“Will You Let Me Lead your People” John 21: 15-19; Acts 9: 36-43

Another week of preaching to an empty sanctuary!

A better sermon title might have been, "Will you let me follow you," although I wanted to make the point that leading people is what it means to follow Jesus.  I'm not sure I made that connection as well as I could have.

“Will You Let Me Lead your People”  May 3, 2020; St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Denton; John 21: 15-19; Acts 9: 36-43

(John 21:15-19) 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." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me."

Introduction: “Will You Let Me Lead Your People”  April 17, 2016; FPC, Troy; John 21: Acts 9: 32-43

The story we read from the Gospel of John is a continuation of the interaction between the disciples and the resurrected Christ that we began last week.

As you may remember, the disciples are on the beach with the Risen Christ, gathered around a charcoal fire to have breakfast together.

Surely, the charcoal fire in the scene reminds us that the last time Peter was around a charcoal fire, that would be on the night of Jesus' arrest, he had been asked three times if he was one of Jesus' disciples. 

Three times, he said, “I am not.”

You know how the story plays out over breakfast.   three times Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me.”  Three times Jesus says “yes.”  Three times, Jesus calls Peter to take care of Jesus’ sheep.

Peter, we are told, is grieved at being asked this once again.

in that moment, I suspect Peter has a question for the Risen Christ:  “Will you really let me lead your people?”

Move 1:  Peter wants to know if he is still welcome to be a disciple of Christ.

a. Think for a moment about who Peter was.

1. Once he had found Jesus, he had given himself over to following and serving Christ.

1. Indeed, this fisherman had taken Jesus' offer to start fishing for people and he had excelled.

1. he was the one who knew exactly who jesus was when jesus asked, “Who do people say that I am?”

1. Peter was the one the Jesus had said would be the Rock on which the church would be built.

1. For Peter, leading God's people to Christ and doing Christ's ministry has become who he is. 

1. As upset as Peter was at having denied Jesus, I suspect he was even more upset because he believed that his denial would keep him from serving Christ, because he is not sure that he could not do what he believes he is called to do.

He wants to know, “Jesus, will you let me lead your people?”

b. When I was coaching soccer, and as I have observed coaching through the years as a referee, I have noticed that some coaches pull you out immediately when you make a mistake. 

Other coaches let you play through the mistakes.

A few years ago, I was referring a soccer game at a tournament in May.

It was u U-19 Boys games, which meant that most of the players were Seniors, who were about to graduate.  This was not a particularly high level of soccer, so most of the players were not training and playing with a college career in mind.  They were playing a final season for a final hurrah.  

I've learned through the years that those types of games can be fun because everyone is there ot have some fun, or it can be very challenging because the players don't care much about the authority figures there, including their coaches and the referees.

It quickly became apparent that the star player was not having that great a game.  He missed a good chance on the goal early.  He made a bad pass. Then, he didn't hustle back on defense.  He seemed to receive the ire of the coach.  It quickly became clear that he was the coach's son.

After another mistake, the coach angrily substituted for his son, the star player.

It began an intense discussion between the player and his coach/father right there on the sideline.  I was the assistant referee, so I had a front-row seat.

'Why did you pull me from the game?'

“You're playing terribly.”

“You're a terrible coach.”

“if you don't like my coaching, just quit.

The player takes off his jersey and throws it on the ground.

“If you're not going to be part of the team, then just leave.”

He angrily grabs his bag, gets his keys, and then heads to the parking lot, all the while exchanging words with his coach/father.  

At this point, the confrontation was more exciting than the game.

He was parked close to the field, so he gets and slams the door.

He never starts the car. He sits there.  Later, he comes back to the field.

His coach/father greets his return with, “What are you doing back here.”

“I want to play.”

Silence.

“ Are you going to let me play?”

“Why should I?  You already quit on your team” 

“I'm the captain.  The team needs me. Are you going to let me help my team.”

Another long pause.

“Put on your shirt and get back in the game.”

I think that is Peter’s real questions for the resurrected Christ:  Will you let me back in the game?  Will you let me lead your people?”

c.  that’s what Peter wants to know:  "Jesus, are you letting me back in the game?"

1. I've messed up, but will you let me lead your people?”

2.  Despite his betrayal, despite his failings, Peter sees the resurrected Christ and wants back in the game.

             3. He wants to follow Jesus and lead the people.

Move 2:  To be clear, Peter took himself out of the game.

a.  It was not Jesus giving up on Peter, but Peter giving up on who he is called to be.

1.  I find it fascinating how the Gospel of John tells the story we know as Peter’s denial of Christ.

2.  In three of the gospels - Matthew Mark and Luke, which are known as the synoptic gospels because they have the same view (no extra charge for that bible lesson) - in those three gospels, the question asked of Peter is, “A “do you know the man?” To which Peter responds three times, “I don’t know the man.” 

3. But the Gospel of John tells the story a bit differently.  In John, the question is,  “aren’t you one of his disciples?” 

NOt a question of whom Peter knows, but a question of who Peter is.

Is he a disciple, a follower of Christ tasked with serving Christ in the world?

In the moment, Peter’s responds “I AM not” (Karoline Lewis

Associate Professor of Preaching and the Marbury E. Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching

Luther Seminary, http://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=5320)

4.  Peter is not simply denying Jesus, he is denying his calling, he is denying who he is, a disciple of Christ.

5. How devastating it must have been for Peter to realize that he no only turned away from Jesus, but Peter had turned away from who he knew himself to be.

c.  I suspect that is why Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him.

1.  not because Jesus doubts whether Peter loves him. Jesus knows he does.

2.  not because Jesus doubts whether Peter will commit to serving the resurrected Christ.  Jesus knows he will.

3.  But Jesus also knows Peter must claim it for himself.

4. So he pushes him, challenges him, makes him dig deep to lay claim to who Peter has become - a follower of Christ who is sent to serve Christ in the world.

d.  We who call ourselves disciples of Christ face challenges in our lives.

1.  most of us are being challenged in lots of different ways as we try and move forward in a pandemic.

2.  The question is not will Jesus let us follow him or lead his people.  that is what Jesus desires.

3. The question is are you ready to live into the calling the Risen Christ has put before you?

Move 3: To be clear, the task is feeding Jesus’ sheep.

a. Jesus tells Peter, “Feed my lambs.”  “Tend my sheep.”  “Feed my sheep.”  

1. Jesus does not say “Feed your sheep,”
2. Or even “feed the sheep,” in the generic.

  3. Jesus is talking about his sheep.  his love and concern for the people of the world.

4. We have heard previously in the Gospel of John Jesus describe himself as the Good Shepherd.

5. He is giving Peter the chance to claim again his calling to join with Jesus in caring for his sheep.

b. So peter does.

1. We read two stories from Acts.

2.  They serve sort of as an epilogue to the scene on the beach.

3. if we were watching a movie, it would say, “One year later.”

4. probably a couple of months in Peter’s life

b.  Peter first heals Aeneas and then gets called to Tabitha’s house because she has been given up for dead.

1. A lot going on in the stories.

2.  The belief people have that a disciple of Christ could heal.

3.  Dorca, and all her wonderful attributes.

4. The image of Peter praying on his knees.

5.  Lots of good material for several sermons..

6.  But today, we look at those stories and affirm that Peter is doing what he is called to do - feeding Jesus’ sheep.

Conclusion:  when Peter asks the Risen Christ, “Will you really let me lead your people,”  Jesus surely would answers, “Feed my sheep - that is what you are called to do.”

When we ask the Risen Christ, “Will you really let me lead your people,”  Jesus surely answers, “Feed my sheep - that is what you are called to do.”

Reflections on “Who Are You?” John 21: 1-14; Acts 9: 1-6

This sermon was recorded today, although it will not be seen by the congregation until this coming Sunday.  it was a full sermon, probably could have been two sermons.  I love both of the stories and had fun preaching the sermon.  I happened to be reading William Willimon's book Accidental Preacher, so he made a big impact on this sermon!

“Who Are You?”  April 26, 2020; St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Denton; John 21: 1-14;   Acts 9: 1-6

(John 21:1-14) After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.  (NRSV)

Introduction:  Between Easter and Pentecost, we are not only making wind chimes, but we are also asking questions of the resurrected Christ.  Last week, we asked, “how will we recognize you?”

This week we ask, “Who are you?”

Move 1:  To be clear, the disciples on the beach that morning did not ask Jesus “Who are you?”

a.  Don't you find it rather odd that the story includes a  question the disciples did not ask?

1. It seems to me that it would have been much more powerful to boldly affirm, “We know you are the resurrected Christ!”

2.  Or at least, “Hey, Jesus, we know who you are.”

3. Instead, they would not ask, “who are you?”

b.  This unasked question reveals how the disciples and the early church straddle the issue of what it meant for Jesus to be raised from the dead.

  1. No easy task understanding what a resurrection is.

2. That’s probably why the story included the charcoal fire and the passing of bread and fish to be eaten.

3. Evidence for those who read the story later that Jesus' body was actually resurrected.

4.  “See, he even eats just like we do!”

5.  and yet, there are also stories of the resurrected Christ passing through doors and disciples not recognizing him.

6.  the disciples, the early church, we still struggle to know what exactly what resurrection means.

c. Or maybe it's not about what shape or form the resurrected body of Christ is when he appears.  Maybe the disciples do not ask the question because they are not sure they want the answer.

1.  When my oldest daughter was about 2 yrs. Old, her favorite game for a time was chase.  The house had a circular flow, which made it great to run around, or turn back, or even slip into one of the bathrooms that was off of the main rooms.. She would chase me around the house.  I would run around the corner, backtrack, and sneak up behind her, or run where she could not find me. 

 WE had wooden floors in the main room and linoleum tile in the kitchen, so i could hear her run.  It was fascinating to listen to the pattern of her feet pattering across the floor.  If she was sure she would find me, she would pound her little feet with authority, never slowing down.  If she were not sure where I was or what might be around the corner, there would be the staccato sound of her feet, hesitating and unsure as she turned the corner into the next room.

2. the disciples are taking staccato steps, tentatively engaging Christ and wondering what their next step might be now that Christ has been resurrected.

3. To follow Jesus when he is right there in front of them doing miraculous things and healing and teaching makes sense.  A high demand, yes. But it seems reasonable.

4. But what lies ahead for them now that Christ is resurrected.

4. The game has changed.

5. If they do not ask, maybe they can avoid having to figure out what the answer means.

6. i heard a story recently about a man who saw Jesus.  the man was coming home late from work and Jesus appeared to him on his back porch.  there was Jesus, looking for him, as if Jesus needed him to do something.

And the man never told anyone, not even his wife.   Why?  Because he decided that if it was really Jesus, and if he told anyone, they would expect him to act like he’d seen Jesus (Accidental Preacher, Will Willimon, 97)

6. Do not ask the resurrected Christ, “who are you?” unless you are ready for the answer.

Move 2:  Saul on the other hand, cries out the question:  “Who are you?”

a.  Saul, the Pharisee who wants to persecute those who follow the resurrected Christ, finds himself blinded on his knees on the road to Damascus.

1. Saul is not a follower of Christ who is struggling to figure out what the resurrection means.

2. he is a Jewish leader pursuing Christians to persecute them.

3. he runs into the resurrected Christ who is pursuing Saul.

4. Will Willimon describes this scene as the Mugging of Church Enemy Number One.” Accidental Preacher, Will Willimon, 2)

5.  A voice from the heavens asks, “Why do you persecute me.”

2.  to which Saul boldly responds with the question, “Who are you?”

7.  Perhaps Jesus should have replied, “I am the one who mugged you.  I am the one who knocked you down.  i am the one who blinded you.  I am the one who is calling you to change your life. I am the one entrusting you with the work of my church.”

b.  Instead, a simple answer:  “I am Jesus,”

1. With that answer comes the truth Saul cannot squelch; the truth Saul cannot beat out of the followers of Christ;  the truth Saul can no longer deny - Christ is resurrected.

2.  And the resurrected Christ has things to get done in the world.

3. The resurrected Christ is calling Saul to join with him in that work.

4. Saul will change his life, his name (he becomes as we know Paul), and his career trajectory. Instead of persecuting Christians for their crazy stories about resurrection, he becomes a leader of those who give their lives over to the resurrected one.

5.  If you ask the resurrected Christ, “who are you?”  you better be ready for a life-changing answer.

Move 3: Back to the beach – maybe the disciples do not ask Jesus who he is because they are afraid that he might ask them:  “Who are you?  are you people of the resurrection?”

a.  Are the disciples on the beach ready for the transition from their pre-resurrection belief in Jesus to a post-resurrection transformation by the power of God to resurrect?

1.   there are signs along the way, of course, to help them make that commitment.

2.  Remember how the story from the beach plays out.

The disciples are going fishing, back to their pre-Jesus ways of doing things; back to their pre-resurrection ways of living their lives.  

They have caught no fish.  Maybe just a bad night on the water. 

Some guy on the beach they do not recognize tells them to cast their nets again.  And they do.  I suspect some part of them must have known who the guy on the beach was.  Why else would they cut their nets again.

They do. their net overflows.

Now peter knows for sure who the guy on the beach is.  Who else could fill their empty nets to overflowing?

4. Their nets are overflowing with not just a lot of fish.

 But 153.  Sort of odd that we are told exactly how many fish were in the nets.  Not 154; not 152; 153 large fish exactly.

How many people who fish do you know who tell you exactly how many fish they catch?

They talk about how big the fish are in grand terms.  

Or they talk about how huge the catch was. But no specific number.

Fish stories do not need the facts to get in the way of the story.

But we are told exactly how many fish the disciples caught because this is not a typical fish story, not an exaggeration, not some fairy tale.

This story reveals the resurrected Christ and his power to bring the disciples 153 fish from waters they had already fished and caught none.

 A real sign in the real world.

c.  A sign of abundance.  

1. Takes us back to the first miracle Jesus performs in the Gospel of John.   Remember, the wedding at Cana.  they run out of wine, so Jesus turns the water into wine.  Wine overflowing.  More than they will need to finish the party.  Better wine than they had to start the party.

2.  Abundance The resurrected Christ is not asking the disciples to imagine what the future could hold and stop there.

3.  The resurrected Christ is inviting them into the future as people of the resurrection, people whose lives are changed in real ways, and who bring hope for real change to others in the world.

4.   a world where the empty nets can be filled with abundance, even 153 fish.

5.   A world where the headlines can read of coronavirus and death and we can still hope and trust in the God of abundance - all because we follow the Risen Christ.

b.  William Willimon tells a story about a heroin addict approaching him in the weeks after Easter and asking for help.

In the conversation the person asks, “Preacher, do you really think that I can get a  grip on my addiction to heroin?”  

You know that question.  It's the question that hangs in the air at Our Daily Bread – do you really think that feeding me can help me change my life?

Or the question on the sidewalk outside the Rec center as Narcotics Anonymous gathers - can I really overcome my addiction?

Or it's the question we ask ourselves when we continually repeat the cycle of tearing down our relationships  – can I really change who I am in this relationship?

Or the question we ask as we face the uncertainty in our lives and wonder, can I really handle what the future has for me?

Willimon notes that his immediate response was to say, “No, It's almost impossible to change.”  But he caught himself, he says, because the resurrection was fresh in his mind.

Instead, he said something to the effect, “if it were only about what you could do or what I could do, then no, but God is a God of resurrection, so yes, we can dare to hope that you can change.” (Journal for Preachers, William Willimon,”Preaching As Demonstration of Resurrection,” Volume XXXVII, Number 3, Easter, 2014, 15)

conclusion:  You can be like the disciples and dare not ask the resurrected Christ, “who are you?’

or you can be like Saul and boldly ask, “Who are you?”

Either way, the Resurrected Christ is asking you: “Are you a person of the resurrection?”