John 21:1-19

For the Love of God

            We have this habit as humans of degrading anything which seems small to us. Whether it be in the corporate world, or in life in general, we have this yearning to see our life go up in importance. This is why many people look down upon some jobs because they consider them unimportant or meaningless, and thus somehow, below them. Now why do we think this? I obviously can't speak for everyone, but I know I’ve always had this desire for meaning and purpose in life, as I believe we all do. We want to know that what we do actually means something in the grand scheme of our life and the world. We want to make a mark on the world. This is why when we watch football for instance, everyone wants to be the quarterback, because we think that’s the most important and meaningful position. That is, it’s the most important until someone else messes up. So too, with careers. Few people want to be a garbage collector because we somehow have fallen to believe that it’s unimportant... until your garbage doesn’t get collected. Or vice versa, many people want to become a doctor or nurse because we know caring for others, even having the opportunity to save lives gives meaning to what we do. But not everyone can be a doctor, or quarterback, or missionary for that matter. Yes, some people think that the only holy job is being a church worker, be it a pastor, missionary, teacher, or other. While all these are good and noble professions, there’s no such thing as more holy or less holy.

            In our Gospel lesson today, we often criticize the disciples for falling back into what we consider “lesser” work. Already after they’ve seen the risen Lord, Peter and the others return to their craft of being fishermen. This isn’t the problem though. Rather, Jesus appears to them to teach them again about his victory and life in his kingdom. For let us learn today:

THE LOVE OF JESUS MOVES HIS CHURCH TO BE FISHERS OF MEN!

I.

            For three years, the disciples followed Jesus. They did whatever Jesus told them to do and came to learn how much his way was greater. So, consider the disciples today that Jesus is no longer with them. He’s not guiding them any longer. Yes, the disciples have already seen Jesus raised from the dead, but that’s why this is so hard. Everything has changed… and they don’t know what to do anymore. This is why we read, “Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing,” John 21:3. It was only natural that the disciples would fall back on something familiar. Enough of them were fisherman by trade, before Jesus called them, that it was the easiest thing to do at this point.

This is something that we need to understand about ourselves too. We’re all creatures of habit. That is, the easiest and most comfortable thing for us to do is what we’ve already done. This is why it’s hard for us to break out of our box, our comfort zone. And I’ll say that this isn’t always an issue. There’s no problem falling back on something familiar. However, consider what our normal comfort zone is as humans. It’s sin. Yes, our comfort zone, our habits are opposed to God. We make a habit of sinning and so our natural reaction is to fall back on our sin. This is why we think it’s easier to lie than to tell the truth. It’s easier to curse and swear than to speak well of God and others. It’s easier to live as one born of this world than one born anew of Christ. Consider Paul’s conversion that we read in Acts. Paul was doing what he knew, persecuting the church. Then after Jesus appears to him, his whole life changes. Even as God tells Annanias, “For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name,” Acts 9:16. In this way, we discuss faith also as a habit, though perhaps a painful one. We work tirelessly to retrain our reactions and emotions. We make new habits of coming to church, of being kind, of telling the truth, of living a life pleasing to God. To believe is to make a habit of doing so that we may always fall back on faith.

II.

            As the disciples were struggling the most, Jesus appears to them again; the third time we’re told. And just like last time Jesus showed up by a lake, an ordinary fishing trip became so much more. Jesus reveals himself this time by doing what he had done before, granting a miraculous catch of fish. As we read, “When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea,” John 21:7. Peter couldn’t wait to get to Jesus, so he literally dives out of the boat and swims to Jesus. For the joy of seeing the Lord, Peter hurries to his side. But Jesus wasn’t done teaching him yet. So, Jesus says to Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ [Peter] said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ [Jesus] said to him, ‘Feed my lambs,” John 21:15. Three times, Jesus asks this question… for it was three times that Peter had denied our Lord. But there’s more going on here than simple English will show.

            There’s more than one word for “love” in Greek. Agape is often used as the truly selfless, God-serving love. It’s the highest form of love one can show another. But the other word used here is Phileo, or brotherly love. Two times, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you agape me, Peter?” To which Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, I phileo.” Indeed, Jesus’ love stands so far above our love. But in the last question, Jesus changes his question, “Peter, do you phileo?” You see, Jesus is pointing out to Peter, and all of us, that it’s his love for us that enables us and encourages us in this Christian life… “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep.” Care for my church. It’s Jesus showing us his love for us on the cross, that he has died for our sins and cleansed us of our bad habits. Yet, even when we fail, even when we fall short, Jesus still comes down to us on our level. That is, by his death, he has joined us even in the depths of the grave, so that he may raise us up to eternal life! Yes, it’s this agape love of God that has been poured out for us in Christ through the cross, grave, and his resurrection, that we may now agape one another. It’s this love of Christ, this agape that moves his Church to preach His Word in sincerity and truth to all nations.

            It’s Christ’s love that motivates all we do. It’s Christ’s agape love that moves us to a new habit of faith. And it’s Christ’s love that makes even the small things we do divinely blessed. For so the love of God in Christ moves us now to share his love with all people, speaking his word, and being raised up in faith to new and eternal life! In Jesus’ name! Amen!