JOHN 21:1-17

21:1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.

2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”

6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.

7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred

yards off.

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”

11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.

12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.

14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Do you remember when streaking was all the rage?   That was back in the 70’s.  If you’re too young to remember it’s simple. People would talk off all their clothes and go streaking down the street, or through a park or other public place.   One of the more memorable streaking moments took place during a baseball game.  A couple of people climbed out of the stands and went streaking across the field.  Former baseball player Yogi Berra was sitting in the dugout when it happened.  After the game was over someone asked Yogi if the streakers were men or women.  Yogi just shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know.  They had bags over their heads.” Good old Yogi.  Yogi Berra has always been known for his head scratching comments.   For example he once said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”  He also said, “When you come to a fork in the road take it.”  The one that I’ve been thinking about this week has to do with the future.   Do you remember that one? Yogi once said, “The future ain’t what it used to be.”

That may be true for Pastor Alois Bell.  The future may not be what it used to be for her.  That’s because Pastor Bell made a mistake recently that is going haunt her for a long, long time.  Maybe you heard about Pastor Bell’s lapse of judgment when it hit the news a few months ago.   It seems that Pastor Bell went to an Applebee’s Restaurant out in St. Louis and didn’t like the fact that an 18% gratuity that was automatically added to her bill.  The 18% gratuity was automatically added to the bill because there were ten people in her party.   So, what did Pastor Bell do?  She crossed out the gratuity and wrote down a big fat zero along with the comment,  “I give God 10%. Why do you get 18%?”  Then she signed the bill Pastor Alois Bell.  If that wasn’t bad enough someone at the restaurant took a picture of the bill and posted it online.  When Pastor Bell found out about it she called the restaurant manager and insisted that he fire everyone involved fired and that’s exactly what happened.  Since then people have been crucifying Pastor Bell all across the Internet.  In response Pastor Bell said that her behavior was a “a temporary lapse in judgment” which she regretted because it had brought embarrassment on her and her church.   I’m not sure that’s the same thing as an apology for getting someone fired.  What makes this entire fiasco even sadder is the fact that Pastor Bell should have known better.  You see a biography on her church’s website says that she “gave her life to Christ” when she was pregnant and living in a homeless shelter with her youngest son.  You would think that someone who’s had a tough life would be more considerate and giving toward someone who works in a restaurant and doesn’t even make minimum wage.  

Jesus would probably tell Pastor Bell that she has some unfinished business that she needs to take care of.  It’s the same thing that Jesus said to Peter that day beside the Sea of Galilee.  Unfinished business is the reason why Jesus asked Peter that question not once, or twice but three times.  Peter do you love me?   Jesus asked Peter that question three times because Jesus wanted Peter to remember how he denied Jesus three times.   The seeds for that sorry saga were planted in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus said that all the disciples would desert him after he was arrested.  When Peter heard that he jumped up and basically said, “Lord even if all the other disciples desert you I will never desert you.”  It was a hollow promise and Jesus knew it which is why he made that famous prediction.  “Peter, truly, I tell you before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.”  Peter didn’t want to hear it but that’s exactly what happened.

Jesus asked Peter that question three times because he wanted Peter to remember what he did.  In that dramatic moment Jesus is sending a message to his wayward disciple.   “Peter, you and I have some unfinished business here that we need to take care of before we can move forward.”  Jesus forced Peter to remember what he did because he wanted Peter to learn from his mistake.  Jesus forced Peter to remember so he could take responsibility for his mistake and become a better disciple; a stronger disciple.  After all Jesus had big plans for Peter and he need to make sure his impetuous and impulsive disciple was up to the challenge.  

Before the future could be what it was meant to be Peter had to go back and take care of that unfinished business.   How about you?   Do you have any unfinished business that you need to take care of?  Is there a relationship that needs to be healed?  Is there a mistake in your past that needs to be addressed? Is there a goodbye that still needs to be said?  Or maybe there’s a dream that you never followed that still tugs at your heart from time to time.

Unfinished business is what a newspaper publisher tried to take care of many years ago in the washroom of an exclusive London club.   It happened when William Beverbrook ran into Edward Heath who at the time was a newly elected member of Parliament.  The encounter was embarrassing for Beaverbrook.  It was embarrassing because of an editorial he wrote.  In the editorial he ridiculed the newly elected member of Parliament.  Beaverbrook, however, was having second thoughts about the editorial.  So, as they stood there in the washroom Beaverbrook apologized.  “My dear chap,” he said, “I’ve been thinking it over, and I was wrong.  Here and now, I wish to apologize.” Heath accepted the apology but also grumbled, “next time, I wish you’d insult me in the washroom and apologize in your newspaper.” 

Unfinished business. That unfinished business may be filling your heart with sadness, anger or guilt and it may be the only thing standing between you and a grace filled future.

If it is then you can be sure that the risen Lord is going to ask you the same question that he asked Peter that day.   Do you love me?  Do you love me?  Do you really love me? If you do love me you’ll go back and mend that broken relationship.  If you do love me you’ll go back and do everything you can to make up for that wrong that you did many years ago.  If you do love me you’ll go back and follow that dream or let go of it once and for all.  If you do love me then you’ll go back and take care of that unfinished business.

Paul Gilmore is a student at Portland Community College out in Oregon.  He recently received a note from a young man who was trying to take care of some unfinished business.  It all started when Paul Gilmore came out of a class and discovered that his bike had been stolen.  He reported it to the police who were able to quickly locate the young man who stole the bike.  As soon as they arrested him the young man asked for a pen and a piece of paper.  He then wrote this note, “To the owner of the grey and red Trek Hybrid, I have been laid off for two years and struggling with addiction off and on.  I have been praying that someone would stop me and the Portland police finally did.  I am grateful because I have been sick, literally, everyday for months because I don’t like who I am when I’m doing this.  Included with my apology is $10 from my pocket to cover the cost of your cable.  I am more than sorry for taking your bike and I hope you will forgive me and maybe pray for me.

P.S. Please buy a U-lock”

The young man who stole that bike, Pastor Alois Bell, Peter, you and me, we all have unfinished business. The last thing Jesus wants is for that unfinished business to leave you feeling like the future ain’t what it used to be.   Amen.

Rev. Dr. Richard A. Hughes

April 14, 2013