Light Dawns - Part 1 (Post 11)

The crucifixion of Jesus has been completed.  His body has been removed from the cross.  A disciple by the name of Joseph, along with Nicodemus, obtained permission to remove Jesus' body and bury it.  It had to be done quickly because it was nearly Sabbath.  This precious, broken body was laid in Joseph's personal tomb and the tomb was sealed.

Darkness seems to win sometimes.  Evil seems to have its day sometimes.  All seemed lost to this small band of apostles and disciples.  What had happened to their hope?  How could this be?  They had been so certain - so sure that Jesus was the Messiah of God - the Messiah for Israel.  And now he was dead.

Read John 20: 1 - 9

Did you watch Peter as you read?  When he heard the report of the empty tomb, he took off to see for himself.  That sounds like the man we have come to know!  We also see him step into the tomb without hesitation - while the other apostle, John, hung back.  Of course.  That's Peter.  Then John entered as well.  They saw.  But they did not fully understand.  And Jesus begins appearing to his disciples - reassuring them that he was indeed alive.  Death had no hold on him.  Death could not and would not win.

We learn in Matthew 28 that Jesus had told his disciples to return to Galilee and he would come to them there.  That is exactly what they do.  And we pick up our reading at that point.

Read John 21: 1 - 14

Some observations for us today:

1.  Peter went fishing.  Was it a one time event or was he "going back to fishing" as a vocation and livelihood?  We don't know.  Perhaps he was going back to the life he knew before he had encountered Jesus.  After all, those hopes and dreams had been dashed at the hand of the juggernaut known as the Roman Empire.  If that is true, how like us!  We return to what we know best when crisis hits.

2.  Jesus appears and repeats a miracle almost exactly like the one he performed early in his relationship with Peter.  Look back at Luke 5: 1 - 11.  Peter had fished all night ... nothing.  Then Jesus said for them to throw their nets one more time ... and ... a huge catch of fish!  It was then that Peter recognized Jesus as no ordinary man.  Did Jesus choose this similar miracle to remind Peter who He was?

Here is the question for you and I today:  Do you need a reminder about the identity of Jesus?  Is something in your life threatening to rob you of hope?  Are you tempted to return to the life or the lifestyle that was comfortable for you before you knew Jesus?  Watch Peter!

Peter jumped into the water to get to Jesus.  He has always been "all in" and this is no exception.  He wanted to get to his Lord.  Take the reminder ... Jesus is the only source of life ... He IS our hope ... He IS our life ... don't turn back.  Stay the course.  Stay with Jesus.

3.  In the Middle East, to eat a meal with someone who has wronged you is to forgive that person.  Did you notice that Jesus made breakfast for these bone weary men who had just fished all night?  Breakfast ... shared meal ... forgiveness.  The Lord ... offering up a meal for his disciples.

Next time you take communion with fellow believers, remember this scene.  A shared meal ... forgiveness offered ... provided by the Lord ... and He says, "Come".

Let's close our time together today with the words of the song, "Come Share the Lord"

We gather here in Jesus name,

His love is burning in our hearts like living flame.

For thru the loving Son the Father makes us one.

Come take the bread, come drink the wine, come share the Lord.

He joins us here, He breaks the bread.

The Lord who pours the cup is risen from the dead.

The One we love the most is now our gracious host.

Come take the bread, come drink the wine, come share the Lord.

We'll gather soon where angels sing.

We'll see the glory of our Lord and coming King.

Now we anticipate the feast for which we wait.

Come take the break, come drink the wine, come share the Lord.