What a Life! for May 2-6, 2007

One of my favorite resurrection stories is John’s account of Jesus’ appearance on the Sea of Tiberias. It is a blueprint for the way Jesus’ followers should act.

The apostles apparently had moved from Jerusalem to Galilee and were trying to put their lives back together again. When anyone experiences tragedy or loss, they have to readjust their lives. This is not going to happen in a week or even a month. It takes time. The disciples were confused and probably still depressed and unsure of themselves.

Simon Peter decided he is going back to his old profession of fishing. He declares to the other disciples, “I am going fishing.” They decide to join him. They proceed without Christ or his blessing. All night they catch nothing. Jesus then appears and suggests they cast their net over the right side of the boat, and they catch this tremendous amount of fish.

Lesson One: We need to invite Jesus to be part of our lives. Jesus told us, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We all need to invite Jesus to be part of our lives.

The next thing we see is Jesus to cooking breakfast, consisting of fish and bread. (This probably sounds weird to us in the United States.) Notice that Jesus invited them to bring some fish they had just caught. Lesson Two: Jesus respects our working with him. Jesus could have provided all the fish if he wanted to, but he respected the work of the apostles. Jesus wants to work with each of us in promoting the Kingdom of God. Are we willing to work with Jesus?

Next, they haul the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them. John mentions that although there were many fish, the net was not torn. The hundred fifty-three fish represent every known nation of the world at that time. Lesson Three: The church must include all nations. The fact that the net was not torn means that there is room for people from all over the world. The church is by its very nature multi-cultural, open to everyone.

Jesus then said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” They recognized Jesus when he “came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.” They renewed their life together in the sharing of a meal. Lesson Four: We need to restore the family meal. Meals are important. We share not only food, but we come to know each other and share our lives, our dreams, our struggles, our hopes for the future. So many activities have pulled the modern family apart that many people no longer share a meal together. This has had a detrimental effect on family life today. Eating together is important. Families need to reevaluate what is pulling them apart.

After breakfast, Jesus said to Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He responds, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus tenderly allows Peter to heal the relationship damaged by his triple denial with his triple affirmation of love. Many of us are like Peter in our inconsistent response to Jesus’ invitation to follow him in a life of love. Lesson Five: The Lord did not give up on Peter and he does not give up on us. Like Peter, sometimes our self-interests outweigh our loyalty to Christ. Jesus forgave Peter and he forgives us.

Lesson Six: The love talked about in this gospel is neither emotional nor sentimental. The love that Jesus requires of us is a self-sacrificing love that might “lead (us) where (we) do not want to go.” However, Jesus clearly tells us, “Follow me!”