John 21:15-25

Jesus lived a mere 33 years. And yet, we are left with this note:

"Now, there are many other things that Jesus did. If they were all written down one by one, I suppose that the whole world could not hold the books that would be written." (21:25)

What an awesome image! The miracles, events, and teachings of Jesus cannot be contained by human hands. His life and ministry are too awesome for us to fully comprehend.

And yet, we are asked to understand His teachings. We are asked to follow His word.

In this final story, Jesus asks Simon Peter to follow Him. He doesn't give a specific plan or organized goals. He even tells him not to be concerned with the path of others. His only instructions are "Follow me" (21:22).

As we have traveled the Gospel of John, we have followed Jesus from birth and baptism to death and resurrection. We have tasted the stories and images of the life of God on Earth. And now, we are left with one simple message: "Follow me."

It is a command that is simple to say, but dangerous to live. Even in the most 'Christian friendly' environments, following Jesus is still a challenge. It means standing up for your faith when others mock you, or ask you to make difficult choices. It means committing your time and energy to prayer and practice. And it means trusting that God is in control, even in times of chaos.

But we can find comfort for the journey in this great Gospel. As we read the Bible, we can't help but be struck by the generous love of God that is available to each of us every day. In following Jesus, we are choosing not to be alone in the world, but to be surrounded by constant love and grace.

"For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die, but have eternal life." (3:16)

Happy Easter!
Amen.

John 21:1-14

The risen Jesus appears to the disciples for a third time, this time while they are fishing. They have been casting their nets overboard all night, but with no luck. When Jesus appears, their nets are finally filled with fish.

"Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore full of big fish, a hundred and fifty-three in all; even though there were so many, still the net did not tear." (21:11)

Jesus asked his followers to be "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19), and in this moment, he is giving them a great example of what their ministry will contain:

The net contains 153 different types of fish, representing the diversity of people who will be in the church. The message of the Gospel is for every person, regardless of age, gender, or status.

There are so many fish, yet the net does not tear. No matter how many people come into the church, it will not break. It can safely hold all of us, even with our diverse backgrounds and opinions.

The net was so full, it probably took all the disciples to pull in it. The church needs to be run by a team. It cannot be a showcase for one person. We need the involvement of the whole body of Christ to make it work.

And finally, it is not until Jesus speaks that the net is filled. The church will be empty unless we fill it with the spirit and words of Jesus. Without Him, the church is just a building full of pews, pulpits, and social programs.

We need Jesus to fill every part of the church, for it is only through His guidance that we can find the best path for our ministry. It is only through Jesus, that our nets will be filled to overflowing.

John 20:19-31

In today's story, Jesus appears to the disciples. But Thomas is not there. When he later hears of the event, he refuses to believe it. One week later, Jesus, again, appears to the disciples, including Thomas. When Thomas sees the marks in Jesus's hands and side, he finally believes in the resurrection of his Lord.

It is an entire week from the first appearance to the second.
What was that week like for Thomas?

Perhaps he thought the other disciples had been drunk, or deceived, or were trying to deceive him? Perhaps he shut himself away in grief and anger?

Or perhaps he stayed in their company for the week. Did the other disciples harass him, trying to convince him of the truth? Did they mock him for his doubt? Did they have great arguments amongst themselves, with Thomas and the disciples trading 'evidence' for and against the resurrection? Perhaps he refused to believe that Jesus would appear to the group when it was incomplete.

Was there ever a moment when Thomas's doubt subsided? Did he try to imagine what it would be like for Jesus to come back from the dead, but the pain of hoping was too much to bear?

All of these possibilities would be genuinely human responses. But Jesus has a truly divine response. He doesn't punish Thomas for his lack of faith. Instead, he gives him all the evidence he requires.

We all have times of doubt, especially in a God who cannot be seen by the physical eye. But Thomas shows us that faith has nothing to do with sight, and that God blesses those who take that leap of faith. "How happy are those who believe without seeing me!" (20:29) How happy indeed!

John 20:1-18

Hallelujah! This is it! The moment we have been waiting for: Jesus has risen from the dead!

But the disciples are not so quick to understand the situation. John tells this story in intimate detail, right down to the arrangement of the specific linens in the now-empty tomb. Simon Peter, Mary, and the 'other disciple' all believe that the body of Jesus has been stolen. "They still did not understand the scripture which said that He must rise from death." (20:18)

Mary is left alone at the tomb, where she sees two angels, and a man she believes is the gardener. The 'gardener' speaks to her two times, but on the third time, she recognizes Him as Jesus, risen from the dead.

Why three times? Why doesn't she recognize Him right away?

The third time He speaks to her, Jesus says one word, her name, "Mary". What a personal moment! Our names are used by all sorts of people, but it always sounds different when it is said by our mothers, our fathers, our spouses, our friends, our children. Hearing your name said with love and respect always feels warm and familiar. We call each other by name in our wedding vows. We say the baby's name at the baptism. After time apart, nothing sounds better than hearing your name said through the phone by a loved one.

The Bible is full of references to God using names with love. God spoke to Moses and Abraham by name. Jesus chose a new name for Simon. We are told that we will be called by our "Christian name" in Heaven. Many people describe personal meditative experiences during which they have been given a new and private name from God.

When Mary heard her name said with love by her Lord and Rabbi, how could she not recognize His voice? And, in doing so, she became the first witness to the Resurrection!

I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, And He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.

(Charles Austin Miles, 1913)

John 19:23-42

"Jesus knew that by now everything had been completed..." (19:28)

My favourite church service of Holy Week is Tennebrae. There are several versions of this service, but the one I grew up with concentrates on the 7 words from the cross. It's also called the "service of shadows". As each word is said, a candle in extinguished. By the end of the service, Jesus has died, and the congregation sits in total darkness, in a quiet church.

But in this service, we are comforted by this message in verse 28. In the last week of Jesus's life, we see him both hailed as a king, and betrayed like an enemy of the state. His friends and followers turn against Him. His body is beaten and abused. His clothes become prizes in a game of chance.

And now, this moment of revelation: "It is finished!" (19:30) Not only has Jesus been aware of God's plan from Day 1, but He is now able to say, with confidence, that the plan has been successfully completed. Nothing was random. God was in control all along. What an awesome moment! What a comfort to know that the terrible events of the last week have not been in vain!

Sometimes, in our own lives, we lose sight of the fact that God is still in control. If God can control the fate of His own Son through the terrors of trial and death, He will surely be in control in our lives.

Jesus is now in the tomb. If we can just hold on through the night, joy will come in the morning...

John 19:1-22

Today's reading tells the frightening story of the trial of Jesus. Filled with fear and conflicted by politics, the leaders of the day run a sloppy trial full of mistakes and missed opportunities. At the end of the day, Pilate hands Jesus over to the Jewish authorities for crucifixion.

Pilate posts a sign above the cross saying, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" (19:19). Not only were these words written in Hebrew, but also in Latin and Greek.

Why would Pilate choose to write this message in three different languages?

I think Pilate recognized a great truth about Jesus. Jesus did not come to minister solely to the Jewish people. He came to minister to all people. In a short 3 years, He had broken down social and political barriers to preach the message of God's love to people of every race, gender, and social status.

Pilate's sign reflected the ministry of Jesus in that day, but it also made a great prediction for the Christian church. According to the International Bible Society, the Bible (or parts of it) have been translated into 2287 languages. Even within the English language, we have many different translations, ranging from the traditional King James to the contemporary Message Bible, and even including specialized versions such as dramatized and amplified Bibles.

The message of Jesus was not meant for a small population in a specific moment in time. It is meant for all of us, throughout history, regardless of country, race, or language.