A Question about Love

April 30, 1995

John 21:1-19

A Beautiful Setting

It was a beautiful lake at sunrise. The wind had died as it usually does just before daybreak, and tired fishermen were rowing their boat the last quarter mile to shore through the rising mist. The sail hung limp, and the thump of the oars against the sides of the boat was the only sound to be heard.

It was at least two weeks after Easter. The crush of the Passover holiday had subsided, Jerusalem had gone back to its normal routines. The disciples from Galilee had walked the ninety or so miles back to their lakeside homes in Capernaum. Since the resurrection they had seen Jesus exactly twice- except for Thomas, who had seen him once.

Remember the confession Thomas had made. It is the climax of the Gospel of John. Thomas, who had had trouble believing good news, said to the risen Savior standing before him: "My Lord and my God!"

But that was then. That was there, in Jerusalem. Jesus had risen, the disciple's hopes had been re-established. Jesus had told them he would meet them in Galilee. But then for several long days— nothing.

Life had to go on. There were responsibilities. And they had to eat. There is nothing wrong with meeting the demands of life. So the big fisherman said what seemed the obvious thing to do: there were boats and nets on the beach at the foot of the street, there were mouths to feed and bills to pay. Peter said, "I am going fishing!"

I don't know what deep significance, if any, we should read into those words. I don't think Peter meant "I am giving up on following Jesus." It may have seemed longer, but just a little more than three years before Jesus had walked along that same beach and had said to these same fishermen, "Follow Me!" And those fishermen had laid aside nets, and pulled their boats up onto the shore. Now, obviously, the "following" of Jesus was on hold— because Jesus was not physically with them.

So for whatever reason Peter and Thomas and Nathaniel and James and John and two others John doesn't name all piled into a fishing boat and pushed off into the evening shadows. They fished all night long. Seven people in one boat— tells me it was a pretty good sized vessel. At least three professional fishermen aboard— they knew the lake. They had the equipment. Still, with every trick in the trade they came up empty.

The sun was just coming up, the boat was nearing home, the beach was just looming through the rising mist. The tired men on board thought they saw a lone figure standing on the shore as though waiting for them.

"Children, you have no fish, have you?" the figure called. It could have been a stranger simply asking from curiosity— it could have been someone wanting to buy some fish from the fishing fleet. But at daybreak? On their part of the beach?
The disciples called back across the water, 100 yards or so, "No! No fish!"
Back came the call: "Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." Amazingly the fishermen took this Stranger's advice. And even more amazingly their nets were instantly full. What a great story!

The Breakfast Together

The story gets even better. The disciples recognized Jesus through the mist, and Peter, impetuous Peter, could not even wait, or be bothered to help with the great catch of fish. As the rest of the men labored toward the shore dragging half a ton of fish, Peter swam and waded ashore. When he got there he really didn't know what to say.
— a really, really profitable night's work— they discover a fire of coals just right for cooking fish— actually some fish already cooking. Jesus says, "Bring along some more of that fresh fish— and come to breakfast!"

And so they secure the catch, pull up the boats, and gather round for an absolutely unforgettable celebration. More things race through their heads than they can express. Will the itinerant ministry now begin again? Will Jesus now move to restore the kingdom of his ancestor David? But these and all other questions remain unasked— because they know this is the Master, and as long as He is here everything will fall into place in due time. It is hard to imagine this meal being eaten in total silence. It is a happy time. The fish were counted— big fish— 153 of them. There was good-natured kidding about the long night and empty nets.

But one person did not speak what was on his heart. I don't know if Peter was silent or not. Sometimes we talk a lot to cover up what we really would like to say but don't dare. We use small talk like a jab, jab, jab to keep away from the stuff that really matters. And Peter look across at Jesus and wondered if things ever could be like they were before he had cursed and sworn that he did not even know Him.

Then breakfast was over, and the men started to go about the tasks at hand— some to wash the nets, some to take the fish up to the marketplace of the sea-side Capernaum, some perhaps to drown and cover the fire. Jesus crooked his finger at Peter and started down the beach for the private conversation Peter was dreading.

It was— or seems it should have been— a very private conversation. Bt John tagged along. Taking notes. Jesus asked Peter some very tough questions about love. Three questions— yet all the same question. Jesus clearly knew what Peter needed. And because John took those notes it must be that I need to answer these questions too.

"Peter, do you love me more than these?"

OUR LOVE MUST BE BEYOND COMPARING WITH OTHERS

Before Peter denied his Lord and stumbled he "knew" that his love was stronger than anyone else's. But it is always the wrong approach to tell God we love Him in any comparison to others. "Lord, if all these deny you, I will still go to the death with you!" Or, "I could never love the Lord like that person!"

If our faith must be in comparison and in contrast to others the chances are it is on shaky ground. Some churches build their entire message and ministry on "coming out of the unbelievers."

Jesus is not the spirit that takes shots at other followers. Peter had to say "I love YOU, Lord, and not in relationship to THEM."

"Do you love me?"

OUR LOVE MUST BE BEYOND COMPETITION WITH OTHERS

Life is NOT fair— some will have glamourous assignments. Some will die young. Some will suffer while others seem to prosper. Jesus told Peter that hard times loomed ahead for him.

That didn't shake Peter— but he did say— "Look at HIM, Lord— the one taking notes— what about HIM?"

And Jesus had what seem like harsh words for Peter. But they are words that every one of us need to take to heart if we are to really tell Jesus we love HIM. "What is that to YOU? You follow ME!"

"Do you love me?"

OUR LOVE HAS TO GO BEYOND THE WORDS OF CONSECRATION

Each time in response to Peter's anguished answer: "Lord— you know I do! You know I love you..." Each time Jesus said: "Then you take care of my lambs, my sheep!"
If we love we will put our lives where our mouths are.

Many years ago I remember watching a local newscast from a Cleveland TV station; a family tragedy had occurred, a family was in shock, grieving. A TV reporter [John (Bud) Dancy] stuck a microphone in a young mother's face and asked her personal questions while the camera took close-up pictures of her pain. Deep private feelings evidently make for good public interest. The reporter has since gone on from local reporting to network reporting to retirement. He never answered my letter of protest.

This story (in John 21) is one of those private, emotional, very personal scenes. But even though some scenes are so sensitive and private and holy that no one from outside should be included, evidently the apostle John either didn't know or didn't care because he tagged along and listened in— and then he wrote the whole episode down for the whole world to see. Of course we believe that God intended for this private scene to become scripture— it is one of those absolutely specific and individual times that have universal application.