Rev. Timm High Reflecting on Faith, Hope & Love
John 21.1-8, 15-17
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after day break, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?”
They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter,
“It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off…When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John,
do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time,
“Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
To the saints who serve God as disciples in Jesus’ name in First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, greetings;
It is again the Season of Easter. The preparation time, going back to Ash Wednesday, six weeks of Lent including Palm/Passion Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter: it’s over. The day of Easter is past, the Season of Easter, fifty days lasting until Pentecost, has begun.
John’s story is similar to one in Luke 5. His purpose is to show how Jesus continued to be present to the disciples not only in the wake of the day of Easter, but the days continuing after Easter. Peter wants to go back and Jesus doesn’t stop him from going back, he simply shares that there’s no going back to before Peter encountered Jesus.
The Season of Easter is a reminder that not only is every Sunday a mini-Easter, every day is a day of resurrection because of what God has done in the person of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit in demonstrating that death is not the final word of God but resurrection is. The Season of Easter is a reminder to us that, being Easter people—people of the resurrection—there is no going back to before we were encountered by Jesus!
Thank you for the privilege of being your temporary supply pastor. May this season of your life find you doing the best you can in all that you do with all you have, given God’s help, amidst the challenges and comforts that come your way.
Be Well…Timm