3rd Sunday of Easter – Sermon 189
Prayer to start
May the words of my lips and the thoughts of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ
AMEN
Introduction
“Praise and honour, glory and might – to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb forever”
Are you ready to sing God’s praise – this Eastertide? –
to tell others about the resurrection – and all that it means?
Has the death and resurrection of Jesus changed your life?
In our readings this morning we have the stories of two people who were set free – because of the resurrection –
Peter – who when put to the test – betrayed Jesus and ran off into the night-
and Saul – who did all in he could to persecute and destroy those who spoke up for Jesus –
Two men trapped by their own guilt and misunderstandings – who were transformed when Jesus appeared to them after his death on the cross – and gave them a new direction in life
Point 1 – Peter and Saul
Without question – Peter loved Jesus – more than life itself – and after Jesus’ crucifixion – he would have felt a great sense of guilt and remorse and hatred of himself –
He knew and loved Jesus as a man – and recognised Him as God – and yet human weakness – for one moment – was stronger – than – that love
Two events would have been upper most in his mind – the first when he insisted loudly that he would remain loyal to Jesus – no matter what – he would follow Him to prison – to death – lay down his life for Jesus –
The second – when he watched helpless as Jesus was taken away for trial – he followed – but rather than helping – ended up denying being a follower of Jesus – not once but three times – and worst still – Jesus had told him before hand – it would happen –
and then hearing the next day – all that happened to Jesus –
Not even the news of the resurrection – or the sight of Jesus in the locked room could have erased it from his mind –
Listen to these words from Hillary Faith Jones;
‘Forked tongued voices echoed inside Peter’s head –
I was there – I was his brother –
I should have fought for him –
bargained for him – protected him- shielded him
and the worst thought of all,
I should have taken his place,
and the sickness filled Peter –
and he saw himself screaming –
once – twice three times – ‘I know no Jesus’
Saul on the other hand – didn’t know Jesus – but knew of Him – and did all in his power to destroy all those who followed him –
He had got the wrong idea about God and thought this new wave of thinking – was damaging things – He was fully immersed in Jewish ways – and couldn’t see beyond them –
So violent was Saul’s persecution of Christians that he was going from house to house dragging people away and putting them in prison
and it was on his way to Damascus to pick up some letters from the high priest to take with him to the Synagogues – so he could persecute people there as well – that he met Jesus for the first time – and for Saul it was a case of a complete U-turn –
His experience of the bright light – the blindness and the voice speaking to him – change him for ever –
Whatever reasons God had for transforming these men – it gives us hope for our past hurts and sins –
Peter’s betrayal or Saul’s onslaught on the Christian community – may have failed Jesus totally – but such sins can be overcome by love and forgiveness
and the ability to love and forgive those who hurt and betray – is found in Jesus Christ –
Point 2 Jesus Forgives Peter
When Jesus showed up on the shore of the sea of Tiberias – the group of disciples who had been fishing there all night – didn’t recognize who he was
This was the third appearance of Jesus – as reported by John – the previous two were behind locked doors – so they weren’t expecting to see him – in the open – in public –
Just as when they first met Jesus – Peter and the other disciples were finding it hard to catch fish –
‘cast your net on the starboard side of the boat – he said, and when they do it – they have so many fish that they can’t pull the net in –
They had toiled all night using their own skills and experience – and caught nothing – it was only after they admit defeat – and listen and respond to the words of Jesus – that their catch is overflowing
When they reach the shore – Jesus is already cooking fish – and bread on his fire – he doesn’t need their catch – but he asks them to bring some of it –
Peter seizes the opportunity and almost singlehandedly tries to haul in the fish – all 153 of them – this was the first step in Peter’s healing – giving him an opportunity to do something for Jesus
They sit and eat – No one dared ask who he was – but they all knew –
Jesus had already forgiven Peter – but Peter didn’t know it –
when Jesus died on the cross – he took away all our sins – Peter’s included – and provided us all with a new beginning – a fresh start –
We all deal with our hurts and our feelings in different ways – we push them to the back of our minds – some of them – like sores – never seems to go away – they itch and we scratch them for years and years – but its only when we revisit them with God – and address the pain that they cause – that healing can finally take place –
There is nothing we can do to earn our forgiveness – or earn God’s love – or a place on heaven – its given freely – by Jesus in response to our faith and love –
and like the fish that Peter caught – the things that we do for Jesus – are not essential for the success of God’s kingdom – He welcomes them – but we can never upstage his influence and the work that the Holy Spirit – does in transforming us –
what we give in love God welcomes in love and we are welcomed to take refreshment and to heal our wounds in His presence –
Point 3 New Beginnings
After breakfast Jesus and Peter talk –
‘Do you love me – more than the others? Asks Jesus – ‘You know I love you Lord’ says Peter – ‘feed my sheep’
and a second time – ‘Do you love me? – ‘Yes Lord’ – Peter answered – ‘You know I love you’ – ‘then tend my sheep’ –
and when the same question came back a third time – and Peter said – ‘you know everything Lord – you know I love you ‘ – you can almost imagine a cock crowing –
Jesus’ three questions ‘ do you love me’ and the response ‘ Lord you know I do’ – each allowed a new foundation of love – and trust to be shared – between them – one giving the other receiving –
Sometimes the ability to trust is lost because the hurt has been so great – but what we learn from Peter’s experience is that God forgives no matter how deep the wounds –
So now Peter and Saul must move on – What Jesus has accomplished must now be spread wider –
The Easter message must be taken to the far corners of the world –
Peter’s denials have been transformed into a new communion – He would no longer be Jesus’ right hand man – but take on the shepherds role – and follow in Jesus’ footsteps – Glorifying God – by his own humbling martyrdom –
Paul – would take the gospel message to the Gentiles – His energies were to be channeled towards spreading the gospel message – to all who would listen –
Conclusion
Easter brings a new transforming power – a power that can change all our lives –
Everything is different in the light of Easter – even God – is known in terms of the lamb and his victory –
We have a God who is more loving – more powerful – and more gracious than we could ever imagine – and he is ready to welcome us in love to His table –
The question is – are we prepared to join Him in His song –
Closing prayer
Guilt is such a terrible force Oh Lord –
pinning us down to an in-turned world
closing all touch of life
let us then hold tight within our hand
a simple cross – and feel its roughened wood – its sharpened corners
And slowly we will come to find – a greater force – deeper stronger – wilder – freeing us together
A force that is of you O God,
We are set free, Now our life begins
For we begin with you.
AMEN