Morning Prayer: Tom Lyda Choral Amen Hymn of Love *O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee* The Witness of Scripture: John 21: 1-19 Anthem *Jesus, Name of Wondrous Love* Robert J. Powell. FCC Chancel Choir Sermon *Do You Love Me?* David Spain
Recorded on April 23, 2023
There are some ministers who never entitle a sermon, thinking that might narrow its focus or limit its hearing. Entitling parables can have the same effect—the Prodigal Son is more about a Parent and Two Sons; the Laborers in the Vineyard is better entitled the Generosity of God. There is another reason however, for not entitling sermons or parables, because a title can evoke a completely opposite or unintended picture, which is what happened with today’s sermon title. “Do You Love Me,” led one person to picture not Jesus and the gospel of John, but The Contours and their 1962 hit, “Do you love me, do you love me, do you love me, now that I can dance…!”
Smooth as The Contours are, today’s question comes not from the recording studios of Mo-Town but from a conversation in the gospel of John. It is a question asked by Jesus, who is better at asking great questions than giving straight answers – “Who do you say that I am? What does it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your life? Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but not the log in your own?” A good teacher asks great questions and Jesus was the best at both, because he asked questions that invite us into a lifetime of answering. John closes his gospel with a series of questions. Actually it is the same question asked three times, for if you want to emphasize something say it three times, each time with a little more intensity. “Do you love me…do you love me…do you love me?,” and by its third iteration we realize Peter is not the only one being asked.
The setting for the question is important, this one being on the waters and shoreline of the Sea of Tiberias in Galilee. The story feels like an addendum, a chapter not originally intended but included in the same way a P.S. is added. You’ve said everything, and then you realize the writing is incomplete without this addition. “Now Jesus did many other signs not written in this book, but these are written so you may come to believe Jesus is the Messiah and have life in his name,” is the way the 20th chapter ends and that feels like the perfect conclusion to a story that is meant to never end. But then, with an “oops, almost forgot,” feel to it, there is this story.Chapter 20 is precise about its timing—daybreak and evening and one week after the resurrection. Chapter 21 begins, “after these things Jesus showed himself…” and all we know is that it is long enough after these things for some of the disciples to have made the trek from Jerusalem to Galilee, patching up the fishing boats and shoring up the nets so they can return to the work they knew before they had gotten on board with Jesus to catch more than fish.This time, John gives us a resurrection story with life having gotten back to normal, life after the big event.It is life after graduation, after the wedding, after the anniversary, after the birthday, after the promotion when the dishes have to be done and the report has to be filed and the dog needs to be walked and the car needs its oil changed and the groceries need to be bought.It is very helpful that John wrote this second ending because life “after these things” is where we spend most of our days—in the mundane more than the mountaintop. ‘How are you doing,’ the conversation begins casually enough? “Oh, just living the dream,” comes the firmly tongue in cheek reply. John’s 21st chapter is written for just such a time as this so that ‘living the dream’ can be more than just tongue in cheek.
The disciples living the dream has turned into something of a nightmare. Not only have they seemingly lost touch with their Lord who has not been seen since one week after the resurrection when he appeared to Thomas and the others, now the disciples seem to have lost touch with their fishing skills. It has been a long, dark night of swatting bugs, when a mosquito net would have proved more valuable than their fishing nets—the emptiness of which reminds them of the gnawing emptiness they are feeling inside. John says seven of the disciples are there—five are named and two are not—meaning our names can fill in the list. We might not be able to identify with Mary in the Garden or the disciples gifted by Christ’s sudden appearance, but we know about life in its frustrations and disappointments, which according to John happens to be where Jesus shows up and life gets reoriented, yet again.
What is striking about this story is that their whole perspective turns on something incredibly simple. Rather than fishing off the port side of the boat, Jesus says try the starboard side.A slight shift made all the difference.John is reminding us that changes in life, that resurrection life may not require buying a pristine new boat with the latest in fish finders. Sometimes, the portal to resurrected life can be navigated through gratitude rather than complaint, in kindness rather than disrespect, by generosity rather than fear, amidst honesty rather than blame, with compassion rather than indifference.A subtle shift can make all the difference.
John tells us something else, and not just in this postscript of a story, but in all of Jesus’ resurrection appearances. John does not Branson-up Jesus with sight and sound, with pop and flash.That might be good entertainment, but it is lousy theology. Instead, Jesus is seen as a gardener, as someone with wounds, as a beachcomber on the shoreline wearing a cook’s apron and serving others. Twentieth century theologian Hans Kung observed that there was a ‘downward bent’ to the way of Christ; and Mother Teresa reminded us that while not all of us can do great things, we can all do small things with great love.
And John tells us something else, a perspective shared by the other gospels as well whether it happens to be a last supper or a first breakfast. Jesus does some of his best work at the Table, when all kinds of people are gathered around—some on the guest list and some who would only be there to sweep up after the party was over. Jesus welcomes them all, and there is something about eating together that makes all the difference. Whether on the side of a hill where a few fish sticks and some leftover sourdough becomes a picnic for 5,000; a party where the back roads had to be combed to fill the banquet hall; or a house in Emmaus after two spent the day in Jesus’ company but did not recognize him until he broke the bread—Jesus does not eat alone and does not want anyone else to either. Jesus sets a Table where there is always room for one more to be fed, a Table where we join him and feed each other.
Of course, as Peter learns and so do others who linger after the morsels have been savored and the leftovers secured, Jesus is inclined to start a conversation. The meal is free, but the dialogue is priceless. While Peter smacks his lips over the last bites of fish and brushes the crumbs off the front of his robe as the embers fade and the sun rises, Jesus asks him a question. “Do you love me? Yes, Peter replied. But to make sure Peter understood this wasn’t simply a casual conversation, Jesus asks twice more and by the third time Peter is feeling the impact. Who knows why Jesus thrice asked the same question—some have suggested it equaled out Peter’s thrice denial of Jesus. Maybe, it has a certain literary resolution to it.Theologically, it seems Jesus is offering multiple moments of redemption for Peter—that Peter’s denial does not deter Jesus’ call to him and to all disciples. Stephen Shoemaker observes, “this final resurrection scene is marked —as most of the other scenes—by forgiveness and a new commission. But this one also clearly marks the way of Christ’s mission as one of service to others. Apostles of Christ bear the news of resurrection and offer the freeing power of God’s forgiveness. But finally what they offer the world in Christ’s name and Christ’s spirit is the service of love—love that takes the form of a servant…The risen Christ blesses and commissions, a remarkable grace for we need not only to be loved but to be able to love others, not only to be served but also to serve…to most fully be who God made us to be, joyous servants in love with God and God’s world.” (GodStories, 290, 291)
John tells us disciples of Christ don’t have to quit their day jobs, nor swear allegiance to a creed or some religious denomination. All they do is live Christ’s love, act in Christ’s love—tending, feeding, caring, nurturing, reconciling, restoring, renewing. The poet Malcolm Guite says Christ commissions us to “body forth his heaven.” “Do you love me…body forth.”
You might know of Krista Tippett, who once lived in Shawnee and now hosts the radio show “On Being.” She recently interviewed Surgeon General Vivek Murthy who shared what he does when he feels despair creeping in, a little 15 second respite and reminder.Place your hand over your heart, close your eyes and think of all the people who have loved you, who have been there during difficult times, who stood by when it was hard, who celebrated your greatest joys…feel their love flowing through you, lifting you, brightening your mood, filling your heart, knowing that love is always there. What you felt in that brief meditation is the power of love, the power of social connection. That is our birthright, it is who we are designed to be…all of us, regardless of what walk of life we are in, have the ability to shine a light…Where we choose to focus our attention, where we use our power to focus the attention of others ultimately determines whether or not we create more light in the world or more darkness…The truth is we are not alone, and when you stand in strength, you allow others to find you, and every time you act out of love, whether that’s to a member of your own family or a moment of kindness to a stranger, you are telling people around you that it is okay to give and receive love as well. You are inspiring people to be a new way and to be a new person in a world that constantly seems dark…In a world of despair, small acts of kindness are radical acts of defiance, they are the force we need to ultimately build the world we all need.” (On Being, April 13, 2023)*
So whether we hear the question “Do you love me?,” or the song “Do you love me?,” may faith expressing itself in love always be the contours of our living.
*My thanks to First Christian Church member Bill Shields for sharing this story with me.