Carrying huge loads

It’s been a bit slow going as we move through the story after Easter. Last week we were only with the disciples immediately after resurrection and then a week afterwards. Scared and frightened in their closed locked room, they were fearing for the retribution which might happen as the crowds and possibly even the Romans might seek getting even with any of Jesus’ followers. They were carrying huge loads of emotions and were stressed. Then again, perhaps they thought that the problem has been removed – Jesus was dead. But Jesus returns in the midst of the disciples and women. The disciples were initially speechless, afraid to even talk, only Thomas seems to stand and looking to gather the facts. Jesus enters the room offers peace to all.

I wonder what the people of Ukraine would do, in their locked rooms, for people in Russia, living life with all of the propaganda, for peace currently.

Back to where we started?

Now we are at the Lake of Tiberias and the crowd of disciples are going fishing. Well, their reason to be, has just gone. They have returned to their starting point, where Jesus initially met them and they are doing what they were originally doing. We have gone full circle. But don’t think that this was a seamless transition between crucifixion and resurrection – we as the church seemed to give the impression that there was a continuous flow of understanding when in reality there was a huge disconnect. They needed normality so they returned to what they knew: fishing. It’s quite an intensive activity – perhaps their focus was just to stare at the nets, for any indication of a catch.  Nothing.

Can I help?

There’s a bloke on the beach, waving madly trying to get their attention. “Try the other side”. 

“Excuse me what do you know about fishing?” Some of the disciples are a little taken aback at the use of the term children, but given the total lack of response from the fish this morning, might as well give it a go.

Suddenly the fishing nets are so full the lines so taught, the boat is starting to creak and list. Everyone gets stuck in trying to haul in the fish. Some of them jump overboard – it’s quite shallow here – so they can get some traction on the sea bed and pull in the net. One of them cries out “It is the Lord”. Mad man, shut up get on with pulling in the net. All needed to be carrying huge loads now.

Countdown to 153?

With all of that activity it is time to catch their breath, but they notice that this bloke has started a charcoal fire and is looking to cook the fish. What we have so many. Some one does a quick count 153…153! Why so accurate?

• Was this the number of nations at the time when the Johannine community write this Gospel?
• Was this the number of species of fish thought to exist by Jerome at the time?
• The size of the local Christian community?
• Or even the sum of the first 17 numbers (as suggested by Augustine) – does it really matter?

What is lost here perhaps is the revelation of Jesus post-Easter. Jesus is taking the focus of a group of people away from the mundane to a point of community, of fellowship, of abundance in what really matters.

Here is communion, being together. Here is Christ, one of body. No mention of the scars from last week, but still evidently Jesus as reported by all disciples.

But there’s a flick in the tail

The Greeks had a few words for love: what were they? Agape, philo, storge and eros? Here Jesus is using the word agape, that love for everyone, the one that God shows to us all.  Contrary to what our English Bibles say, Simon Peter uses philo, that brotherly love. 

Simon Peter is on the slab. “Hey Simon, says Jesus, do you love me more than these?“

Our English Bibles don’t do justice to his response.

“Yes Lord, you know that I am fond of you….” Yes, fond.  Jesus may have nodded and says “Feed my lambs“.

“Hey Simon do you love me?” He says for a second time.

Simon feeling a bit under the microscope now responds “Yes Lord you know that I am fond of you“.

“Tend or Shepherd my sheep” says Jesus

“Hey Simon are you fond of me?“, yes he said fond, says Jesus. Would you have snapped? Simon might feel that Jesus is getting at him, reminding him of that 3 times he denied Jesus. So he says “Yes because you so deeply know everything about me, you know that I am so fond of you“. Simon was carrying huge loads from a week or so ago.

Jesus responds Feed my Sheep

Jesus has moved to Peter’s level, from the love that shown by God, agape, to the brotherly love of mankind; he understands Peter and his motives. What Peter has yet to understand, see, as we all in the same boat here, is what is to come. Jesus will soon leave, with Peter and the disciples to move onwards, forwards with the church. 

Simon Peter has received abundant provision, despite his behaviour. He is asked whether he has the deep love for God, and finally Jesus gets Simon to answer with such integrity, realising the past but moving forward. The shackles are now gone. They were never really there except in the mind of Simon Peter – but Jesus has shown him and all of the disciples in earshot that all the past is gone and we can move forward. Simon can release the need to be carrying huge loads from now on.

The Church like to use the word grace in such circumstances: I prefer radical love, beyond expectation. I’d like us to think of someone – no names – who might wish to see, hear, experience such grace, such radical love now. That their past negative experience doesn’t count anymore, they are free to move forward, onwards.

By the way

I wonder how Jesus would encounter Vladamir Putin in such a conversation. Don’t prejudge the situation, as we don’t know of his condition or circumstances, but wonder at the abundance of God’s love.