Stephen
Baldwin
NT:
John 21.1-19
Peter’s
Redemption
Kerry and I were out to dinner a few
weeks ago, and I saw a gentleman from the side that I just knew was my friend
Bob Bondurant, the retired Marshall University campus minister. Bob’s the kind of guy you can see coming. He wears pastel suits, big wire-rimmed
glasses, has a great head of white hair, and always wears his championship ring
won by Marshall on the football field when he was their chaplain. Bob is retired now and lives in Huntington,
so I was thrilled to see him in town unexpectedly.
I walked over to Bob with a big smile on
my face, put my hand on his shoulder, and said, “Well, look who came to
town! Howdy, Bob!”
He turned around, and…it wasn’t
Bob! Bad hair, different glasses, no ring. Bob always has a kind glimmer in his eye, and
this guy’s eyes were saying that he thought I was crazy! So then I had to try and quickly explain that
I thought he was someone else…which is never comfortable. Have you ever mistaken one person for another? It’s embarrassing.
The disciples know what it feels
like. They’ve mistaken Jesus several
times. Before his death, they pretended
not to know him. In fact, Peter denied
him how many times? Three times he
denied him. After his death, they failed
to recognize him...twice. First by the
tomb and then in the locked house when Thomas asks to touch his wounds. So today’s story on the lakeshore marks the
third time Jesus appears post-resurrection to his anything-but-insurrection-ing
crew.
They’re out on the boat, fishing at
night. As the sun rises, a man on the
shore calls out, “Any luck, boys?”
“No,” they say. Surely disgusted or ashamed with themselves
for being found out. But he gives them
some advice.
“Try over there.”
They do, and the results astonish
them. They catch so many fish they can’t
even keep up with the work! That’s when
they start wondering who the man on the shore is. How did he know? Why did he tell them? Unless…it’s Jesus?
Immediately, Peter does the strangest
thing. More awkward than mistaking a
random guy for Bob Bondurant. He’s on
the boat, apparently just wearing his skivvies to fish, but when he realizes
Jesus is on the beach, he throws on clothes, jumps in the water, and furiously
swims to shore.
At Bible Study this week, we agreed that’s
the most curious part of the story.
Why’s he fishing in his privies?
Well, apparently that was customary in that day, but I surely hope it
doesn’t catch back on here at the river in Ronceverte.
Why does he put on clothes and then jump
in the water? To show respect. He knows where he’s going—to shore by Jesus’
side—and he wants to look respectable when he gets there, even if he’s soaking
wet. This is Peter’s redemption. This is his chance to show that he won’t
mistake Jesus ever again. So when the
opportunity presents itself, he takes it.
If you’ve ever let someone you love down, seriously, then you know how
desperate Peter is to make things right.
Eventually they all come back to shore
and Jesus suggests they eat breakfast.
This is how we know Jesus was a Presbyterian; he always wanted to break
bread together, no matter what time of day or where they happened to be.
Then he gets down to business. He asks Peter, “Do you love me?”
Peter says, “Of course I do.”
“Then feed my sheep.”
A second time he asks, “Do you love me,
Peter?”
Again he says, “Yes, of course I
do. You know that.”
“Then tend my lambs.”
A third time Jesus asks the same
question. “Do you love me?” Peter is hurt. Why does Jesus need to ask him a third
time?
Because how many times did Peter deny
Jesus before the crucifixion? Three
times. How many times does Jesus appear
post-resurrection to the disciples?
Three times. And finally, how
many times does Jesus ask Peter to proclaim his love? Three times.
Poetry?
Yes. But also something much
more. Marching orders. Peter’s redemption is also his calling. He’s to spend the rest of his life fulfilling
those marching orders. And so are we.
In this season of resurrection, it
bears repeating what Jesus wants. He
wants us to pick up where he left off.
He wants us to do what he did. He
wants us to take care of those he cannot care for any longer.
“Feed my sheep.” These are his final wishes, and we are
charged with carrying them out. Let
there be no mistaking that. Amen.
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