14th April 2013 Third week of Easter . John 21:1-19.
Have you ever wondered why the exact number of fish is mentioned in this passage from John? Can you remember how many large fish there were? (153) The exact number reflects the known species of fish at the time, so saying 153 were in the net, points to show that all fish, in other words all people, were to be part of God’s new Kingdom.
It is a passage which focuses on Peter, a leader still, initiating the fishing trip leaping out of the boat to go to Jesus, leaping back in again to drag the net ashore, and get dressed, and then facing his commissioning and interrogation.
The incident recalls an earlier incident in Luke, which has Jesus again teaching the professionals how to fish and forcing a response of worship from Peter.
Entering this passage imaginatively brings us face to face with the lord: compassionate, caring, the risen Lord of Glory who, as the early morning mists melt away makes a fire and cooks breakfast for his overjoyed but overwhelmed disciples.
The reinstatement of Peter is repeated three times; suggesting echoes of the denials.
Somehow these men are still clinging to Jesus’ physical presence, but between this commissioning and Peter’s sermon at Pentecost and predicted martyr’s death has to come full reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit and their full assurance that the living Christ is with them forever and everywhere.
And of course the importance of Paul’s conversion is underlined by the detailed length of the account, which is told three times in Acts. This time and twice more in Paul’s own first person testimonies. Luke is emphasizing that Paul can legitimately claim apostle status beside the others, partly because, as we see in
Paul’s letters and other incidents in Acts, he is challenged on this issue.
His conversion contains elements that are important for all Christians.
Paul has a personal encounter with the risen Lord. Paul is humbled, for he approached Damascus in self-righteous assurance that he is doing the will of God in seeking to imprison the Christians with servants who will obey his orders. Yet he arrives stumbling and blinded, led by those he had commanded and facing the enormity of what he had done.
Paul is restored and forgiven. A brave man, Ananias, comes and imparts God’s healing, the gift of the Holy Spirit and baptism. Paul is called to lifelong service. God has revealed this to Ananias, but it is Ananias who passes on the calling to Paul and Paul is brought into the fellowship with other believers.
People today called to God’s service have their calling affirmed by others, they too have personal encounters with the risen Lord, are humble, seek restoration and forgiveness from God and are part of the fellowship of believers.
And even today believers are told, as Peter was and as Paul did, to feed the lambs, tend the sheep and feed the sheep.
People who do not yet know the living Lord need us to make the connections. They need us to pray for them that they will respond; that they will experience the love which God has for us all. Like lambs they need to be treated gently, fed carefully and protected until they can grow into mature Christians.
May God be with you as you shepherd those known to you.
AMEN
Rev’d Edwina Wallace.