Our readings today are very much about vision, of seeing the Lord. Saul sees Jesus on the Damascus road, and in Damascus, Ananias also sees the Lord, and the Gospel turns to seven of the disciples seeing the risen Lord. It is wonderful to have a vision but with all visions comes responsibility; at the very least vision needs our attention and usually obedience to the call. See how both Saul and Ananias are asked to do something. Like Isaiah (Isaiah 6) Ananias says ‘Here I am.’ The Lord says to Ananias, ‘Get up and go.’ But It is also very much about Jesus as a friend – a friend of sinners.
Life has a habit of repeating itself. Things that we thought had passed have a habit of returning. We think we are making progress then, suddenly we find ourselves back where we started. A bit like a game of snakes and ladders: sometimes you are climbing ahead and suddenly you drop back almost to the beginning.
It was like this for the disciples. They had left all to follow Jesus: they left fishing, the tax office and the field to share with him. Then it came to a sudden end with the crucifixion. They were knocked right back. The risen Lord made their spirits soar and they were full of new hope. But how would they make their living now? Perhaps it was due to boredom that Peter led the fishermen went back to Galilee. Peter and six others decided to go fishing. They toiled all night and caught nothing. They may as well have stayed at home. As in all of life, when things go wrong, they go wrong in all sorts of directions. They could not even catch fish. There was a feeling that they had been here before.
Just as the new day dawned, Jesus stood on the shore. They did not recognise him at first. He directed their net throwing and they caught so many fish that they could not haul them all in. It was then that John realised who it was and said to Peter, ‘it is the Lord.’ Peter’s reaction was instantaneous. ‘Splash!’ Peter who had only been wearing a loincloth as he fished, put on his tunic before he jumped into the sea – odd to put clothes on to jump into the water. Perhaps it can only be understood if you know that the Jews said a man had to be properly dressed to come and worship.
Jesus is not a ghost, not just a vision; he is real and he is solid. He has lit a fire and prepared food for them. He shared bread and fish with them. Now, come the challenges of the story. ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ We do not know if Jesus was talking about the catch of fish or about the other disciples. More likely it was about the promise that Peter did not keep, for three times Peter had denied knowing Jesus. Now three times Jesus asks Peter about loving him. Each time when Peter says, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you’, Jesus asks him to care for his lambs and sheep. Peter was given his task, his mission to be a pastor, to be a co-shepherd with the Good Shepherd. Here we see someone who boasted he would never forsake the Lord, who flees after Jesus’ arrest as did the others, takes the low road and denies he even knowing the Lord Jesus, being given the call to be a responsible Shepherd. True friend of sinner/the fallen.
Peter backslid and we do from time to time. Instead of staying close to the Lord as we should, we begin to follow Him from far off. It may begin as simply missing a few services here and there. Or we stop praying like we should, the Bible isn’t opened and read as frequently as it ought to be. Wherever and however it begins, it will lead as to the same backslidden and cold place. We will find ourselves as Peter did in the wrong place, and this is dangerous. (Just ask David – 2 Sam 11:1-17).The Bible tells us that Peter went out and ‘wept bitterly’. Peter was miserable. He had wronged the Lord, he had violated something very precious and sacred. And the same happens to us when we decide to walk away from the will of God. We will soon realise that sin brings with it pain, suffering and misery. Gone will be the peace of God and the sense of his presence, His power, fellowship, peace and joy in the soul that is worth more than anything is robbed from us and we are left utterly miserable.
Peter failed big! But we are guilty of denying the Lord also. We have, and will continue to make wrong choices; it’s in our nature too. We can guard against it by putting ourselves right with God and being obedient to his will. But Jesus is a Friend of the (sinner) fallen and this is a side of Jesus I have become very familiar with over the last thirty years. There have been many occasions when I had to come to the Lord confessing my sins, failures and asking for forgiveness and restoration and each time I have found him to be a faithful friend to me and all those who have fallen by the wayside. Jesus welcomes, forgave, forgives and will continue too and restores. But in the forgiveness comes humility and obedience not just to return to old ways but a surrendered life, an obedience to do God’s will- whatever that might be.
After the resurrection, Peter must have assumed that his ministry was over. He had denied the Lord and so he decided to return to the old way of life, to fish. But the Lord, Friend to the Fallen, had forgiven Peter and called him to come and be a fisher of men!
After the resurrection of past mistakes we may have assumed that our work is over. BUT The Risen Lord brings forgiveness; love restores broken relationships. Peter is affirmed and then is able to affirm his task. If we are to be disciples, we have to listen to, receive forgiveness and restoration and follow the Master. (John 21:19).
Questions
- Life can be like a game of snakes and ladders. Be willing to share any times when you have been up the ladder or down the snake. How did it feel? What did you do?
- What does the future hold for you? Does it hold misery and difficulty or does it hold joy, peace, blessing?
- Do you feel stuck – can’t move forwards or sideways? Do you know why you are stuck? (i.e. Sin, past reaction by someone/something that has put you off all together). If you are stuck, do you want to move? If yes, will you do something about it? If able to, be willing to share with others and ask them to pray with and for you.
- Sometimes we find it hard to let go of the past, or a person or an event. It has been with us for a long time, it’s like having a ball and chain. We can’t get very far dragging or carrying burdens or heavy loads. Why not take the weigh off now? Why not allow the Lord to use His keys and open the lock of the chain and set you on your way?
- Has the Lord called you to something specific? Are you doing it? Not sure how to go about it? Share your thoughts and allow others to help you.
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