Peter has not figured out his role in the new order so he has gone back to fishing. Because this story is so unusual, it may reveal to us what early discipleship was like and some problems the disciples have in accepting their role. I believe that Sandra Schneiders assists us in understanding as she writes: The interpretation of the final chapter of the Gospel of John is conditioned by the interpreter’s answer to two basic questions. First, is chapter 21 an appendix added to chapters 1-20 by a later redactor who intended to modify or even correct the theology of the evangelist? Second, is this chapter intended to be a quasi-literal account of a historical event, or is it an essentially symbolic exploration of the postresurrection experience of the Johannine community with implications for the church of all time? 1 This is the account that takes us beyond the story of those who saw to those who believed. The beloved disciple whom Jesus loved recognizes Jesus and responds, “It is the Lord.” In the Gospel of John the Beloved Disciple is the witness who recognizes God’s self-revelation in Jesus. The Beloved Disciple recognizes Jesus and Simon Peter responds. Schneiders refers to these related activities as contemplation and mission. Ideally every disciple would recognize Jesus and take the appropriate action toward mission but usually this does not happen. Have you been called to action because someone discovers ‘it is the Lord’? As disciples of Jesus we need to be in the company of the Beloved Disciple and Simon Peter. One reminds us of the presence of the Lord and the other calls us to action. Without them, we have trouble figuring out our role in this new order and like Peter go back to fishing. Chapter 21 of John provides us with the examples of being a disciple in the church of Jesus Christ. Prayer: Lord, we often do not recognize you in our presence but those around us point to you. Help us to be a Beloved Disciple1 Sandra M. Schneiders, Written That You May Believe: Encountering Jesus in the Fourth Gospel. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1999. p. 224 |