John 21:1-13
April
25, 2010
Patrick Preheim
Post Easter Communion
Patrick: Jesus hosts a meal for seven of his disciples on a shoreline. It
is a communion moment in John’s gospel. The last time Jesus and his disciples
were at the Sea of Tiberias came in chapter 6. It was the week of Passover and a
large crowd gathered to see Jesus. They were hungry, but there was not enough
bread or money to feed the masses. Andrew found a lad who had five loaves and
two fishes. It is worth noting that bread and fish are the images iconographers
of the early church used to depict the Lord’s Supper (Raymond Brown, Anchor
Bible Commentary’s The Gospel According to John, v. II, p. 1000). Jesus took the
loaves, and when he had given thanks, he gave them to the people. This
linguistic formulation is identical to the institution of the Lord’s Supper
found in other gospels: Jesus took bread, offered thanks, and gave. This
communion scene of John 6 was shared by naďve disciples, curious people and even
the lad who had provided the loaves and fishes. Did they fully understand the
meaning of the event? No. But they did know something significant had happened.
Jesus used this experience to explain that he is the bread of life; that those
who come to him shall not hunger or thirst. In John 21 we find ourselves once
more back at the Sea of Tiberias. Jesus again finds “lads” to share with him.
Jesus again takes bread and fish. Jesus again gives food to disciples who are
growing in faith.
The disciples listed in John 21represents the spectrum of the spiritual
condition. Of course, the beloved disciple is there—the beloved disciple is
everywhere exciting in John’s gospel. All of us who have found a valued place in
the Christian community (an accepted place in the canon) can identify with the
beloved disciple. It is good news for us that we can in the approaching meal
again meet our close friend and savior—Jesus Christ.
The Thomas of doubting fame is present in the boat, probably even sitting next
to the beloved disciple. Thomas, I am sure, still maintains in part his
insistence that the Kingdom of God is within and not just in Jesus. He is still
learning about the mystical aspects of Christ. He still has many questions. As I
said last week, it is good news that is in the boat. He too will come to a
deeper recognition of Jesus in the meal that approaches. And even as Jesus
invited Thomas to the shoreline meal, so too the Thomas(es) among us are invited
to partake of the Church’s meal.
Peter is also in the boat fishing, and the text alludes to his nakedness. Peter
is still smarting from the Holy Week betrayals and this is one way the author
gets at that vulnerable topic. Peter is ready for a second consecration, and
like the baptismal candidates of the early church he will approach Jesus naked
expect for an outer garment. All of us who have denied or betrayed Christ can
identify with Peter. We are disciples, but deeply flawed. The good news is that
Christ extends to us new life in the meal which follows a mostly naked swim to
shore.
A few others are in the boat, but more important than their names are their
number. They are seven. Seven is one of those perfect numbers in the Jewish
tradition. Without including the name of every disciple the author has implied
that all the disciples of the church are invited to the shoreline meal. Beloved
disciples are invite; doubting Thomas(es) are invited; guilt ridden Peters are
invited. We are all invited.
Jesus Christ is revealed in the work and worship of the church. This beginning
and concluding verses of today’s story tell of Jesus being revealed. Jesus is
revealed when the very different disciples can climb into one boat without
excluding others. Jesus is revealed when the disciples work together in bringing
more fish into the boat. Jesus is revealed when a ritual meal is shared to
remind us of his life, death and resurrection.
This meal is important because the day is just dawning and more work is before
us. Following today’s scripture Peter is given a commission to tend and feed the
lambs of Jesus even unto death. The meal in which we participate today is meant
to remind us of the grace of God in Christ and also to strengthen us in service
to the world.
Patrick: And so we come on this day of church membership to eat and drink
at the table of our Lord as a ritual of our bond with God and bond with each
other. This is the Lord’s table, not the Mennonite table, not even the church’s
table so that all who believe and respond to the call of Jesus may participate.
Prayer: Loving God, may we be conscious of your presence among us that we
may eat and drink together in the knowledge that you redeem our lives from all
that is destructive, that we might choose life as a gift of the Spirit and that
we be made whole. Amen.
Anita: In obedience to the invitation of Jesus we come to the table of
our Lord with thanks and praise. Hear the words of faith given in our
scriptures:
For on the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread and
when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is given
for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
Patrick: In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in
remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you
proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Anita and Patrick: (Raise the elements) The gifts of God for the people
of God!
Anita: Let us pray for the bread. O Lord, as the grain of the land once
was scattered, then gathered, then brought together to become one loaf, so let
your Church be gathered together that hunger may be satisfied in us and in your
world. For the glory and the power is yours through Jesus Christ forever. Amen
As you serve the person next to you offer them the peace of Christ. Hold the
bread so that we might all eat together. (distribution – including the servers)
Have all been served? This is the bread come down from heaven; it is the body of
Christ. Those who eat of this bread will hunger no more. As we eat let us think
on him who was made known in the breaking of bread.
Patrick: Let us pray for the wine. Gracious God, in this cup grapes are
now mixed with one another. They, being joined together, quench thirst and give
joy. The cup represents our shared life together and our shared life in Christ.
As we partake together may we be filled with joy, thanksgiving, and passion for
the justice of Christ. May we one day drink the new wine in your kingdom. Amen
Take care to hold the tray and deliberately serve the person next to you. The
inner circle is grape juice. Hold the wine so that we might all drink together.
(distribution including the servers)
Have all been served? Jesus said those who drink of that which I give will never
thirst again (Jn 4:14); it will become in us a spring welling up to life
eternal. This wine is the blood of Christ. Taste and see the goodness of our
Lord.
Anita: Thank you God, for the great gifts of bread and wine that call us
to remember your mercy and forgiveness. You draw us to yourself through the Holy
Spirit, through baptism, and through our community life together. Unite us now
with those whom we worship today, our sister congregations in the Mennonite
Church, the whole church of your Spirit around the world, and those of our
cities and towns we are meant to sustain with the bread and cup of this worship.
Lead us into the path of Jesus who feeds us and loves us and never forgets us.
Hear us now as we pray as you taught your disciples to pray saying, “Our
Father….”