John 21: Transformed lives and new beginnings

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” (John 21:15)

Read the whole chapter here:  John 21

Early morning, on the shores of the Sea of Tiberius, the risen-but-not-ascended Jesus spends a last breakfast with his friends.   And it maybe just a coincidence - but maybe there's something symbolic in the fact that this was breakfast, in contrast to the supper Jesus shared before his arrest.  Our evening meal occurs before the night, when it is time to lock up, close the curtains, and hide away until morning.  Breakfast is the start of a new day - new possibilities, new things to be done.

John 21, the last chapter of John's gospel account, is one of transformations.  The first is a sign - the miraculous catch of fish; and it points towards the second - the forgiveness of Peter and his commissioning to build the church.

Our story starts in the night, when the disciples go out to fish.  They catch nothing.  By morning, they are tired and discouraged.  But when Jesus appears to them, they catch more than they could ever have imagined.  On one level, it's a wonderful story of God providing the means to share a meal together, and of turning their discouragement into joy.  But as always, Jesus' signs point to something bigger as well.  Because three years ago, Jesus had said to Peter: “Come, follow me...and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19). Now was the time to do that.

But Peter had denied Jesus.  He'd failed! He'd promised Jesus he'd never let him down - that he'd lay down his life for him (John 13:37), but as Jesus had predicted, he'd let fear get the better of him.  

What we see in the verses that follow here is that Peter's denial - his fear and lack of faith - was not the end of the story.  Three times Jesus says to Peter: Do you love me? (John 21:15,16,17), and three times on Peter's affirmation tells him to feed his lambs - his sheep - to take care of his people.  Peter was to bring people the food that was God's word of the death and resurrection of Jesus, to disciple them, to help them in their path of knowing God.

And what is more, Peter's desire to die for his Lord would come to fruition as well. "When you were young," Jesus tells him, "you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (John 21:18).

The disciples' fishing was transformed - from emptiness to overflowing life.  The difference was the risen Jesus.  Peter was transformed from fearful denier to leader and martyr.  The difference was the risen Jesus.

But the transformation was just the beginning of the story.  For Peter was transformed because he had a job to do.  To fish for people, to take care of the sheep - whichever metaphor you prefer!  What a privilege: to be commissioned to do his work.

An element of Peter's commissioning was that of leadership, which in its narrower sense is not something to which we are all called.  But we are all called to lead people to Jesus - to make disciples.  God not only brings us out of darkness and into light, but leads us onwards into the world to take part in his mission - to bring people to him so that they may know the everlasting love, hope and redemption in his name.  

John 21 is the end of John's gospel account, but it's the dawn of something new.  When a person comes to Christ the night has passed and the day has dawned - but the day heralds a new adventure.

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