Third Sunday of Easter Archives - Page 3 of 3

There is something transcendent about early morning. The cold of the air begins to warm. The stars fade as new light emerges in the east. The dew on the grass glistens in the glimmer of the first rays of the sun. In the dawn, there is a sense of Presence, a perception that there is Something More here than you and I can see and hear and touch and taste and smell.

The disciples have had a night of fruitless toil. The sun is now coming up. Last night’s refuge of “I am going fishing” has turned into this morning’s forlorn “I have caught nothing.”

The One-who-is-Something-More stands on the shore. He has been on that shore before, calling them to follow him. He has told them to throw out their nets before. He has given them a huge catch before. All of this feels vaguely familiar. The Beloved Disciple recognizes the stranger: “It is the Lord!”

“It is the Lord!” every creature on earth also sings. “It is the Lord!” the elders and the living creatures of heaven sing.

For the disciples, this morning is the new day. The forlorn night is over. This is Jesus’ last appearance in the Gospel of John. Jesus makes all things new, including the broken heart of Peter: “Yes, Lord, I really love you!” “Follow me,” he says. A new era is about to begin.

The disciples do not just give up fishing. With Peter, they plunge wholeheartedly into the water; they offer their whole strength and the last drop of their heart’s blood for the truth of that resurrection. They are willing to give all they have for the sake of that name.

Each new day gives us that opportunity as well. At today’s sunrise, Jesus says to you and me as well, “Follow me.”

Consider/Discuss

At what time of day does the Spirit of God touch you most? Different people thrive at different times. Are you an early-morning person like I am? Do you share that same elation of the new day? If you are a night person, the joy of morning may not be yours; is there something transcendent, something more, about the night for you? Talk to someone with a different biorhythm than yours. How does God move you and at what time of day?
The early martyrs gave all that they had for Jesus. Christians in many parts of the world are persecuted for their faith. That may or may not be your experience. What does it mean to you to give all that you have for God?

Living and Praying with the Word

Lord, today we begin again. It is the Easter season, the time to rejoice in newness. You give us the morning. You give us the evening. You give us the night. We really do love you. We want to follow you. Let us put no limit on where we allow you to lead us, no end to our faithfulness in following you. We do not know what we are capable of, for your vision for this new day is grander than our own. Today, this day, help us to start anew.

Although, as we saw last week, many of the Jews in Jerusalem “esteemed” the apostles for the healing and preaching, the religious leaders are suspicious of the apostles and their message. Accordingly, the apostles have been summoned before the Sanhedrin, which once again commands them to cease teaching in the name of Jesus (see 4:17–18). Here the Sanhedrin objects in particular to the claims that it is somehow responsible for the death of Jesus. Peter announces that of course it does not have the authority to stop them from teaching, because they are acting in obedience to a higher authority. They must preach the gospel, even if it brings them “dishonor,” which they joyfully accept as the price of their fidelity to God.

Having written letters of encouragement and admonition to the seven churches of Asia (2:1–3:22), John now recounts his vision of the heavenly liturgy, in which Christ, as the Lamb, receives the worship of countless angels, elders, and others. They acknowledge with one voice that the slain Paschal Lamb is worthy of worship, adoration, praise, and thanksgiving for his sacrifice on behalf of all creation. The entire creation, without exception, rightfully acknowledges Christ’s right to sit on the throne and rule that creation, receiving everlasting obedience and fidelity. The four living creatures are hybrid creatures (4:6–8), a clear reference to the four creatures in Ezekiel’s vision of the divine chariot throne, who are in fact cherubim (Ezekiel 1:5–21; 10:20).

In his final conversation with the disciples in John’s Gospel, Jesus appears to them at the Sea of Tiberias as they are fishing. Having caught nothing all night, they prepare to go ashore when Jesus sends them back out. The haul of fish, numbered at 153, is most likely symbolic, but readers through the centuries have been unsure of exactly what. More importantly, the threefold confession of Peter that he loves Jesus represents his rehabilitation after his threefold denial on Holy Thursday (John 18:17, 25, 27). Peter is now the shepherd who will tend Christ’s flock, caring for them as Christ did. The final verses point to the crucifixion of Peter, once again reminding readers that even those most in Christ’s favor (or perhaps especially those) cannot escape suffering in his service.