"God Is Not Finished"  Judy Skaggs

Scriptures: John 21:1-19

Last Sunday, our wonderful youth led us in worship, and preached on the text from John 20. At the end of John 20, it sounds as though the writer has said everything that needs to be said. He wraps it all up with these words, “These were written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” A great ending!

And yet, John or some other writer decided that there was one more story that needed to be told. That is our text today. Let us listen for how God might be speaking to us. Read John 21.

We know that the disciples have been on an emotional roller coaster the past few weeks. They had seen their Master ride into Jerusalem in a joyous procession of people waving palm branches, and only a few days later their friend had been arrested and convicted. That same crowd was shouting that he should be crucified. They watched as Jesus died on the cross and was laid in the tomb. And then early on the first day of the next week, the women came to the disciples telling them that Jesus was no longer in the tomb and that he had risen from the dead.

Last week we heard the story of the risen Christ appearing to them giving them peace, breathing the spirit upon them, showing Thomas the nail prints in his hands and his pierced side. We really cannot imagine all that they were feeling.

So the writer gives us a wonderful story of another encounter with the risen Christ. It seems to me that the writer might be telling us – God is not finished – there is more to the story!

So Simon Peter and several of the disciples decide to go fishing – returning to something very familiar. Perhaps the Sea of Tiberius represented a safe place for them, like returning to an old friend.

John tells us that they fished all night and caught nothing. But that was not that unusual – we know of other gospel stories where they did not catch anything. Perhaps they just enjoyed being back on the water, being back in a familiar setting, doing something they had done before.

And while they are still out fishing, Jesus appears on the beach, and calls to them – have you caught anything? When they say that they have not, he tells them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. When they do, there are so many fish they can hardly haul them in. Immediately, John recognizes that it is the Lord! And Simon Peter jumps into the water and swims in to see Jesus.

As in all the post-resurrection appearance stories, the disciples do not readily recognize Jesus. In this case, it is when they obey his command to cast their nets that they know it is their Lord. When they follow his words to them, they are aware of his presence. Our choir has a wonderful anthem using some words of Albert Schweitzer – that Jesus comes as one who is unknown, but he continues to speak the same words – follow thou me. And it is in that following, that obedience, that experiencing of Christ, that we learn who he is.

And in their obedience, they are given nets filled to overflowing. God is not finished!

Jesus then invited them to a meal, a breakfast of bread and fish - a meal that would provide nourishment and renewal and fellowship with Christ and with each other. Christ continues to provide a meal for our nurture and strength. We gather at this table to remember, to fellowship with each other, but most of all to meet the risen Christ, for he is always our host. God is not finished!

When they had finished breakfast, we listen in on a conversation between Jesus and Simon (note that Peter is called by his earlier name here.) It has been suggested that this encounter is Peter’s reinstatement as a disciple. He had denied that he even knew Jesus three times the night of Jesus’ arrest, so three times Jesus asks him to confess his love. God was not finished with Peter!

We also see that this is one of those texts where the English translation does not bring out the full impact of the Greek. In Greek there are several different words for “love,”  and two of them are used here. One is agapao – agape – which usually describes the kind of unconditional love that God has for us. As in, “For God so loved the world…” The other used here is phileo, a human love expressed in friendship.

So Jesus asks – do you apage me? Do you love me with the same love that I have for you? Now perhaps in former days, Peter would have said – of course, Lord! But Peter has been humbled or maybe he is just being completely honest. He replies – Lord, you know that I phileo you – I love you as a brother, a friend. I love you as humans are capable of loving.

And even though Peter could only answer with this kind of love, Jesus commissions him – feed my lambs.

A second time, Jesus asks, do you agape me? Peter answers the same – you know I phileo you, and again Jesus commands him – take care of my sheep.

But the third time, Jesus asks, Simon do you phileo me? Jesus is accepting that this is the way that Simon can love him. And Peter answers – Lord, you know everything, you know that I phileo you.

How very gracious of the Lord. Jesus taught that we are to love the Lord with our whole being, with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength. For Jesus has loved with his whole life. But each of us knows that if we are honest, there are times when we must say, like Peter, Lord, I cannot love you with agape love, in the same way you have loved me. But like here with Peter, Jesus will take whatever love we can give at any given time.

And Jesus will continue to send us out to feed his sheep and care for his lambs. Even though Peter could not declare unconditional, sacrificial love for Christ, he is given sacrificial work to do in Christ’s name. And we are given the same work.

Simply put, feeding and caring for others may be the most direct way that we show our love for Christ. In this passage, Jesus says it again and again – feed my sheep, care for my sheep, feed my lambs. All are included, the young, the newborn, the older, the whole flock!

Declaring love for Christ is just the beginning. And in some ways, love is not enough. For if that love is not put into action, how do we know that we really meant it?

For ultimately what Jesus says to Simon Peter is “Follow Me!” And ultimately, that is the same call we hear. For God is not finished with Simon or with you or with me. The Risen Christ will continue to invite us to share in this meal, to nourish and strengthen us. He will continue to show us his presence through our obedience, and through his love. But he will always call us to go further that we think we can go, to love more deeply, to feed and to care for some of the flock that we might just as soon not. But the call remains – follow me! Feed my lambs! Care for my sheep! And it is in the following and in that feeding and caring that we come to love Christ more and more.

So let our prayer be – O Christ, we love you, but we want to learn to love you more. We pray that you are never finished with us. Amen.