“Are You the Big One Who got away?” – John 21:1-19 - April 22, 2007

When Jesus first called his disciples they were fishing. In the gospel of Mark he said, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” “And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” But apparently they didn’t leave their livelihood of fishing for very long since we now find them back in the Sea of Galilee fishing as they had in the past.

Jesus appears to the disciples on the shore but they did not recognize him. This is after the resurrection. The disciples had been with Jesus for about three years. They witnessed his crucifixion and they were aware of his resurrection. They had been through many things together, listening to his teachings, observing his healings and interactions with Jewish leaders. So, now we find them doing what they were doing when he first appeared to them, fishing.

It’s like nothing ever happened. Had they given up already? The Easter event is over and the disciples were confused and burned out. All they knew to do was return to fishing. It is no different for us. Now that Easter has passed the church returns to business as usual. We struggle to make a living, tend to our chores and survive in a complex world.

It is difficult to experience the presence of Jesus when we are overwhelmed with the frustrations of life. Campus murders, suicide bombs in Iraq and even a local murder shake our faith and we wonder where God is. We search, we complain, we even weep. We long for answers and we hope for miracles.

When life becomes overwhelming it is always good to take a break. Fresh insights, new surroundings and exposure to new circumstances and new people can help us out of a slump. For the disciples fishing seemed like a worthy escape. But, their fishing expedition is not going well. They haven’t caught anything. Jesus told them, “to cast their net on the other side of the boat.” They did and the result was huge.

What this story tells us is that Jesus is still present, giving wisdom, working miracles. He is very much alive and still doing ministry. Society couldn’t destroy him. His very presence is experienced in the midst of the daily lives of the disciples. Jesus is present for us too. He is with us in our daily lives, wanting the best for us, giving us wisdom and blessing us.

Grandpa Braley, a Methodist minister, took his grandson, Robert, fishing at Edinboro Lake. He told him about the biggest and meanest fish in the lake, named Hezekiah. Grandpa once had him almost in the boat but he got away. In the process his fin sliced the back of his hand. Robert got all excited about the possibility of catching a big fish. They found a likely fishing spot but after 30 minutes they didn’t have any action. Robbie was growing impatient. So grandpa reassured him that their luck would change. From then on they drifted all over the lake, but no fish were biting. Robbie was extremely discouraged and he had thoughts of never fishing again. The day was getting late and grandpa started rowing back to the dock.

On the way back, he explained that even the greatest fisherman have bad days. Grandpa told Robbie about a man named Peter who wasn’t having any luck fishing in the Sea of Galilee. When his boat approached the shore there was a stranger watching him. He shouted, “Throw your net on the other side of the boat.” Peter wasn’t very optimistic and said, “No way, there’s no fish this close to shore.” The stranger insisted, “Trust me, cast your net one more time.” Begrudgingly he cast his net and amazingly there was a huge catch of fish.

Grandpa finished the story about the time they reached the dock. He said, “Tell you what, Robbie, after I tie up, throw your line in one more time and I’ll be back in ten minutes.” A short time later Robbie felt a tug on his line. The bobber disappeared beneath the surface. Robbie’s eyes lit up and he felt the weight of a great fish on the other end. “Grandpa, it’s Hezekiah. Come quick!” Grandpa stepped into the boat and instructed Robbie the proper way to land a fish. When Robbie pulled the fish in, Grandpa said, “Robbie, that is the biggest sunfish I have ever seen.” Robbie was proud of his fish and couldn’t wait to show his parents. Grandpa showed Robbie how to clean it, then prepare it for dinner. After their meal Grandpa told the family that Robbie had caught Little Hezekiah. (from Chicken Soup for the Fisherman’s Soul)

Jesus is not only there for us when we are fishing, he is there for us anytime someone teaches us because they want the best for us. Jesus knew the disciples were discouraged. They had come up empty and they needed a little miracle to help them move forward.

Just like Robbie and his family, Jesus and the disciples had a fish fry. Jesus invited them to have breakfast and during the meal Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. He asked him this because he had asked him before, like the others, to follow him. He was to be the leader of the church, but he lost confidence in himself and returned to his original vocation which was fishing. But, Peter found no satisfaction in the old life. He wasn’t catching any fish until Jesus showed up. His confidence is restored because of the large catch of fish. Now he can get on with his life, do that which he was called to do, that is, build the church.

“Do you love me more than these?” Jesus asked. He was referring to the drudgery of fishing. Peter replied that he did indeed love Jesus. And Peter said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus then said to Peter, “Feed my sheep.”

Peter is once again being called to a higher calling. Jesus wanted his life to be filled with meaning. If you know anything about fishing you know it is not about catching fish. Fishing is about friendship, bonding with people you care about, learning lessons, enjoying the out-of-doors.

General H. Normal Schwarzkopf spends part of his summers in the Rocky Mountains. Each summer the Sheridan Arts Foundation partners with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. They take underprivileged children from the inner-city for a week of activities in the mountains. One of those activities is fly fishing. Gen Schwarzkopf remembers the time he took an inner city boy from Atlanta. At one point he was taken aback with the beautiful Colorado Mountains. He said to his young fishing partner, “Have you ever seen mountains prettier than these?” The young boy replied, “Sir, I have never seen any mountains.” It made General Schwarzkopf realize what a blessing it is to fish in God’s creation. (from Chicken Soup for the Fisherman’s Soul)

I am convinced that Peter finally got the message. There are no more fish stories after this except for Paul’s travels in the Mediterranean. As one who feeds sheep that meant that Peter would be caring for others. The best way a person can lift their spirits is to help someone who has a need. Not only does it help the other person it helps you to focus less on your own problems.

We are creatures of habit and just as the disciples returned to their ordinary life of fishing we do the same. Like them, we are just trying to survive. Full fishing nets pay the bills and feed the family. For Jesus, however there is more to life than just surviving. Life has purpose when we are like shepherds who attend to the flocks.

I was listening to a friend this week who had been to Willow Creek Church in Chicago on Easter Sunday. He was impressed because of the thousands of people who attended. As he talked it made me feel small in comparison. If I’ve learned anything in 27 years of ministry, I’ve learned this. It is not about numbers. It is not about catching great amounts of fish. It is about pastoral care, in other words, tending to the sheep. “Do you love me? Then feed my sheep.”

Jesus needed Peter to tend to the flock in the future. He wasn’t going to let him get away. You’ve probably heard many stories about the big one who got away.

One time in the Little Satilla River in southeast Georgia, a young boy was fishing with his father. They waded waist deep into the river sandbars and along the banks of the meandering stream. They fished with worms and caught mostly large bream and bluegills. On this particular afternoon the boy’s father asked him to keep his fish while he walked down stream to talk with some friends. He tied his stringer on his belt loop and continued fishing. It wasn’t long before his cork started moving and he knew he had a big one. After a few minutes he knew he had a copperhead (fish), the largest of the day. He struggled to bring it in but in the process his stringer broke free and was gone, and so were all his father’s fish. He forgot all about the big fish on his line and threw his pole on a nearby sandbar. He dived in the river to retrieve the stringer. Then he heard his father’s voice, “Hot (that was his name) what’s wrong?” “I’ve lost all the fish, Daddy.” “All of them?” “Yes, all of them.” He began to cry and continued diving in the river trying to find the stringer. His father was rarely impatient with foolishness or mistakes, but after a long silence he said, “Let them go, Hot. There are a lot more fish in the river. We’ll get them another time.” (from, Chicken Soup for the Fisherman’s Soul, Jimmy Carter)

Jimmy was forgiven by his father for losing the fish, just as Jesus forgave Peter and the others for fishing instead of tending to the flock. Over the years I have seen many people leave the church for a variety of reasons. It grieves me to lose anyone. And, there are times when we give up and return to life as usual, forgetting what we have been called to do. We are forgiven too, but that does not let us off the hook. God doesn’t want any of us to get away. Jesus called Peter to tend to his flock and he also calls us. “Do you love me?” If so, then “Feed my sheep.”

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio