This is an excellent text for us – on the weekend of our 50th Anniversary as a church family.
It is such a privilege to be here. It is even a greater privilege to share the WORD with you.
According to Paul, the first person Jesus came back to see after Easter morning was Peter.
“What” he said and “what Peter said” nobody will ever know, and maybe that’s just as well.
Their “last conversation on this earth,” however, is reported in the Gospel of John.
It was on the beach, at daybreak.
Some of the other disciples were there, and Jesus cooked “them” all breakfast.
It is an interesting text in many respects.
We don’t expect to find Jesus making breakfast. Not to say that he couldn’t or wouldn’t, mind you. It is just not something that we expect.
The other thing to bear in mind is that this is a “post resurrection text.” This event occurred “after the resurrection.”
I have stated before, that after the resurrection on Easter Sunday morning, you just never knew “where” Jesus was going to show up next. It seemed like he was everywhere…all over the place.
For him to be making breakfast – is kind of surprising. Maybe a little shocking for some…
But remember, with God all things are possible, including showing up on a beach and sharing in a brunch.
When it was over, he said to Peter (only again he called him “Simon, son of John, (or Jonah)” because if ever he meant business, “this WAS it”), “Simon, son of John, do YOU love me?” and Peter said he did.
But what else could you say? What else would you say to Jesus?
Then Jesus asked “the same question a second time” and then once again, and each time Peter said he loved him-“three times in all,” to make up for the other three times.
You remember the “other three times.”
The three times that Peter denied even knowing Jesus, much less, wanting to be associated with him…
Then Jesus said to Peter, “Feed my lambs.”
And again, “feed my sheep…”
And you get the feeling – that this time Peter didn’t miss the point. I mean how could he?
From fisher of fish – to – fisher of people to “keeper of the keys” to “shepherd of the church!” For Peter, it was quite a run…an exciting journey…a real growing/learning experience.
This was Peter – the Rock’s “final promotion,” and from that day forward he would never let “the head office” down again.
But you see “for us,” for the church “here in this place”…this comes to us like a kind of “re-commissioning or as a reminder” (of sorts) as to what we are to be all about…and… as to what we are here for…why we even exist.
It is not about us. It is not about “this place.” It is about “Him” whom we serve. It is about “fishing for people” and bringing “others” to him.
It has nothing whatsoever to do with the size of the staff, the size of our budget, or even with where we worship. It has absolutely nothing to do with the colors of our walls or kind of flooring we have. It does not matter whether we use real candles or beeswax candles or oil-based candles.
This is about our call. This is about our reason for existence. This is about why we are here. It is not for ourselves. It is for “others.”
We are here to serve…and to be of service.
We are here for the poor and the needy. We are here to open our doors and our hearts to others. We are to be here with purpose and intent.
We are here to bring the WORD of God to others.
We are here to be a safe haven in a very unsafe world.
“Our doors and our hearts need to be open to all.” Not lip service. But really truly for all. There can be no exceptions. All means all.
Jesus came for all. We are to be here for all. A presence, and yet more than a presence.
We are to pray for guidance in every area, in every aspect of our joint and shared ministry. “I” cannot do it alone. “You” cannot do it alone. It takes “all of us – together” – to be the body of Christ in the world.
Everyone is needed. Everyone is necessary. Everyone is important.
We are here to feed one another and to reach out and feed others. We are here to share our blessings with others.
We are here to fish for people. We are here to be spirit-led and spirit-sustained.
You know this little church does a lot for others – but we can always do more.
I invite you, to help us with even greater outreach – to the glory of our God – during our next fifty years of life.