 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri Saturday, April 30, 2022 Easter 3 – part 2 John 21:1-19  Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the sea of Tiberius; 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’m 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 daybreak, 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 gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.  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.” After this he said to him, Follow me.”  Thing to wonder about before Sunday Who might those other unnamed disciples be? Or, who might they represent? Why did they all follow Peter, whose idea it was to go fishing? What does this suggest about Peter’s personality? How did the “disciple whom Jesus loved”, ie, John, recognize Jesus? Why do you think Peter believed him? Why were the disciples “afraid” to ask who he was, and how did they know it was the Lord? What does the resurrected Jesus do that made them know? Why does Jesus keep badgering Peter with the same question over and over? What does the Lord repeatedly ask Peter to do? What does it mean to the Lord to be loved? Or, what does it mean for Peter – or anyone – to love him? Why does Jesus end by saying, simply, “Follow me?” |
Categories:
Tags:
No responses yet