After that day, everything was different. The first disciples witnessed a dead man walking. Their lives would be forever changed, defined by “life before Easter” and life “life after Easter.” On numerous occasions, Jesus showed up in resurrected form before he ascended. In the season of Easter we will examine six “after Easter” encounters with Jesus. What did he say and do? In what practical ways does resurrection change my daily life? Nothing will ever be the same.
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation
Lord Jesus, you once came to humanity in a rustic barn and a messy manger. Do not be distant from the rough places of our lives. We often find ourselves far from you. In mercy, come near to us, our Lord, Emmanuel; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Confession
Forgive my sins, O Lord – forgive me the sins of my present and the sins of my past, the sins of my soul and the sins of my body; the sins which I have done to please myself, and the sins which I have done to please others. Forgive me my wasted and idle sins, forgive me my serious and deliberate sins, forgive me those sins which I know and those sins which I know not, the sins which I have labored so to hide from others that I have hid them from my own memory. Forgive them, O Lord, forgive them all.
Word
“He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’” John 21:6
Meditation
Today’s meditation is by Grace Herzog.
Reading this passage reminded me of a similar story in Luke chapter 5. After an endless day of bad luck while fishing, Jesus told Peter and the disciples to drop their nets in the water one more time. Suddenly the disciples’ nets became so full they had to ask others to help with the weight of all of the fish. Peter drops down before Jesus and says, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” It was the first time Peter recognizes Jesus as God, and it is one of the defining moments of his journey with Christ.
Flash forward to John 21, after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Before this moment, aside from the brief appearances described in John 20, Peter has not come face to face with Christ since he denied him three times the night of Jesus’ trial. We hear the story of Peter’s denial often, but I don’t think many of us ever realize the weight of this rejection. Peter denied the son of God multiple times after being one of his faithful followers through and through. I’m sure that Peter was feeling all sorts of emotions: guilt, regret, shame. These feelings probably festered in his mind up until this encounter with Jesus.
I wonder if Jesus’ suggestion to “cast the net on the right side of the boat” was meant to make Peter remember the very first time that he believed and called Jesus Lord. He is a sinful person, and he will continue to make mistakes, just like the rest of humanity. But Peter can still be loved by God with an eternal love. It was almost like Jesus was saying to Peter, “You are welcome here with me. Despite all of the sin and regret you may have, I love you.”
Peter’s response to Jesus’ message is one that encourages me. He jumps into the water to meet his Savior. I think that in that moment, Peter understood the true depth of Jesus’ love and grace towards him and towards the world. Despite all of the past sins he has committed, he embraces Jesus’ open arms of forgiveness.
Dear Lord, thank you for loving me unconditionally. When I doubt, when I stumble, when I get in over my head, help me to remember this eternal love that you graciously give me. Amen.
Benediction
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7)