John 21:1-19.                                      Feed My Sheep                                 10/4/16

{3} "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. {4} Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. {5} He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. {6} He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. {7} Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!"

{15} When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." {16} Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." {17} The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. {18} I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." {19} Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

What an encouragement we have here in this reading! Yet also, it is a sobering reminder of some of the realities of what we have got ourselves involved in when we were brought into the Christian faith. Life is full of ups and downs; frustrations and challenges; exciting projects and failures; life and death. For most of us life is full: work and leisure; family, friends and church; and so we are on the go all the time.

So in some respects, the emotions of Easter often seem to parallel our own feelings and life. The sufferings, injustices and tragedy of Good Friday, the joys and peace of Easter Sunday. Sin and its consequences ever before our eyes, and the highs and joys that the Christian message has for us. The ups and downs, with all their stresses and stains constantly playing an active role in our lives.

So, often we want to just have a break and have some relief for a while: wanting to be rejuvenated and reaffirmed. Sometimes we just want to get away from it all and have a breather for a while. Sometimes we just want to give up and escape, go on a holiday and not come back.

So in a number of ways we are like Peter and company here in this reading. Post Easter they went to get away from it all – gone fishing – don’t know when we’ll be back. Now for Peter I can understand it – I think – in some way: poor bloke; his theology wouldn’t let him accept the fact that Jesus should die. It did not fit his concept of the kingdom of God. When Jesus is arrested he, jumps in feet first, with sword swinging and cuts off the ear of one of the men that came to arrest Jesus. So Jesus has to rebuke him again.

Then after saying how he would stick by Jesus through thick and thin, he only a very short time later denies his Lord three times. Then to top it all off, Jesus is crucified on the cross as he said he would and then surprise, surprise, he rises again three days later and appears to them in the upper room. So now they know for sure that this Jesus is everything that he said he was. But also Peter knows that he is a very poor specimen of the follower that he should have been.

Now I know that if I was Peter, at that point, I would now want to run for my life. I would want to go back fishing or farming or whatever, to get away from it; go on a holiday. Maybe, hopefully, be able to pick up some pieces of a former life. I would be thinking how on earth could I carry on as one of the leaders of Jesus’ followers. What a miserable let down I have proved to be. Yes, fishing, farming or something else would be a pretty good option.

But, how stupid even that would be. Peter fishes all night and catches nothing – not even a tiddler or a useless carp. Then look what happened to Jonah when he tried run, and finishes up getting swallowed by a whale. As much as fishing seemed a good option – even there his own weakness and the realities of life hits him again. Then to add insult to injury, this guy turns up on the beach and tells him to throw the net over the other side. Enough to make one really feel bad and mad.

But then, guess what? A net full of fish. A huge number of fish. Yes; it is the Lord again – it is the Lord! It is the one who called us at our baptism. The one who washed us clean and made us a part of his family, despite our sinful nature. The one who stood with us and beside us along the road of life as we fumbled and bumbled along; and as we got distracted and wandered this way and that.

This Lord who persisted with us when we just didn’t get it; when we failed to understand; or just when we failed completely. He was also with us and taught us, showing us even though we only caught glimpses of what he and his Word was on about. He was there when we too sought the glory road and when we denied him. And he is the one who comes to us as we seek a time of escape.

It is the Lord – it is the Lord!

It is the Lord Jesus who went to the cross and died for us. There being punished in our place, so that we might have forgiveness for our sins and the assurance of life and salvation. It was Jesus who rose again so that death would be defeated for us; and that we also would have full assurance of eternal life with our gracious God. It is this same Jesus who constantly comes to us in the bread and wine at the Lord’s Table, so that we might be reassured over and over again of the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation that he has won for us. It is the Lord – it is our risen Lord Jesus Christ that has come to us again and again.

He is with us, whoever we are and whether we are in highs of life or the lows. He is there with us when we struggle and when we have even given up. He continues to remind us that he is there and that he has the where with all to see us through. He is there with us to challenge us and encourages us on.

Here today our Lord Jesus comes to us again – to me – to you, and he says, Do you love me? He says, Do you love me more than all these other things? To us who have failed him; let him down; denied him and gone off and done our own thing:  to us all he says: Do you love me more than yourselves; more than the easy road through life; more than wanting your own view of what the Christian faith is all about; more than anything else? Do You?

Now there is a tough question. We are struggling, hurting and failing; a very poor specimen of a Christian. Weak and miserable. At the same time so centre on ourselves and caught up in world that is hell bent on doing its own thing and going downhill fast. In the midst of all this deep down we know that Jesus is the only real answer that we have. We know he is where it is at and the one sure hope that there is. So he says to us as he said to Peter: Then go and feed my lambs.

Then he goes on to ask us again – Do you really love me?               Do we? Really? Well then he says – feed my sheep. After which he repeats his question again – do you love me? Then he asks again a third time, those of us who have let him down time and again, the same question. Do you love me? Do you really mean it? Are we fair dinkum? If so – then he says again, Go and feed my sheep.

In all of that we have the Lord Jesus himself, come to us – you and me; and he recalls and reinstates us as his disciples – his special people. Despite our past failures: despite our weaknesses; he renews his call upon us and restates the task that he has in mind for us. We are again restored into that important role that he has in mind for us: we are commanded again to look after the flock of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus then goes on to remind Peter and us of what discipleship will mean for us. To Peter who wanted to deny the possibility of Jesus dying on a cross and who runs, hides and rejects knowing Jesus            for fear of suffering the same death, crucifixion; is now told that this will be the end result of his discipleship. He too would die for the faith. But in that he will glorify God. In that he will bring praise and honour to his Lord. Whew!! Tough stuff. Peter was told that his ministry would be rough. But that was the call that was put in front of him.

Yet there too, we are reminded again that our ministry will not be an easy road through life. Being a Christian will not be all smooth going for us. Now I hope though it does not mean crucifixion for us. But then again, he is Lord. But whatever – we are reminded that it will take a human toll on us. We are reminded that we too will have to take up our crosses along the way. The price is high, as we take care of his flock. The pressure from the devil, the world and our sinful self will be great and may well cost us dearly in human terms.

But, he is Lord. He has died on the cross for us and he has risen again. He is the Lord of life and death – the supreme Lord over all things. Just as Peter and the disciple were used mightily be God and that his Good News spread throughout the world as a result; so too does he promise that he will be at work in our lives bring about good in order to further his kingdom.

His challenge and encouragement is to get on with being the people that he wants us to be. Through the good times and the tough times to keep pointing others to Jesus Christ and the importance of his death and resurrection to us all. To give our Lord Jesus all glory and honour.

 He has laid his call on us and commands us to look after his Church – his people and to reach out to those around us. So our risen Lord Jesus says to you, to me, Follow me. So keep following our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the challenge that he has placed before us. Through it then, may all glory and honour go to him to whom belongs, now and always.         AMEN

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish