Read: John 21
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” (John 21:10)
Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. (John 21:13)
Again Jesus said, “Simon, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” (John 21:16)Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:19b)
Reflect:
This final chapter of John’s gospel reads like a series of echoes of the events of Jesus’ ministry. It describes a third appearance of Jesus to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. The disciples didn’t at first recognise Jesus, but the sequence of events on this occasion must have reminded them of all that had gone before.
Jesus met them on the shore after a long night of fishing. I wonder if they recalled the day Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt 4:19)
Jesus took bread and fish and gave it to them to eat. I suppose they must have remembered the day Jesus fed 5000 men and their families and later declared, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry.” (John 6:35)
Jesus told Simon to feed and take care of his sheep. Simon must have thought of the day Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd… I lay down my life for my sheep.” (John 10:14-15)
Jesus told Peter to follow him, and he must have remembered that day just a short time ago when Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Crux:
The Jesus who appeared to his disciples after his death was the same Jesus who died – and his message was the same good news message.
Respond:
LORD God Almighty,
You are the same yesterday, today and into tomorrow. You are the Alpha and the Omega; the First and the Last; who was, who is and who is to come. Holy, holy, holy are you, my LORD God Almighty.
Jesus, you are IT. You are the crux of all creation, the true centre of the universe. And the message you came to teach is the same message that changed all and changes all.
You call me out of my old life, making me new. May I leave that life far behind.
You feed, sustain and nourish me. May I eat and be satisfied.
You call forth my love for you and command me to love your “sheep”. May I love well and dearly.
You are the One Way to the Father, and you call me to follow you. May I follow in your steps all the days of this eternal life you have granted to me.
Amen.
crux: 