From Faith to Action

John 21:1-19

Today’s scripture comes from the final verses of the Gospel of John. It’s the story of the “First Breakfast.” And one key to understanding today’s passage is found in the opening words – the text begins: “After these things Jesus shows himself again to the disciples…” After what?

Looking back we find this is Jesus’ fourth appearance after his resurrection. John tells us of Jesus showing himself to Mary at the empty tomb. And then later in the same day the disciples are gathered in a room together – a room which is locked because of their fear of the Jews, and what might be done to them if the Jews found them – and Jesus appears to them; he appears and they were thrilled. Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit into them and tells them, “Just as the Father sent me, I send you.” … Go, he says, continue to follow me.

But we learn that Thomas wasn’t in the room with the disciples when Jesus appeared, and the thought of someone coming back from the dead was just too preposterous to believe – so Thomas insisted that he must see for himself. Eight days later, Jesus appears again to Thomas and the disciples. … Now what strikes me about this is that eight days have passed – Jesus had filled them with God’s Spirit and given them his ministry to do. “As the Father has sent me, I send you – go and continue my ministry; go and forgive people’s sins; go…” And eight days later here we still are – in a locked room together when Jesus appears for Thomas, to move Thomas from doubt to faith…

Then today’s verses begin by telling us that several of the disciples were gathered by the Sea of Tiberias, and then Peter says, “I’m going fishing…” Wait – what? Is that what Jesus meant when he said, “I send you”? … Simon, don’t you remember three years ago Jesus said, “Follow me” and you left that kind of fishing behind. You left it behind and instead you learned how to heal people and forgive sins? You learned what God’s love was like, and Jesus sent you out to share it with other people? What in the world are you doing in a boat, fishing? …

You now, at times it’s so easy to question and criticize what someone else is doing – especially the disciples, who are so often painted as a clueless bunch. But the disciples have just come through several days of overwhelming events – Jesus is hailed and celebrated by the people as God’s anointed one as he enters the city of Jerusalem; then all too soon he is arrested, betrayed by one of their own, and then killed like a common criminal. The world as they had come to know it ended that day … and then Jesus appears to say all is well, go and continue my ministry.

I think it’s human nature when we’re faced with overwhelming life events to try to retreat to what we know, to what we’ve “always done” – to go to work, or go shopping, to hang with our friends, or go fishing… But for the disciples, and for you and me, this doesn’t work. You see, once you’ve encountered the risen Christ, once you’ve moved from doubt to faith, life is never the same. You can’t go home again because the lens you look at the world through is different – you are different. Certainly your physical body may be the same, but the Spirit that lives within has changed.

And yet, we try. How often, like the disciples we try to return to what is familiar – and stick with it hour after hour casting our net over the side, even when it no longer works. … Like you, I have encountered the risen Christ in many ways over the years. When I was 26, I met him in the form of two teenagers, who led me back to God and back to the church. In the life and in their living, I came to understand a different way of being, one which ended my searching for meaning in the world’s religions and brought me face-to-face with Christ. And in 1996, I met him again, in a new way, on an airplane about a half-an-hour south of Indianapolis that almost crashed but didn’t. … As I look back over my life, I see so many times I carried the memory of my encounter with Jesus, holding it close to me as I tried to go back to my life as it was. … I see a little of Peter in my life – do you see him in yours?

Yet, wherever we are, Jesus meets us there offering us sustenance and support. “Cast your net on the other side,” he says. “Now come and have breakfast.” Jesus meets us where we are and breaks bread with us – invites us to dine at his table, just as we are… But he doesn’t leave us there…

Most scholars believe that Jesus gave Peter three times to declare his love as a way to wipe clean his three time denial, to bring him back to where he was before. And they may be right, but I believe there’s more. You see, Jesus is not only trying to bring Peter back to where he was before – Jesus is trying to move him beyond that. Jesus looks Peter in the eye and reminds him of his purpose – Follow me. In the same way Jesus returned for Thomas, to move him from doubt to faith, Jesus now returns for Peter – to move Peter from faith to action. … Do you love me? Feed my sheep.

Perhaps in these days after the resurrection we need that as much as Peter did. We, too, have come down from the heights Easter and perhaps this week find ourselves stuck in the same old routine. We have seen the risen Lord and believed, but what difference has it made? Perhaps, like Peter, having heard the invitation to follow so long ago, we need to hear it again. . .

Imagine with me for a moment – in the midst of your daily routine, Jesus looks at your face and addresses you by name. “[name], Do you love me more than these?” Jesus asks. Not “more than these other people love me.” No. Jesus wants to know – do you love me more than you love other things? Do you love me more than the money the fish will bring; more than the nets that trap and snare us; more than the praise and respect that others give us; more than the things of this world that we think will hold us up when the storms come? … What will you say?… When he hears you answer, listen to Jesus say to you, “Feed my lambs.”

“Do you love me?” Jesus asks us a second time because he knows it’s not that easy. He wants us to remember what grounds us, gives us courage, and keeps us walking forward embodying the love of God (just as he did) when others question our actions… “[name], do you love me?” Can you put me before all this, before all others? … “Tend my sheep,” Jesus replies.

Then, yet again, a third time, the tender but unnerving question, before you have had time to settle your mind and heart. He asks, “[name], Do you love me?” Perhaps Jesus asks the third time because we need that to reflect, to understand, to believe that we are loved – unconditionally, beyond anything we can imagine. Even with our doubts, we remember that God knows our thoughts – God knows when we lie down and when we awake – God knows our hearts. With the Psalmist we also say, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.” And so, maybe you will reply as Peter did, “Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you.” … Jesus answers, “Feed my lambs.” … …

Each time I came away from my encounter with the risen Christ changed, yet uncertain what to do with it. I met Jesus and moved to faith, yet what’s next – life is supposed to be different, isn’t it? But how? – Perhaps this was true for you, too?… I met Jesus through paralyzing fear and the miracle of a plane brought out of a dead dive from more than 6,000 feet – and yet at times I had difficulty admitting it even happened. … And so I would retreat, at least for a time, to what was familiar even if it no longer sustained me… and Jesus met me there to offer sustenance and nurture, like breakfast on the beach after a long night of fishing. He met me in the church and showed me a life of joy. He walked with me for hours and days and months after those terrifying moments in the airplane and deepened and grew within me the peace that comes from knowing (deeply knowing) to Whom I belong. … And then he looked me in the eye and said, “Do you love me? Feed my lambs. Follow me.”

Follow me. … What does that look like? Perhaps it’s not remaining silent when the customer ahead of you is belittling the cashier. Follow me… perhaps it’s creating a Facebook page to raise awareness of the devastating effects not having a simple pair of shoes can have and reaching more than 8,000 people and getting more than 2,000 commitments to spend one day without shoes telling others why. Follow me… perhaps it’s a call to lead a bible study class for children, or coordinate meals for someone who is sick, or to mentor a youth who is preparing for their own confession of faith. “Do you love me? Feed my sheep.”…

Every day is Easter when our hearts are open to meeting the risen Lord. Where is he calling you to feed his sheep? I can tell you – every day is an adventure if you are willing to move from faith to action. You just never know where Jesus might lead you – perhaps to seminary and ordained ministry; perhaps even to a place unlike anywhere you’ve ever lived before, a place almost like heaven. Ah, what exciting times lie ahead – and Jesus will walk with you through it all. … … Do you love me? Feed my sheep. Follow me.

Let’s pray…