Last week we answered the question, what now? This week we answer the question, what next? The resurrection happened and the disciples were a bit undone. They were rudderless, floundering, and this is because they were being tested. Their faith had been shaken. This situation teaches us that we will all be tested, shocked and surprised by life.
In verse 12 Jesus is on shore and invites the disciples to eat breakfast with him. During his three-year ministry of healing and teaching, the disciples had seen Jesus perform miracle on top of miracle and this day they were the beneficiaries of still another miracle. Last week we talked about it. They had been fishing all night, doing things their way and caught nothing. As soon as they followed Jesus' instructions they caught so many fish they could hardly bring the catch to shore.
While our faith will be shaken, we must draw close to Jesus for our next instruction! We find the disciples are eating breakfast with Jesus and this is the third time he had appeared to them since his death and resurrection. Now that they are happy with their amazing catch and full of breakfast, Jesus starts to teach again. By giving specific instructions to Peter he speaks to us all.
Jesus says, if you love me you must do three things with your lives. He says, "Feed my lambs, shepherd my sheep and feed my sheep." Lambs are the young and we know from other scriptures that a person who harms a child is to be, "thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck." If we love Jesus it is clear we are to take care of the children.
Remember that sheep are stupid and not like so many of the fend-for-themselves breeds. For example, lions in the wild don't need help to survive. Jesus is saying to us that we must be shepherds. We must be helpful, be teachers, mentors and guides because all around you everyday people are likely to get into trouble. We are to be the shepherds who guide the ones we love away from danger and into green pastures.
Third we are to care for all who are in need. This is Jesus bringing his commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself" into focus again. Peter was a fisherman by trade and now Jesus called him to be a shepherd. You may be a teacher or coach or sales person by trade and at the same time you are called by Jesus to be a shepherd.
Next Jesus warns Peter that he will die a death by crucifixion. In verse 20 Peters asks what will happen to John? Jesus basically says, "you just mind your own business." What a great insight we get from Jesus here. We learn what we are to do with our lives and while we go about being obedient, we are not to be concerned about what will happen or not happen to another Christ-follower. This is a profound warning: while you may suffer, another follower might appear to have an easy life.
God's plan for you is to protect children and love your neighbor as yourself. Be about the business of serving others and Jesus will take care of the rest.
What now? The resurrection happened. The big event is over and now what do we do? For the disciples there's an emptiness that I understand. We work very hard to prepare for a big game and we win it and after it's over we all feel a bit empty. What do we do now? In football, we simply turn our attention to the next game but it was not that easy for the disciples. Some of them had just seen Jesus walking around. They had seen Jesus raise others from the dead but now Jesus had raised himself from the dead and had walked out of a tomb that had been secured with tons of stone.
They were confused and overwhelmed and they must have been thinking, "What now?" It was as if they could not get their heads around what had happened to them. Thomas was not present when Jesus walked through walls to present himself to some of the disciples. They had locked themselves inside a house because they were afraid that the Jews who killed Jesus would come after them. When they told Thomas they had seen Jesus he said, "Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won't believe it."
Eight days later the disciples, including Thomas, were again locked inside a home for safety. Once again, Jesus walked through walls and said, "Peace to you." What can we learn from how Jesus treated Thomas? Jesus knew that Thomas didn't believe he had risen from the dead. Jesus could have been like a know-it-all professor and said, "Well, I told you so. I am very much alive and you are very stupid to doubt me and your colleagues." Instead Jesus shows by example the new way we are to live our lives. We are to love one another, give each other slack and not judge or be harsh and critical.
Did Thomas feel stupid when Jesus focused his attention solely on him? He must have felt overwhelmed because Jesus invited him to, "take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe."
How kind is that? The creator of the universe takes time to focus on one person and give that one person the chance to do exactly what he wanted to do. Try to imagine how Jesus knows each one of us so personally that he hears every word we say and knows every thought we think and every feeling we feel. Jesus does today for each of us what he did that day for Thomas. He comes to us and loves us so much that we get his one-on-one undivided attention.
In reaction to Jesus, Thomas says, "My Lord, My God!" This is my point today. When you wonder, what now? the answer is always, "My Lord and My God, show me what I am to do today." We should all wake up every day and say, "My Lord and My God, you are in control, lead me to your way." Or, "My Lord, My God, thank you for the air to breath, the sun to see, the milk and cereal and every other life-giving resource you put in front of me today. Thank you."
Next Jesus give us a most fantastic promise. He tells Thomas he is glad that Thomas is now a believer but for those of us who do not get to see with Jesus with our own physical eyes, we will receive even greater blessings! Let's hold that promise close. Just like Jesus came to Thomas, he'll come to you right where you are.
Next we learn that Peter goes fishing. Makes sense to me. I think he was simply exhausted and needed a break from his work so like many men I know, to get a break, he decided to go fishing. When he told the other disciples he was going, "the rest of them replied, 'We're going with you.'" I hope they relaxed out on the water because after all night, they had not caught a single fish. The Bible says that the sun rose and Jesus was on the shore, "but they didn't recognize him."
How many times in our lives has Jesus been standing right in front of us and we don't see him. We don't see him feeling our pain, or laughing with us in our joy. We are so caught up in ourselves, we miss Jesus and this happens over and over and over. You would think Jesus would give up on us but he never does.
Jesus called out to them to throw their net on the other side of the boat. Just like we might let a stranger give us advice thinking that they can see something from their point of view that we are missing, the disciples moved the net to the other side. All of a sudden, the net was so full and heavy they could not haul the load into the boat. Then John said to Peter, "It's Jesus!"
So excited to get to Jesus, Peter dove into the water to swim to him. We're told the boat was about 100 yards from shore so Peter figured he could get to Jesus faster alone than waiting on the others with the heavy catch. The others stayed calm and eventually made it to shore with the entire load of 153 fish. This is a great study in personalities and it is so clear that Jesus made us different and every individual brings something to the party. We need the powerful, impetuous Peter and we need the calm, cool, forward thinkers like Nathanael and the sons of Zebedee. Jesus loves us all.
When all had arrived at the beach, Jesus said, "Come, breakfast is ready. Come and join me." Do we take Jesus up on his breakfast offer every single day? Jesus is showing us that if we are obedient to him we will never be hungry. Obedience guarantees us will have everything we need. He is our source and our sustainer.
What now? We are to follow the leading of Jesus. Your way = no fish. Jesus' way = a limitless supply of fish. What now? Say, "My Lord and My God" and Jesus will tell you what to do. Say, "My Lord and My God" and Jesus will take you to your glorious destiny. This is the meaning of the resurrection.
