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This text in John is similar to a story offered in Luke 5. It
is possible these describe two different accounts or have placed one incident
at different borders of Jesus’ earthly ministry. In many ways thinking
about this passage in conjunction with Luke 5 is helpful. In Luke 5, Jesus
uses the fishing expedition to open Simon’s eyes to who he really was.
It was in this revelation of who Jesus is, that Simon is made aware again
of his own sinfulness. Yet it is in the revelation Jesus offers Simon a new
name and a new vocation. With this Lucan text in mind, it is helpful to see
how in many ways Jesus was calling out to Peter again, to see if he really
was going to continue to live out his calling, despite his failings.
This text must be seen in connection with the events of the
Passion week. In the last meal recorded in John chapter 13 the focus is not
on bread and wine, which is really more connected to John 6, but guides our
Maundy Thursday text. The new command is given, “To love one another.”
This same evening Jesus pointed out that Judas would betray Him. Afterward
Peter proclaimed he is willing to lay down his life for Jesus. Jesus replied,
“Peter, tonight you will deny me three times.” We flash forward
to chapter 18. Jesus has been arrested and sent to the temple. There Peter
denies he knows Jesus to a little girl, a stranger in the crowd, and a servant
of the high priest; then the rooster crows. Mark records at that moment Jesus
looked at Peter and Peter ran away in horror and with a mountain of guilt
and shame.
With this backdrop our text serves as another key post-resurrection
encounter with the disciples. This narrative invites the reader to see themselves
as Peter and to consider the ways in which each one of us have walked away
and denied our Lord through our actions, attitudes, and words. Yet this nice
breakfast leaves the disciples and Church with the truth: to follow Jesus
is a road often filled with turmoil, strife, and pain, but it is the only
road to life.
There is another small exegetical note that should not be overlooked.
Clearly both the Old and New Testaments use numbers not so much to keep accurate
records for quantitative accuracy, but to say something larger and deeper.
However, numbers in Scripture serve a variety of purposes. In today’s
text, numbers play an important role. John records precisely how many fish
were caught, why? In addition the number 3 plays a critical role in connecting
certain narratives between Peter and Jesus.
Most people live with a certain amount of shame and guilt in
their lives. The tragedy is people do not see a way out of their misery, so
they continue to engage in further destructive and harmful behavior which
exacerbates the problem. Many of you know people who have walked away from
their faith. There are many reasons. Maybe they were so restricted they wanted
to break free and experience the “real world.” Perhaps some did
something terrible and the guilt and shame was so intense they did not feel
worthy of God’s love.
In my years as a pastor, I have had numerous encounters with
adults and teens who honestly felt they were not worthy of God’s love.
They had behaved so poorly they did not feel like they deserved forgiveness.
In response to this shame they continued to live up to that reality. They
continued to live destructive lives. They were almost afraid of success. They
were afraid of being in positions where others had to rely upon them.
The need this passage gets to is integral to the very central
tenet of the Gospel. What can be offered to people who feel themselves so
unworthy they refuse to accept the love and forgiveness God offers? There
is guilt over the past and the present. The guilt and shame is so powerful,
it offers them no hope or vision for a future outside their painful, destructive
patterns of behavior.
At this point it is very important we include both those who
have done wrong to others and also those who have been mistreated and abused
by others. It is easy to get into a soteriological rut and only speak to those
who have done wrong, but fail to address those who are the victims of other’s
abuse. Both of these needs must be addressed.
The guilt and shame that come from broken, sinful lives does
not have the final word. Both things we have done and have been done to us
do not necessarily have to be the narrative that shapes our future. In this
text we see Christ coming and reinstating Peter, even though He does so in
a way painful for Peter.
This passage also demonstrates how God uses individuals who
are not perfect, but who desire to be transformed. Jesus enables these men
to catch this great amount of fish, which the disciples haul in after Peter
goes for a quick swim to Jesus. Jesus already has a fire and breakfast ready
but He still invites them to contribute to the breakfast. And yet we should
think very carefully who provided all the fish: Jesus! However, this is not
to say the disciples’ obedience to Jesus was insignificant. The catch
Christ enabled them to experience and His gracious permission in encouraging
them to contribute to this meal is a powerful model of the vocation of all
Christians. The catch is always about God. The question is, “Will we
vacate our own identity and dreams to let God make us fishers of men and women?”
Our willingness to allow God to use us for the building of God’s kingdom
is powerful and our very means to life.
This text reminds us we have done nothing that invalidates us
from the love of God. God is continually seeking to redeem and restore us.
However this forgiveness and reconciliation is not simply guilt relief. Accepting
this gift will require everything from us. Do we really love Jesus? Yes. But
Jesus asks again, “No, do you really love Me?” We need to recognize
what loving Jesus will demand. This was demonstrated by Peter’s question
about John at the breakfast; the road of discipleship will bring about different
life experiences for all of us. But the commitment is the same. Our love for
Jesus demands we make our entire lives open to what God desires. Any attempt
to water down or lower the expectations simply means we do not love Christ.
(For the full manuscript
of this sermon go to www.preachersmagazine.org and click on “Sermons.”)
Because there is so much in this passage it is important to anchor around a couple of themes and drive them deeply. As Peter seems central to this text, it may be worthwhile to review some of his highs and lows. A great movie illustration for the scene of Peter swimming to Jesus comes from Forrest Gump. While Forrest is bringing his boat into the dock, and when he sees his friend on the shore, he jumps off his boat and swims to see Lt. Dan.
Despite being a silly scene, it is a picture of pure joy.
It is also worthwhile to pay attention to the numbers in the text. Many theologians
and pastors have explained or allegorized the significance of the 153 fish.
While the number 153 is probably itself not important, each individual fish
Jesus enabled them to catch was worthy of noting. This too might explain how
the Gospel is offered to the masses, but more than focusing on statistics,
each individual person matters.
Another number worth paying attention to is 3. Note how the
number 3 connects each of these stories. How many times did Peter deny Jesus?
On which day did Jesus rise from the tomb? How many times had Jesus appeared
to the disciples? How many times did Jesus ask Peter if he loved him? How
many times did Jesus commission Peter to be shepherd of the flock? Again it
is not so much emphasizing the number 3, as it seems John is connecting these
events.
It will be beneficial also to connect this story with Luke 5. What is of great significance is the connection of Peter’s identity as a fisherman. Furthermore Jesus addresses him in this passage as Simon, not Peter. Recall in Luke 5 Jesus gives Simon the new name Peter, meaning the “Rock,” which is his ecclesial identity. We must explore the significance of Jesus using the name Simon in this passage.