Now What                                   John 21:1-14

Last week we had Good Friday and Easter Sunday, the events of these two days open the path to redemption and eternity in heaven. Believe in the truth of these events, trust in Jesus for salvation, and God’s grace and mercy are yours.

I’ve attended several adult baptisms. I remember one where a gentleman in his fifties was baptized. Afterward I heard him ask the minister, “Now what?” He wasn’t asking out of disrespect, he wasn’t looking for a project to do, this was a legitimate question.

I was baptized on a Sunday afternoon. Several friends and family came. People were saying “Congratulations,” or “Welcome to God’s family.” We had a small party after, and the next morning I had to go to work. Life moved on.

Our reading’s verse 3, “’I’m going out to fish,’ Peter told them, and they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’”

The remaining eleven disciples saw Jesus die, saw him resurrected. They met him in the upper room and ate with him. For them, for me, for all of us; accept Christ and life and its responsibilities and obligations go on. Only now, Jesus is also your responsibility and obligation. So, now what?

Jesus tells us “Now what.”

Today’s events take place two weeks after the resurrection. See how Jesus didn’t abandon his followers saying, “I did my part, it’s up to you alone now.” He helped them           as he helps us.

Today’s events take place about 70 miles from Jerusalem where the disciples went back to their boats and nets, back to their lives, and this is where Jesus shows himself. Christ isn’t outside our lives; he’s a part of them.

Verse 4, “Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but his disciples did not realize it was him.” What a vision of our lives. As his followers, Jesus is always watching, always with us, yet many times we don’t see him as we try to work things out for ourselves.

Verses 5 and 6, “He called out, ‘Friends, haven’t you caught any fish?’ ‘No,’ they answered. He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul in the net because of the large number of fish.”

Notice the disciples fished at night. It was dark, and the nets were empty. Sometimes we accept Christ, but our lives remain dark, things may not immediately change. Sometimes we do the best we can, and our nets remain empty, the child doesn’t turn around, the relationship still ends, we still can’t break the addiction. But like with the disciples this morning, when we find ourselves limited by our own self-sufficiency, when we have nothing to show for our efforts, that’s when Jesus calls out. At the Cana wedding the wine jugs were empty, here the nets are empty, these are the places Jesus shows himself. These are the places of resurrection. In our empty places, that’s where Jesus and the resurrection will be revealed.

Back in verse 4 we’re told its morning. A new day with new possibilities and new hope. Jesus offers us this same every day. Jesus offers us new hope every second of every day. No matter how dark the night, Jesus offers us the warmth and prospects of a new day.

Verse 7, “Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said, ‘It is the Lord!’” I am the disciple Jesus loves. Ken, Peggi, Shawna, Bev, Wayne, Pete; you are the disciples Jesus loves. Each of you are the disciple Jesus loves. Jesus asks of each of us, when things change in our lives, recognize he is there. When peace comes, when we discover joy at doing God’s work, when the night gives way to day in our lives, know and admit Jesus is standing there. Know and admit, “It is the Lord!”

Verse 7, “As soon as Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord!’ he wrapped his outer garment around him, for he had taken it off, and jumped in the water.”

The last time Peter jumped into the water to go to Jesus, he said in Matthew 14:28, “Lord, if it is you…tell me to come to you on the water.” Today, no conditions, no requests, Peter simply puts on his cloak and jumps in the water. I asked myself why are we told about Peter’s cloak here while it’s not mentioned in Matthew? In Matthew, Peter entered the water afraid, unsure, and hesitantly. Peter putting on his cloak represents this time, he is clothing himself with courage, joy, and total trust in Jesus no matter what may happen as he jumps out of the boat.

Jesus asks us to do the same. He asks us to cloth ourselves with courage and trust him as we climb out of the safety of our routines. Each of us has habits we retreat into for comfort. Jesus asks us to step out of the safety of our routines and have courage in him, have faith and trust in him.

Verse 8, “…they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.” As we step out of the boat, away from safety, Jesus doesn’t ask us to be courageous and trustful until he decides to show up, he’s already there, never far, always within sight, always within reach.

Verse 9, “When they landed they saw a fire of burning coals with fish on it, and some bread.”

Question: do you think as Peter approached that fire; he remembered the fire where he denied Jesus? Do you think that as he approached this fire Peter had regrets? As we come closer to Jesus, do we remember the times we acted like Peter? Do we remember the times we failed to act; the times we weren’t the Christians we want to be? But this fire is not the old fire. Jesus is at this fire, welcoming Peter, welcoming us to this new fire with no regrets over the past.

Verse 13, “Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and he did the same with the fish.”

Luke 9:16-17, “Taking the five loaves and two fish, he gave thanks…Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and were satisfied.” Jesus performed a miracle, giving bread and fish to his disciples to feed the people’s hunger. Now after the resurrection, Jesus gives his followers bread and fish to satisfy them so they will go and feed the people’s spirits. Jesus fills our spirits so we can go and fill another’s spirit.

This simple meal of bread and fish is also meant to point us to another simple meal, the sharing of bread and wine; the Lord’s Supper. This meal on the lake’s shore is meant to uplift the disciples, to show the love Christ has for them, and to reveal how he will nourish them body and spirit. Jesus gives us his Lord’s Supper as a reminder of his sacrifice for us. And through our remembrance, we are uplifted by the great love Jesus demonstrated at the cross. By eating and drinking the bread and wine, our bodies are nourished, and our spirits are nourished.

Last week we saw Jesus die on the cross and then walk out of the grave three days later. As the faithful and the redeemed, we may well ask “Now what?” Today’s reading is Jesus telling us “Now what.”

Christ was raised on that Sunday morning over 2000 years ago, but the resurrection doesn’t stay there. Christ’s resurrection doesn’t happen separate from our lives. It happens within them. Christ comes to us in the darkness of the nights of our lives, offering us the warmth and newness of a fresh day.

As the faithful, Jesus tells us we can be strong. We can have courage and trust him no matter how things work out. We can appreciate he is always within our sight, and within our reach.

Understand that Jesus welcomes us to himself with no hesitation. We are guiltless, our denials are forgiven and forgotten.

As believers, know that Jesus is always loving you, always nourishing you, always lifting up your spirit. Amen.