SERMON NOTES
Jesus’ post resurrection appearances help the church ask some questions. One of the first questions are:
It is Monday, now what?
Sunday, you feel met by God in a gathered community of believers but when Monday comes, you could be feeling a million miles from what happened on Sunday.
Now that the resurrection has happened, what do we do now?
In our passage the disciples revert to doing what they have always done. Fish.
Some interpret this “fishing” as total apostasy (they left the way of Jesus): aimless activity, undertaken in total desperation (a life without Jesus?). Some say they are just doing what they knew to do and reverted to that. At the end though Jesus, grace filled Jesus, shows up again – in the middle of the disciple’s lives seeking their presence and assuring them of his.
In response to the disciple’s fishing, Jesus makes four statements:
1. “How are you doing?”
2. “I have an idea.”
3. “I'd like to use what you have.”
4. “Let's have a meal together.”
As we ponder these four statements and begin to think about what they mean, a few things jump to the forefront.
Jesus is not into guilting or shaming people when mistakes are made. All the post-resurrection appearances in the latter part of the Gospel of John shows us that Jesus wants to be a part of what we're doing, and he wants us to be a part of what he is doing.
His first concern is our status. He is concerned about how we are. Then he makes some suggestions on how we could follow him more faithfully. In a way, all he is asking for is “us”.
But it is at the table, having a meal with Jesus, where healing takes place. Jesus not only wants to talk to us, but also to eat with us…to fellowship with us: he is our Savior and table companion. This is so profound yet so simple – Jesus is revealed in his work, through the church and in the everyday lives of his disciples.
May Jesus be seen “in the middle of us” today and may his presence be noticeable in our lives!
It is Monday, now what?
Sunday, you feel met by God in a gathered community of believers but when Monday comes, you could be feeling a million miles from what happened on Sunday.
Now that the resurrection has happened, what do we do now?
In our passage the disciples revert to doing what they have always done. Fish.
Some interpret this “fishing” as total apostasy (they left the way of Jesus): aimless activity, undertaken in total desperation (a life without Jesus?). Some say they are just doing what they knew to do and reverted to that. At the end though Jesus, grace filled Jesus, shows up again – in the middle of the disciple’s lives seeking their presence and assuring them of his.
In response to the disciple’s fishing, Jesus makes four statements:
1. “How are you doing?”
2. “I have an idea.”
3. “I'd like to use what you have.”
4. “Let's have a meal together.”
As we ponder these four statements and begin to think about what they mean, a few things jump to the forefront.
Jesus is not into guilting or shaming people when mistakes are made. All the post-resurrection appearances in the latter part of the Gospel of John shows us that Jesus wants to be a part of what we're doing, and he wants us to be a part of what he is doing.
His first concern is our status. He is concerned about how we are. Then he makes some suggestions on how we could follow him more faithfully. In a way, all he is asking for is “us”.
But it is at the table, having a meal with Jesus, where healing takes place. Jesus not only wants to talk to us, but also to eat with us…to fellowship with us: he is our Savior and table companion. This is so profound yet so simple – Jesus is revealed in his work, through the church and in the everyday lives of his disciples.
May Jesus be seen “in the middle of us” today and may his presence be noticeable in our lives!