Third Sunday of Easter
Third Sunday of Easter
Light of Christ Anglican Church
The Rev. Michael Moffitt May 5th, 2025
It Was All According To God’s Plan
Text: John 21:1–14
Often I think back over the years to remember God’s faithfulness to me—to us. Sometimes I’m amazed at how God teaches us that He is faithful by bringing circumstances and trials into our life that would seem to refute that. I’ve found that when God appears to be absent, that’s when he usually seems the nearest.
It can seem to be a paradox because we might intuitively assume that God’s presence might be more apparent during times of joy and comfort. However, I have found His presence more profound when I’m experiencing the opposite because its in those times that I reach out, or better said, cry out to God for his mercy.
That’s why it is vital that we focus our attention on the Word of God and His promises to never leave or forsake us, or call to our attention the promises of a profound relationship in His glorious presence that will be ours if we persevere to the end.
As I considered our passages for this week I remembered a time long ago when I saw this principle play itself out in the lives of some dear friends.
When my father was in his teens one of his best friends was Grover James. Dad ended up introducing Grover to Kay who ended up being his wife. When I was born my father asked them to be my Godparents and they accepted. Grover and Kay ended up having four children of which three had some sort of birth defect.
The last child’s disability seemed to be impossible. They named him Tommy, and he was born without a brain. I didn’t know that you could survive without a brain but survive he did because apparently the brainstem was enough to allow his body to function. He was never aware of anything. He never talked, walked, or did anything on his own. He lived for almost 21 years. This was 21
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years of his family washing, dressing him, feeding him, and changing his diapers multiple times a day. I remember hearing Kay talk about the challenges and responsibility of caring for someone who was growing normally yet was totally dependent on others. He ended up growing to almost six feet tall. He was never able to acknowledge or show any appreciation or show any love. In reality all he did day after day was lay in what ever position they placed him, which was a concern because of bed sores.
I remember when he died because I actually assumed it would be a relief to be released from, what I considered a terrible burden. I went to the funeral home and was able to sit and talk with Kay for a few moments. I remember telling her that I was sorry, but I knew this must be a relief. For almost 21 years; no vacations, no days off just caring for Tommy. I’ll never forget her words.
“I’m going to miss him. I loved him so much. Through Tommy God me taught what unconditional love was like. Don’t misunderstand me, it was hard, but he was my son, and I will grieve him being gone.”
Kay gave a large part of her life caring for every need for her son who would never be able to know what she did or to acknowledge it. I have no doubt that most days it was overwhelming and there were times when they felt like they couldn’t carry on.
But I believe that everyone who knew Grover and Kay James, including myself, saw an example of faith in God who used a very great burden to show them his love, which is unconditional. Even those who reject his offer of salvation benefit from His presence and provision. While God’s forgiveness and grace are conditional on repentance and faith, His foundational love for humanity is seen as unconditional.
Matthew 5:45 reveals “the rain falls on the just and unjust.” God sends sunshine and rain on everyone regardless of whether they have faith in Him or none. God’s natural law applies to everyone, and that includes both wonderful and terrible times.
Each of our scripture readings this morning give us examples of this. Today, I want us to see how God’s promises made through the Old Testament prophets should have been the motivation for the New Testament saints to persevere in faith and obedience to Christ.
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Let’s briefly consider our example from Jeremiah 32:38–41,
“And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.”
The overall themes of the Book of Jeremiah begins with God telling the people of Judah and Jerusalem that they deserved to be in exile in Babylon because of their relentless sins against God and His law. The temple in Jerusalem would no longer be a sanctuary or protect them from God’s judgment.
I’ve pointed out before from Ezekiel 10 that God’s presence vacated the temple where He had once dwelt in the midst of His people because of their sin and blasphemy. God’s presence accompanied Israel throughout their wilderness wanderings in what is called His shekinah glory. Which means simply that God was present with His people in tangible ways.
He revealed Himself in the pillar of cloud by day and fire at night. He revealed His power, glory, majesty, and danger as he descended upon Mount Sinai in fire, thunder, smoke and lightening. Still they turned their backs on Him and pursued other gods which were simply man-made idols.
God in speaking through the His prophet warned them of believing false prophets who promised God’s protection and favor. This foolishness must be replaced by heeding the message of the true prophets like Jeremiah. However, we just read that at the end of His pronouncement of judgment, God also promised a glorious restoration under the New Covenant.
This new covenant would never be replaced by another—it points to the final stage of salvation history. The new covenant comes in its fulness at the return of Christ, and everyone bound by this covenant will be glorified. This will entail their being made perfect and set free from the ability and desire to sin. In their glorified state they will enjoy the blessing of God for all eternity.
Prior to the return of Christ not all in the new covenant community possess saving faith, and those who don’t will come under the judgment of God.
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Those who choose to follow Jesus Christ need to remember the promise of God in the new creation even while now living with pain and suffering. In the meantime whatever God brings our way is designed for our blessing whether it feels that way or not.
Often the way it happens is that God brings about trials, tribulations, and very serious difficulties. Once you are forced by circumstances to trust God in every area of your life you are then ready for the real work of the heart to begin. Life
with Jesus would not be a momentary diversion but a whole new way of living. That’s where we found the disciples in John 20:19–31 last week and again this week in John 21:1–14.
Last week we continued looking at the journey that the disciples were being led on by Jesus as they prepared to continue his ministry of building God’s kingdom on earth and reconciling all things to Himself. We saw how Jesus “breathed the Holy Spirit” on the disciples as a way of commissioning them into their roles as apostles in this kingdom and also as a way of opening the door for all to come to him by faith.
This week we will continue considering the journey of Easter as the early disciples head towards the day of Pentecost.
In our gospel story this morning from John 21 we find the disciples in Galilee, which according to Mark 16:7 was where Jesus told Mary Magdalene to instruct the disciples to meet him. By this time the disciples have already seen the resurrected Jesus who encouraged them to be at peace and breathed the Holy Spirit on them giving them new life, much like when God breathed life into the nostrils of Adam’s body made from dust. So basically they were waiting to find out what would happen next.
Apparently Peter didn’t want to merely sit around so he decided to go fishing. Perhaps there were bills to pay or the need for food or a combination of the two. Either way the disciples decide to go with him, and they fish all night without catching anything. Look at John 21:4–6.
Just as the day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him “no”. He said to them, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were unable to haul it in because of the great quantity of fish.
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They have done what seemed right in their own eyes but experience complete failure. Even in this there is a lesson that must be learned, without Jesus they can do nothing. These were not just ordinary men, but ordinary men who had been called and set apart by Jesus to continue what was begun by him. They were not going to turn and go back to what they had been doing prior to their life changing encounter with Jesus.
The scenario played out here was almost identical to the one told in Luke 5:1–11 at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He had taught them this lesson before. In all the gospel accounts where the disciples are fishing they never caught anything apart from Jesus’ help. Of course they had been professional fisherman. So catching fish is how they had provided for their families before they met Jesus.
In Luke 5 the disciples had been out all night and had caught nothing. He instructed them to go out into deep water and drop their nets and they pulled up so many fish that it tore their nets. Peter’s response was to fall down at Jesus knees saying,
“Get away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything, and followed him.
Now three years later the scene has repeated itself and for a very similar purpose. Again they had caught nothing but when they followed the command of Jesus they caught so many large fish (153) that they could hardly haul them into the boat.
This time they recognized that it was Jesus, so Peter who is so impetuous jumps out of the boat to go and greet Jesus. They found that Jesus already had fish cooking and also bread to eat but he told them to bring some of their fresh catch that he had also provided them.
It’s Peter who went back and dragged the net to shore himself because I suspect that he was anxious to respond to the command of Jesus possibly looking for some sign as to the nature of their relationship. Had Jesus forgiven Him of his denial?
Remember Jesus turning water into wine of the wine at the wedding feast in Cana and another time where Jesus provided an abundance of bread and fish in feeding the five-thousand, and then another time four thousand, and now 153
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large fish in one cast. Certainly a primary point here seems to be Jesus’ lordship and the blessings that attend obedience to his commands no matter how unusual they might be.
After inviting them to come and eat, Jesus himself comes to the fire that he has built, and he serves them the fish and bread that he has provided. Again, Jesus is modeling a way of life that he would have them follow: the master who commands them also is the one who serves them.
I guarantee you that this was a difficult lesson for the disciples to assimilate because they now knew who Jesus was and his ways were not the usual ways of royalty. He was the long-awaited King, and He was preparing them for His departure back to the Father where He would reign as King of all kings and Lord of all Lords. Eventually as He had promised the disciples, He would come again as King over the kingdom of the New Heavens and the new earth. Until that time they would be tasked with continuing the work Jesus had begun announcing that the kingdom of God had come.
They would find that being a follower of Jesus would often bring with it trials and hardship, but those things would pale in comparison to having a deep and intimate relationship with Him. I suspect that the Lord would bring to remembrance the promises of God spoken of by the Old Testament prophets, like Jeremiah.
I’ve often mentioned that the man that the Apostle John was when Jesus prepared to return to the Father was very different than when he wrote the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation.
Many years had passed since Jesus returned to the Father and the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples at Pentecost. The church had grown quickly, and persecution became common. Most of the original disciples had been martyred and John was an old man and a precious treasure to those in the early church. He had experienced terrible persecution yet had remained faithful to Jesus his Lord, reigning King of all, and his dear friend.
Six times in John’s gospel he is referred to as the “one who Jesus loved”. His faith was mature and even while exiled to Patmos, a Roman penal colony for those who Rome found dangerous to the order of society, John was worshipping and caught up in the Spirit.
As a result in this vision John once again encountered the same Jesus but very
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different because His glory was no longer veiled. In the vision John beholds the Messiah that the prophets foretold. Now John encounters Jesus as the glorified God/man and he bowed down before him in worship.
I imagine that John’s relationship with Jesus had grown much deeper and more intimate as he continued to have a much deeper understanding of who Jesus was in all His glory and majesty. This week we read Revelation 5:1–14 and I can just see John with tears streaming down his face and his hands shaking with emotion as he remembers and writes down the new song that was sang by the four living creatures, the twenty-four elders, and the voices of thousands upon thousands of angels singing to the Lamb who was found worthy to open the scroll. Listen to this song as they worship the lamb,
saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshipped.
This was the Jesus that the disciples first fell in love with and decided to follow the rest of their lives. This is the Jesus that in Acts 7:56–57, Stephen saw standing at the right hand of the Father that caused him to worship and praise even as he was being stoned to death. This is the Jesus that the Apostle Paul encountered long ago on the road to Damascus and the Jesus that he decided was worth living and dying for.
This is the Jesus that has for the last 2,000 years transformed the lives of countless millions who saw Him for who He is now. This is the Jesus who invites us to bow before Him this morning to praise, to honor and worship Him. This is the Jesus who is the only hope that the world has for true peace and salvation that only comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Do you know Him like this? If not He invites you to come to Him by faith, repenting of your sin and embracing Him as Lord and Master.
Let’s pray.
©2025 The Rev. Michael J. Moffitt
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