Three

This sermon was presented on the 3rd Sunday of Easter, April 22, 2007 at the First Presbyerian Church in Berryville, Arkansas.

Acts 9:1-6
Psalm 30
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen

Three is a magic number. Those of you who know me know my fondness for ABC Television’s “School House Rock.” So you won’t be surprised when I tell you that the pilot episode of “School House Rock” was the episode where viewers learn to multiply by three titled “Three Is a Magic Number.” Our gospel reading this morning plays into this magic in many different ways. It can be divided into three parts, it deals with Jesus’ third appearance to the disciples, the net contains 153 fish, Jesus examines Simon Peter three times and then commissions him three times, and finally Jesus prophesies Simon Peter’s fate in three steps.

But these are not the only three’s found in scripture, theology, and polity. In the beginning, the creation story in Genesis is split into three parts. On the first day, God created the light and differentiated it from the dark, on the second the waters of the earth were separated from the waters of the sky, and on the third the earth’s water is ordered and dry land created. Then God repeats this trio of miracles beginning when the Sun is created to govern the light and the moon and stars are created for the night. The next day flying creatures are created for the skies and sea creatures for the water. Finally, the land was populated by animals and everything that creeps on the ground. On the same day, the sixth day, God created humanity to serve as stewards over it all. Then on the seventh day, God rested. If you will, the creation story can be expressed as a triad: formation, population, and Sabbath.

In a historical setting, the gospel’s penetration into Ireland has been attributed to the three-in-one nature of God. Long before the days of St. Patrick, the Irish had a complex view of their cultural reality and ultimate reality.[1] Their fascination with rhetorical complexity and the number three opened the Irish to the concept of one God presented in the trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Patrick’s famous illustration of the shamrock showed them how a plant can be three and one without compromising either the individual leaves or the single flower. Then he used this image to represent the Triune God as three persons yet only one God. This triune view of God soon saturated Irish invocations, blessings, and lullabies.[2]

Our gospel’s three parts are the fishing story, the meal, and the commissioning of Simon Peter. There is no indication about how much time had passed between Jesus last appearance and this one. It could have been days, weeks, or longer. It has been long enough that Peter decides it is time to cast his nets again. There is almost a sense of resignation in their voices. “Oh well, I’m going fishing.” “Yeah, we’ll go too.” So the men make their way to the boat, they tend their nets, and they set off from the shore. And it’s a long night. They cast their nets again, and again, and again without success. It’s like every fish in the sea knows to avoid them.

Then there is a voice from the shore, “Children, have you caught anything?” You know, it’s one thing to work and get nothing for your effort, but it’s another to be called “children.” This guy on the shore calls seven grown men prepubescent. On the bright side, the term is one of affection.[3] It is a term Matthew’s gospel uses to describe those who will get into the kingdom of heaven,[4] and that’s not all bad. Jesus blesses the little children saying the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like them.[5] When considering what the Lord thinks of the little children, this man on the shore could surely call them something worse.

So when they answer his question, the man on the shore suggests they cast their nets to the other side of the boat. This reminds me of those V8 vegetable juice commercials, “Wow, we could have cast from the other side of the boat. Why didn’t we think of that?” The disciples may have had sarcasm but they didn’t have objections when they cast their nets to the other side of the boat. There they are rewarded with a catch of many fish. Then and only then does the disciple Jesus loved recognize the Lord.

Did you notice the three elements of this story? First, the Lord is ever present. Even when the disciples did not recognize him he is present. He is there and he is attentive to them. He knows what they have and he knows what they need. He offers guidance, direction, and suggestion. Second, when the disciples are obedient, when they cast their nets to the other side of the boat, they receive the blessings of the Lord. When they follow his directions they catch the multitude of fish. They had to follow directions. They still had to work. They had to get the fish to shore. These are not miracles, this is work. There is one miracle, the presence of Jesus on the shore and in their lives. Third and finally, when they are obedient, the Lord allows his presence to be revealed. Our reading doesn’t mention a blinding light or any sort of transfiguration happening between the disciple and the Lord, Jesus simply reveals himself to them.

There’s that three again, it’s a magic number. These steps of God’s ever presence, our obedience, and God’s revelation still pertain today as they did in Jesus’ day… and albeit in a different order, as they did for Paul in Acts.

In the second act of our gospel reading, Jesus feeds his disciples again, this time a simple breakfast of fish and bread. If you have ever had fresh lake carp in the morning, you will know how light and sweet it tastes. With fresh bread it must have been wonderful. This had to remind them of the fateful last supper they shared together, the meal we call the Lord’s Supper. They break bread with the Lord they love, the Lord who loves them. Through their experience, I imagine the elements of the sacramental meal dancing together; the bread, and the wine. Jesus participates in the sacrament. He didn’t just say do this, he did these things himself. In his actions, he sanctifies these common elements of everyday life for use in the life eternal.

After sitting down and after breaking the fast, the third act of our reading begins. Jesus calls to Simon Peter. Simon Peter whom Jesus called the rock of the church. Simon Peter to whom Jesus cries “Satan, get behind me.” Simon Peter whom Jesus said would deny him three times before the cockcrow. Jesus calls to Simon and asks “Do you love me more than these?” Simon responds, “Yes Lord; you know that I love you.” So Jesus commissions him, “Feed my lambs.”

Jesus then repeats this question. “Do you love me?” Simon again responds, “Yes Lord; you know that I love you.” So Jesus commissions him, “Tend my sheep.”

Jesus repeats this question one more time, “Do you love me?” By now it’s like hearing that old knock-knock joke and Simon is hoping to hear Jesus finally say, “Orange you glad I didn’t say banana again?” Simon is upset. He is angry, offended, and insulted. He is saddened, grieved, and distressed[6] that his Lord, Jesus the Christ would feel like he had to ask him three times if he loved him. “Surely Lord you know everything,” he says, “you know that I love you.” Simon Peter then gets his commission. He receives his mission. He is given his marching orders. He is told by his Lord and Messiah one more time, “Feed my sheep.” But that’s not all.

Jesus warns Peter about the death he will face. He is told that he will face the most horrible, painful, disgraceful death the empire has learned to inflict against its enemies. His arms will be stretched out on the cross. He will be hung from a tree. Jesus even reminds Peter he will not wish to go. He won’t deny Jesus, but he won’t volunteer for this death either.

Then, in a post script to this three act play, Jesus tells Peter, “Follow me.”

Follow me. When Jesus says this, scholars say he is telling Peter to follow him on the cross. I can’t disagree with years and years of scholarship, but I believe the Lord is asking more of Peter than just to die. I think, I hope, and I pray Jesus is telling Peter how to live.

The wondrous love of our Lord calls Peter to build the church; the church which is to be—and is still today—Christ’s body on earth. The church has always been the people of God, and not some structure. Buildings rot, decay and are forgotten, but as the people of God we still speak and act as the body of Christ today. From the songs of David found in the Psalms, to the Acts of the Apostles found in scripture, to the Gospel of John and the Revelation the Lord shows John on Patmos, theirs are the words we speak when sharing the word of God. From the One Great Hour of Sharing to the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank to Project Self Esteem, we continue to act, to do God’s work today. We share the word. We feed his lambs. We tend his sheep. We truly become God’s people when we remember the people God calls us to be and act in obedience.

We remember that like Simon Peter, we are sent to be God’s reconciling people to the world. We are called by our Lord to serve the creation healing the wounds that separate us from God and from one another. In this mission we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit, God who walks beside us and guides us as we do God’s will. And though our obedience we are one with the church eternal. We are called yesterday, today, and tomorrow to gather and welcome the broken people of the world and through God’s love make us one.

[1] Hunter, III, George C., The Celtic Way of Evangelism. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2000, page 20
[2] Ibid, pages 33-34.
[3] padia entry from the electronic edition of Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Third Edition. Copyright © 2000 The University of Chicago Press. Revised and edited by Frederick William Danker based on the Walter Bauer's Griechisch-deutsches Wörterbuch zu den Schriften des Neuen Testaments und für frühchristlichen Literatur, sixth edition, ed. Kurt Aland and Barbara Aland, with Viktor Reichmann and on previous English Editions by W.F.Arndt, F.W.Gingrich, and F.W.Danker.
[4] Matthew 18:3
[5] Matthew 19:14, Mark 10:14, Luke 18:16
[6] lupeow entry from the electronic edition of Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.