We’ve just heard John’s account of what appears to start out as a very ordinary evening, with Simon Peter
simply saying, ‘I’m going fishing,’ and the other disciples saying, ‘we’ll go with you’ – an ordinary evening,
Peter still being the leader, and after the emotional events of Easter – time to retreat back into what they
know best.

Last week we heard how Jesus appeared to the frightened disciples who were hiding in a locked room.
They rejoiced at seeing him and it told us that he commissioned them for their ministry and breathed on
them the Holy Spirit. We heard how Thomas doubted and so Jesus appeared again when Thomas was
there, showing him the nail marks so that he could believe. Today we have the third encounter for the
disciples with Jesus, but at first it seems that they don’t actually recognise him, so far have they retreated
into their old way of life.

They were beside the sea of Tiberias, also known as the sea of Galilee – in my mind I have a picture of a
glassy inky lake, glinting as the sun drops behind the horizon, lined with the wares of the fishermen that
operate there, little sheds, nets hanging out to dry, lots of chatter… but wait a minute these very men have
recently witnessed some incredible and momentous events, surely no day can be called ordinary, but here
they are simply going out fishing.

In their place, might we do the same – fall back into familiar routines, do what is comfortable whilst we
process all that has happened? The disciples have gone from utter despair to unbelievable joy; promises
were made that they now need to live up to, but can they?

What about us, we all experience times of great highs, but also debilitating lows – do we sometimes
deliberately continue with what is comfortable and familiar rather than risk stepping out boldly for Jesus,
into something wobbly and uncertain, even if it is a future underpinned by the abundant love and promise
of God? It might be that we’re not sure how to step out for God, however wallowing in our comfort zones
is unlikely to lead us forward on the path God intends for us, that said, in our reading, returning to
something comfortable sets the scene for what comes next; therefore this perhaps demonstrates that
stopping and wallowing gives time and space for God to speak to us?

The fishing trip is a bit of a failure, the nets are empty, despite the disciples fishing all night – and as they
head for shore someone shouts out to them to throw their nets to the right side of the boat. Their empty
nets are suddenly bursting with an abundance of fish, and we know a God of abundance, don’t we? Not
only in our own lives, but all those stories of abundance in the bible – the wedding at Cana, where water
became abundant wine, the feeding of the 5,000; these moments of abundance are a mark of God’s
kingdom, reminding us that if we, like the disciples, are uncertain as to what comes next, we can rely on
the abundance of God’s kingdom that is always there, and it’s promised, we just need to be open and
obedient to all God has.

Earlier in John’s Gospel, Jesus says: “apart from me you can do nothing” the disciples own strength brought
empty nets, but here we have this wonderful example of their obedience yielding abundance – in this case
an abundance of fish, but for each of us what might that abundance be? Our effectiveness in living out the
gospel is not measured by our abilities but by our faithfulness and obedience to Christ’s direction.
And from this abundance comes intimacy with Christ.

Despite the impulsive and commanding Peter jumping into the lake to swim to shore and get to Jesus first,
once he knows who it is, they all arrive to see breakfast set up, bread and fish awaiting them. They fetched
more fish in that net that John tells us was not torn, despite the weight of fish – the net that expanded to
hold all that it needed to, just as Jesus expands his kingdom out to include all.

On that morning, by the side of the lake, Jesus offered fellowship, intimacy and restoration – something
that is on offer for us all. He turned that moment on the beach into a sacred communion – a reminder that
he seeks to meet with us in the breaking of the bread, in fact he seeks intimacy with each of us.
The fire or bed of coals, or anthrakia in Greek, on which he cooked the fish, is a reminder of the fire in the
High Priests yard that Peter warmed himself on as he denied Jesus – here again as he warms himself as
Jesus asks him: “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He repeats it three times, once for
each denial. We don’t know what the ‘these’ relates to, and it’s probably not important, what is important
is Peter’s reaction and response. He is deeply hurt, this repeated questioning heaps more anguish on him
as he’s already struggling with the grief of denying Jesus, the events of Easter and his loss of position within
the group of disciples.

Yet Jesus is offering a lifeline, an opportunity for Peter to be healed of his grief as Peter flings himself on
him saying ‘Lord you know everything’, giving his whole self in the hope of healing and forgiveness. And
isn’t this how we sometimes react when we’ve made a mistake, our pain and shame can be so close to the
surface that all we can do in our upset is lean in to God, placing our whole self at his feet?

In his responses to Peter, Jesus give instructions, “Feed my lambs”, “Tend my sheep” and “Feed my sheep”.
These show us the forgiveness Jesus offers, he is restoring Peter to a leadership role, one where he will
tend and feed God’s people. This is a huge encouragement to us, that despite anything we may do, Jesus
wants to forgive us, to free us from our sins and restore us to that right relationship with him so that we
too can go out, be fishers of people and share the good news.

Ultimately, this passage calls us, along with the disciples, to mission. “Follow me,” Jesus says clearly.
The good news for us, seen through the lens of Peter’s encounter with the risen Christ, is the call for all of
us to serve Christ in all the world, and it’s not dependent on our strength, wisdom, or perfection. It’s about
obedience to the risen Christ, whose presence transforms scarcity into abundance and fear into courage.
Our task is not to manage outcomes but to faithfully cast out our nets, trusting that Christ will fill them
according to his abundant promise.

My prayer is that all of us will be a people willing to step into whatever Christ calls us to, embracing any
uncertainty with faith, knowing that the risen Christ goes before us, empowering and equipping us for
every step of the journey. AMEN

Service: Rev Rebecca Yates, 4th May 2025. (St John’s Church Peterborough UK)

Reading: John 21:1-19 / Acts 9:1-6