From Failed Efforts to a Moment of Discovery / From Disappointment to Discernment
1After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 2There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, we also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 7Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 8And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
John 21:1-8
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1After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 2There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. John 21:1-2
This is the last Sunday of April, the fourth Sunday of Easter. We are continuing with the scriptures that highlight those who follow Jesus and the implications of his life beyond Calvary. (1) We began with the assurance that life continues beyond what threatens to destroy existence. The testimonies of Mary and the other disciples discovered that death is not omnipotent but is limited in its capacity to diminish the presence of the life that inspires and energizes them. (2) We then eavesdropped on two persons who were bantering back and forth in conversation about their unmet expectations and were made aware with clarity of understanding how to interpret reality that seemingly contradicts what they had hoped. (3) Then there was Thomas going from doubting to believing by making himself available to receive what he needs to believe; by being persistent about settling doubts and taking responsibility for making a testimony of faith.
Today on this fourth Sunday of Easter there is a continued discovery, disclosure and discernment. The last chapter of the gospel of John has a scene that unfolds; providing us with further appearances of the risen Christ. Permit the discovery, disclosure and discernment of the persons in this scene to capture your imagination with its imagery and implications for you.
In the first instance, they went to a familiar place as they were told and began doing what they use to do.
Those who believed and followed Jesus were still making sense of the horrific occurrences surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus as they pondered the implications of his resurrection. They were excited that they had seen him. However, they were still trying to figure out what they are going to do now. While they were processing what they would do next, Peter said he was going fishing and the others said they would go with him. It was Thomas, Nathanael, James and John and two other disciples, (7 of the 11). Tiberias is located on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and is the largest freshwater lake in Israel. There were reasons why Peter and the other disciples went to Galilee. It was in Galilee that Jesus began his ministry of teaching, proclaiming the good news, healing throughout Galilee, and fulfilling the prophecy,
12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” Matthew 4:12-17 and Isaiah 9:2
14“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being praised by everyone.” Luke 4:14-15
Galilee was the place where they were told to go and Jesus would meet them there. “Go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” Matthew 28:10
Consider what it means to go to a familiar place when your life is out of kilter and you are working through what you are experiencing the best you can.
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3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, we also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. John 21:3
They went back to doing what they were accustomed to doing. They went to a place with which they were familiar. After all, Peter, his brother Andrew and James, and John were fishermen who left that life and followed Jesus. Jesus invites Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be fishers of men in Luke 5:1-11. Galilee was the scene of his greatest popularity and acceptance.
This was a necessary step for them to manage what they were facing as they were continuing to figure out what to do and how to do it. We see the diligence in their doing something rather than being idle and grieving in sorrow and moping in despair. The scene around the Galilean sea would vividly remind them of many miracles and many a discourse of their blessed Lord. Quiet recollection is part of our inspiration to be actively involved in life. Embrace the fond remembrances you have of places and persons as you manage how you go forward with living.
Take me back, take me back dear Lord / To the place where I first received you.
Take me back, take me back dear Lord where I first believed.
I feel that I'm so far from you Lord / But still I hear you calling me / Those simple things that I once knew, / Their memories keep drawing me.
I must confess, Lord I've been blessed / But yet my soul's not satisfied. / Renew my faith, restore my joy / And dry my weeping eyes. Andrae Crouch
How often do people do what they can to diminish their sense of discouragement and disappointment when inhumane behavior, prejudicial attitudes, and deathly violence continues without accountability? Go back to a place where you were encouraged, inspired, and strengthened to believe and worked to get beyond the immediacy of the injurious incidents of life. Take me back to where I first remembered that I could get beyond the culture that capped my capacity, rise above the regimen that was ruining my life, and transcend the trouble that trapped my existence. You brought me out from where I was to where I could go. Remember the inspiration of individuals that have inspired you with the power and spirit of the living Lord, who could do anything, do the impossible and the improbable.
Consider what it means to go to the places where you first had positive experiences that ignited and inspired your faith.
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4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, no. John 21:4-5
In the next instance, they heard what they needed to end their failed efforts. The Lord is present to us when our efforts fail to accomplish what we intend.
They did what they knew to do to occupy their time and utilized their energy productively. They fished all night long and caught nothing. Their decision did not accomplish what they wanted. Their good intentions did not yield a positive result. Their expenditure of energy seemingly was an exercise in futility. Their failed efforts left them exhausted, tired, and weary. It was then that a moment of disclosure captured their attention in an unforgettable way.
Unaware of the Lord’s presence, they were going to call it a night. They were going to quit, give up, give in and give out. Often, after long periods of frustration and confusion, the light dawns, and what has been shrouded in darkness suddenly can be glimpsed - if only for an instant. Such a disclosure happened to the disciples after a long night of unsuccessful fishing. When weary and ready to finally beach the boat, they heard a voice. “Jesus saith unto them, children, have ye any meat?” In other words, were you successful? Did you accomplish what you intended? Was the effort worth the expenditure of energy? They responded, “No.” Answer this question that the Lord asked; when you have done all you know to do and did not accomplish what you intended.
Consider what it means to answer the question the Lord asked, “Have you been successful at accomplishing what you intended?”
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Wednesday, April 28, 2021 |
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6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. John 21:6
“Children, have you any food?” Jesus spoke to His disciples with a common greeting that people working to make a life and living understood. He asked them a question about the success of their efforts. Children have you any food, have you caught anything, have you achieved what you intended?
The disciples did not realize who was asking them. They simply responded. Then the voice provided direction to overcome their failed efforts. We can miss the presence of the Lord or not be aware of the Lord’s presence due to our preoccupation with what we are doing, or we can be too exhausted, too strained, and too tired of trying. Jesus is near to people in their extremity, though they may not know it. The Lord is present to us in the common scenes of our lives. The Lord provides direction to get beyond your failed efforts.
The Lord is present to keep us from letting failed efforts discourage and prevent us from fresh actions and further undertakings. Listen to the voice of the Lord, encouraging you with direction to continue despite your lack of success. Don’t let failure have the final word. Remain dutiful and faithful despite the frustration that comes with not achieving what you desire. Most recently, while a trial is taking place about the unnecessary death at the hands of police of an African American male, another one is allegedly shot and killed accidentally, within ten miles of the trial and an African American lieutenant is pepper-sprayed in Virginia. Policemen are to protect and serve, not take advantage of their privileged position by claiming immunity from any wrongdoing or abuse of authority and use of force inappropriately. No.
The Lord’s direction to the wearied and dispirited fishermen, “Cast the net on the right side of the ship and ye shall find.” Don’t quit in your efforts to continue to exert the necessary energy to accomplish what you want. They could have ignored the voice and not answered the question. When you ignore answering the question, if your efforts are not achieving what you desire, you will miss the response that will direct you with inspiration to achieve what you thought you could not.
Consider what it means to be honest about your failed efforts to accomplish what you intended to cast your energy differently in another direction.
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6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. John 21:6
It is in following the directions of the Lord that you discover the Lord’s presence with you. Jesus said a lot of things that discredited the prevailing notions of his day. He reinterpreted time-worn pronouncements of his faith tradition. He challenged people who thought they had figured out how to make of life what they want it to be. The disciples were fishermen. They gave up what they knew to follow what he would teach them. What does he know about fishing? They had toiled all night. This was their profession. They knew what they were doing. We need information from beyond ourselves to get further than we can get on our own. Think about it. Sometimes the directions of the Lord may seem ludicrous. We make a foregone conclusion. That won’t work. That does not make sense. We do need help; we need an intervention to interrupt what we are currently doing because we are just going from one level of failure to another catastrophe or letdown. We need to be challenged to try again, trusting the alternative voice of the Lord. Cast your net on the right side. When what you have tried hasn’t worked, listen to directions about recasting on a different side. So much in our society and world needs to implore casting efforts differently than the way they have been casting efforts.
There was a recognition of the presence of the Lord in following the directives they were given. John, the beloved disciple discerns the Lord’s presence and says, “It is the Lord.” There are many who never really see or know the Lord. Barriers to belief exist. It may be through simply unbelief, perplexity, despondency, lack of receptivity, or grief, you name it. Maybe we can’t recognize the Lord because we don’t want to follow the Lord’s directives.
Consider what it means to follow the directives of the Lord; to be convinced that the Lord is with you in what you are facing.
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7Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. John 21:7
Finally, the Lord is disclosed in following the directions that were given.
Imagine how easily it is to go back to what you have developed as a pattern of behavior. Even with the greatest intervention and experiences to counter what you habitually do, it is almost impossible not to resort to that when the desires and fulfillment are seemingly delayed. The Lord appears to us when we do what we have always done to get beyond the emptiness of life’s losses. The Lord appears when we are exhausted from expending energy that does not yield the desired results. They did what they were accustomed to doing without positive outcome. They caught nothing.
But there was a momentary disclosure that was liberating for them. They followed the directions they were given. Following the directives of the Lord frees us to go on with life, with a new sense of enthusiasm, with renewed conviction, and reimagined courage. It is not a matter of new information that has made the difference. It is an awareness brought about by a gift from beyond ourselves. It is the awareness of the Lord in our midst. It is in answering the question the Lord raises. When we have done the best we can and did not accomplish what we intended, it is time to try again. We can discover the guidance of the Lord in small and unexpected ways.
The Lord’s presence encourages those who are exhausted to continue to trust the Lord and try again. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Isn’t that the posture we have taken against racism, sexism, classism, and the other toxic ‘isms’ of life created by bigotry, prejudice, and violence? Aren’t we continuing to fight the good fight of faith to get beyond what destroys our lives? Keep on trying. The Lord admonishes you to keep going beyond what seems to be a hopeless endeavor. You may not think you have the capacity to do it, but try it anyway. You may not think what you have as equipment is not sufficient to do what you want. Try it anyway. And guess what, they pulled in a haul that they could not believe and their nets did not break. Now look at that happening in life right now, with what happened in the trial in Minnesota.
We have to keep championing what we know is the right thing to do. Hold those that are sworn to serve the public accountable for the abuse of their authority, the misuse of their privilege, and the exploitation of the public trust with the mishandling of their responsibility. We have to keep calling out the disparity to the attention of the public, by naming it for what it is. We cannot give up and accept what we know is not acceptable. We cannot let what appears to be an endless struggle for equality and equity discourage us from continuing to fight for what we know is right.
Whatever can be made of this world and any event, / I surely know where the vast majority of time went! / I invested all energy in what anyone could applaud! / History imparts the tale of how I put evil to the sword!
I could not stand by watching justice or virtue wane. / It was simple and clear what force I would proclaim. / No plan of savage intent could get the better of me. / This soul's overriding ambition was plain for all to see!
It was the establishment of sacred stability I fought for. / I took my weapon asking beliefs to keep me secure. / Bringing peace and love kept me in a blessed light! / It was in any joyous victory that everything came right. / Richard Waters
Consider what it means that a difference is made in your life when you discern that the Lord is present with you, instructing you what to do to get beyond your failed effort.
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8And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. John 21:8
Don’t let the situation of disgust, pain, and shame have the final word. Calvary continues to remind us of the persistent perplexities and painful realities, the unjust, unfair conditions of life with which we live.
As the disciples follow the directives of the Lord they get an enormous catch. Oh, what a wonderful discovery of the abundance that is attained when you follow the Lord. You get an immeasurable result that requires strength and the collective strength of everyone to embrace what has been provided.
The One who said I came that they might have life and have it abundantly is the same One who abundantly delivers what we all need to receive. Continue to fight the good fight.
Consider what it means that abundance of need is fulfilled with the discernment of the Lord’s presence.
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Conclusion
I heard the voice of Jesus say come unto me and rest, lay down thy weary one lay down, thy head upon my breast. I came to Jesus as I was weary worn and sad, I found in him a resting place and he has made me glad.
I heard the voice of Jesus say, behold I freely give, the living waters thirsty one, stoop down and drink and live. I came to Jesus and I drank of that life-giving stream. My thirst was quenched, my soul revived and now I live in him.
I heard the voice of Jesus say, I am this dark world’s light, look unto me, thy morn shall rise and all thy days be bright. I came to Jesus and I found, in him my star my sun and in that light of life, I’ll walk till traveling days are done.
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