John 21:1-14 * April 15, 2007 * Easter 2 * Rev. JD Liggett

HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN, INDEED! AMEN.

¹Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: ²Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³"I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. ⁴Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. ⁶He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. ⁷Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. ⁹When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. ¹⁰Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." ¹¹Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹²Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

INTRODUCTION

These past few weeks many young people in our area have been confirmed or will be confirmed in our churches. One of the traditions of Confirmation is to have an Examination. The purpose of Confirmation Examination is to give the young confirmands an opportunity to share what they believe about Jesus. This morning we watch as:

JESUS GIVES HIS DISCIPLES THEIR CONFIRMATION EXAMINATION.

WAITING FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT

It is evident that the disciples must have believed in Jesus, because the reason they are along the shores of the Sea of Galilee is that he told them to meet him there. The disciples are patiently waiting for that meeting. As they are biding their time, the most impetuous of them has to have something to do. Since the disciples we meet this morning are all fishermen, Peter says to them, “I’m going out to fish.” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.”

BIDING THEIR TIME

The fishing trip is like most of the ones I have been on – a lot of time spent catching nothing, even with some famous fishermen from the congregations I served. After a peaceful night on the lake, it is time for the disciples to come in. As they are coming in, Jusus uses the opportunity to examine them.

STILL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN

As we watch the disciples waiting for Jesus it becomes evident that these men realize they still have a lot to learn about Christianity. They eagerly look forward to those moments when they can continue to grow in the faith. My prayer for all the young people of our area congregations who have been and soon will be confirmed is that they will follow the example of these disciples. My prayer is the same for all of us, no matter what age we may be. My prayer is that we stay in touch with Jesus through Word and Sacrament. My prayer is that we be as excited as the disciples to learn as much as we possibly can about Jesus and what he means to us personally.

JESUS EXAMINES THEM

Jesus uses this fishing expedition to expand the disciples’ spiritual horizons. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus is going to give them the opportunity to confess their faith. First of all he asks if they have caught any fish. Instead of cursing and swearing about the bad fishing, they simply answer, “No.” Then Jesus tells them “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” Somehow Jesus’ command is obeyed immediately. Immediately they have a net full of fish.

JOHN RECOGNIZES JESUS

As soon as the net fills up, John realizes who the shoreline superintendent is. “It is the Lord.” Peter reacts in the manner we would expect. He jumps into the shallow water and runs to Jesus. Jesus tells the disciples to bring the fish to add to the breakfast he has already prepared.

JESUS EXAMINED THE DISCIPLES

By means of theis fishing expedition Jesus examined the disciples. They did not curse or swear when they were asked if they had caught anything. They did as they were told for another try at the fish and were amazed at the miraculous catch. They immediately headed for shore to meet with Jesus. One swam and the others brought in the fish. They took care of the blessings the God-man Jesus had just given to them in the net. Then they sat down for breakfast with Jesus. These men’s simple actions revealed that Jesus had gotten a grip on their hearts. They behaved in the fashion that people behave once they are anchored in Jesus Christ. I am sure all of you join me in praying that all of our spring confirmands will not just talk a good game of Christianity at their confirmation. It is easy to talk about Christ being a part of our life, but walking the talk is the tough part. The Holy Spirit is available in the hearts of every one of our confirmands and every one of us, motivating us to walk the talk. May our confirmands and every one of us follow the example of the disciples whom Jesus examined along the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

JESUS REINFORCES THEIR FAITH

As soon as the disciples were done bringing in the fish, Jesus served them breakfast. Not with the fish they caught, not with supplies they brought, but with an entire breakfast that He miraculously provided. John tells us that none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” they knew it was the Lord. As this meal was being served I am sure that the disciples’ minds had to have been racing back to the Last Supper they had enjoyed with Jesus. Again, He was with them. Again, He was serving them.

THIRD TIME

This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.” Jesus was reinforcing again and again His miraculous resurrection. Soon the Holy spirit would come upon them and they would have to get out into the world with the good news that Jesus is the Son of God and Son of Man who rose victoriously from the grave. Jesus gave the disciples another very vivid lesson in this fact when he publicly assured Peter that he was forgiven of his sins of denial. It was also time for Peter to get on with the work of sharing Jesus with the world.

JESUS APPEARS AGAIN AND AGAIN

The wonderful thing about being a modern day Christian is that Jesus keeps appearing again and again in our lives. He comes into our lives at Baptism. He comes back every time we hear the Word of God or receive the Sacrament of the Altar. He wants to keep in touch with each one of us. One of the greatest examinations our confirmands and each of us receves every day is when we leave this church building and return to the world in which we live. We can follow the example of the disciples by making sure we faithfully attend worship services like this one, the Lord’s Supper and Bible study opportunities. Let’s daily pray for our confirmands and also for one another that all of us would follow the example of the disciples whose every day life after the resurrection revealed a group of people who not only talked a good game of Christianity but played one too. AMEN.

THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING SHALL KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS. AMEN.