Pastor Tom Johnson, April 14, 2013
Some things in life complete a full circle. So it is with
Simon Peter the fisherman. You’ll remember that Simon was his birth name. Jesus
gave him the name Peter. The first time Simon met Jesus, he was fishing; and he was
failing to catch any fish. And here Simon Peter is fishing again after the
resurrection; and again, he is not having any success at catching fish. Even the fact that Simon Peter went back to his old vocation
as a fisher of fish, and not a fisher of humans, raises some questions. I want
to talk to Peter.
“Peter, have you lost faith? Are you feeling too guilty
about denying Jesus three times? Has your future grown smaller? Do you think you are now
disqualified to serve God by catching the imagination and hearts of
people—people who need to hear the good news of God who loves, forgives, and
gives eternal life? And here you are again in the Sea of Galilee by Tiberias.
Do you remember the first time telling Jesus that casting your net again would
be a waste of time…and how your net was so full you could not draw it in…and
that you said, ‘Depart from me for I am a sinful man’…and Jesus called you to
fish for people? (Luke 5:1-1). Do you remember, Peter, when you saw Jesus walk on water
and how he called you out to walk along with him…and how, when you were
overcome by panic and fear, you began to sink?” (Matt 14:22-33).
And here Peter is again, seeing the Lord—not walking on
water—but treading death, the devil, and hell itself under his feet—walking in
resurrected power. That is why I’m convinced that Simon Peter does remember. Because when he sees Jesus, he doesn’t shrink back in fear
and shame over his sin. He puts on his clothes and jumps into the sea. He makes
a flying leap toward his Lord. He cannot wait to bridge the gap between the
boat and land. I want to talk to Peter again: “Did you put clothes on
because you fear hypothermia? Did you get dressed before jumping into the water
because you want to be ready for an immediate journey? Or Did you think you
will walk on water again?” Whatever the reason, the separation between Peter and Jesus
is intolerable. Peter does not have the patience to wait for the fish to be
drawn into the boat and row ashore. Peter himself is caught—hook, line, and
sinker—by the transformative grace of God and the Word of Jesus.
You sometimes hear how people’s whole lives flash before
their eyes—how their story is played in rapid succession in their minds—and how
their life becomes a story with purpose. This is such a time for Peter. And the fact that Jesus uses both his birth name, Simon, and
baptismal name, Peter, is a sure indicator that Jesus wants Peter to see the
power and purpose of his life. He is reminding Peter that he is a creature—but
that he is God’s creature. Jesus is still calling Simon, the sinner. Jesus is still
calling Peter, the rock. Peter is broken humanity; he is redeemed humanity. He
is still a work in progress. The Lord has not given up on him. He is still
called to be a fisher for people. Even the question, “Do you love me?” three times is a
painful reminder of Jesus’ prediction that Peter would deny him three times
before the rooster crowed. The rooster has cried out in conviction. Now Jesus
is crying out in forgiveness—three times for every denial as if to emphasize
that Peter’s sins are completely covered. Jesus calls Peter to fish for people. Jesus calls Peter to
feed and tend the Good Shepherd's flock. Jesus calls Peter out of a horrific
cycle of guilt and sin. And Peter is so overcome with joy that he jumps into
the sea.
He jumps into the sea just like the irrational and impulsive
Peter we have grown to know and love in the Gospels. He jumps into the sea to
be closer to Jesus, even though it is more chaotic and uncomfortable than the
boat or dry land. He jumps into the sea because he knows he’s safe. He has
been through storms with Jesus and even walked on the water with him. He jumps
into the sea, because he knows that the path of the resurrection has always
been through water—whether it was salvation through the flood in Noah’s ark,
deliverance from Pharaoh’s army through the Red Sea, deliverance to the
Promised Land across the Jordan River, or through the water, Word, and Holy
Spirit of Baptism. Peter jumps into the sea of his own future—a future of
fishing for people and tending and feeding them as God’s sheep. But it is a
future that will not be easy and will echo the sufferings of Jesus himself. Peter jumps into the sea. Don’t you also want that same kind
of exuberance and joy of the resurrection? I do. Don’t you also want to be so
excited about others knowing the love of God that we are ready to leap into the
chaos of what we also call “ministry”? It may be cold, exhausting, and
difficult. But Jesus is ashore to welcome us, forgive us, feed us, and empower
us for the journey ahead. Will you jump into the water with me?
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