DAY 18 – COUNTING TO ASCENSION

POST RESURRECTION APPEARANCES (Part 3)

To 7 of the Apostles by Sea of Tiberias/ Galilee – Catch of Fish:

Reading for today
John 21:1-25

John is the only one who shares this story. Again, as I keep saying – I trust John’s version a lot more because he was present. I know that there are people who have purported John wasn’t the author – but I believe he was. I believe he was an eyewitness – and that his record is true….

I have a lot of reminders in life about the difference of ‘being an eyewitness’ – or only hearing stories through another person’s eyes. That reality in my own life makes me pay attention more closely when I believe the person sharing the story was actually there. Oh, I know even at the scene of an accident each witness present is going to see and remember the events differently – but being there means something. Knowing what actually went on – not what we’ve been told with too many layers between – means something.

That’s why this story as reported has so much meaning for me. John was there. 

I love this whole story. It is so amazing. John reports that this was the third time Jesus had appeared to the disciples since his resurrection. So – according to my very reliable source, John, Jesus had appeared on Resurrection Sunday to them in a closed room behind a closed door (+-April 5 that year); had appeared precisely one week later when Thomas was present (+-Sunday, April 12 that year); and now – this third time by Lake Galilee. 

I’ve been to Lake Galilee, specifically to Tiberias, on the shore of Lake Galilee, which is also called Lake Tiberias, Lake Genessaret, and Lake Kinneret. I’ve ridden in a boat that replicates one like they would have fished from in the years encompassing the 33 A D era. It makes it all so visual for me – reading the text and seeing it in memory’s eye…. 

What I love most about this story is what Jesus did for Peter. Peter was still the same, impetuous Peter we’ve grown to know and love – the Peter who cut off the ear of Caiaphas’ servant, Malchus; the Peter who vowed to ‘even die’ with Jesus – then turned cowardly and ran tearfully into the early morning of that dreadful Friday morning so recently past. 

Yep…the Peter who denied he even knew Jesus – 3 times – just as Jesus said he would...denied Him vehemently with curses…. Now, Jesus lets Peter make that up – redeems it – with 3 affirmations of his love…

We lose the full impact of this story in the English translation. All we see is the word love. There are many words for 'love' in the original language of the Bible – and we get all of them funneled to just that one word in English: love. Knowing that matters in this story! 

In this story Jesus takes Peter aside, and in the original language, asks him, “Do you agape me?”

And Peter replies “You know that I phileo you.” [Peter had learned his lesson. He was not capable of God’s total complete unconditional agape love – certainly not in his own strength…and now he knew that. But he did love – he loved with phileo love – brotherly love – the same kind of love inherent in the name Philadelphia – ‘the City of brotherly love’.]

Jesus instructed Peter, “Feed my lambs.” 

A second time Jesus asked, “Simon son of John, do you truly agape me?”

Again Peter replied, “Yes, Lord, (you who see and know all things) – You know that I phileo you,” And Jesus says, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time Jesus asks him, he changes his question to phileo. He asks Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you phileo me?” John says that Peter was hurt by the question. I’m not so sure John reported that accurately. John may have been infusing how he’d feel with what Peter felt – I’m just not sure. But – what I do know is that Jesus questioned Peter that time with the kind of love Peter was capable of committing to. Peter had learned his limitations. And this time, Peter acknowledged what we all acknowledge: “You know all things,” and a 3rd time he professed his phileo love to Jesus.

How many times did Peter deny Jesus? 3 times.

How many times did Jesus give Peter an opportunity to affirm his love? 3 times. 

I love, love, love that the Lord redeemed Peter’s words.  What an amazing model of His grace to us as well. 

Peter – and this story – are why I believe in Jesus Christ. If Jesus had just died and stayed dead, like Nietzsche would like to have you believe – there would be no Christianity worth its salt. We would be just like followers of Islam – following a dead prophet to a dead end. But Jesus – raised again from the dead – met on this specific day with his disciples on the shore of Lake Galilee, took Peter aside and reinstated him to complete restoration – redeemed what he had done, and gave him his marching orders for what he was to do to live out that faith: feed my lambs, take care of my sheep, feed my sheep. And our author – who was following along close enough to hear – tells us about it. Thanks, Peter. Thanks, John. Thank you, Lord.

Wa-hoo!!!!!! I love this touchstone to our Christian heritage.

DAY 7 - COUNTING TO ASCENSION

DAY 6: POST RESURRECTION

BACKTRACKING TO ‘GOOD’ FRIDAY:  LESSON 4

(6 p m ‘Thursday’ to 6 p m Friday)
Jesus’ new command & Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

Reading for today:
John 13:33-35
Matthew 26:33-35
Mark 14:29-31
Luke 22:33-34
John 13:36-38


In yesterday’s recounting of the events surrounding Jesus’ final Passover on earth we reclined at the Passover table with the disciples during the foot-washing – and later witnessed Judas’ leaving to ‘go do quickly what he was about to do.’ We know that by then in their evening it was night – dark night, and by their timeline several hours into Friday. 

As soon as Judas leaves, Jesus tells them, “Now is the Son of Man glorified….” Wow! Things had been irreversibly set in motion….it was truly the beginning of the apparent end. He didn’t wait until he was on the cross to declare that he was glorified – it began now….

This is when He shares one of the most significant expressions of the New Covenant:  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Then he showed them throughout the remaining hours of that 24-hour period just what love demands.

This is not just warm, fuzzy love. This includes the “I don’t want to do this – but I must to be faithful to the call on my life” love. It is not love founded in feeling, but in faithfulness. And it isn’t optional. It is a command. It takes absolute submission to God to live out this kind of love. We can’t do it on our own – but Christ, who lives in us, the one in whom we place our trust, helps us through the power of the Holy Spirit…. Oops. Even that is jumping ahead! The Comforter cannot come until Jesus ascends…. And that is a story for another day….

In our linear sequential storyline, we come to Peter. Another glimpse. Another layer. Peter who walked on water to meet Jesus. Peter who has been Jesus’ sidekick for a significant part of the past 3 years. Peter who determinedly declares his undying devotion, and willingness even to go to prison and to die with Jesus. And all of the others agree, following his lead. And what does Jesus tell him? That before the rooster crows in the morning, Peter will disown Jesus 3 times – not just once but 3 times. I think that must have been really hard to hear – and Peter, with all he was worth, probably determined not to let it come true.

Judas will betray Jesus by intentionally giving Jesus up to the authorities. Peter will betray Jesus by claiming he never knew him. One betrays out of bad motives; one betrays out of fear. One will repent and hang himself; one will repent and become bold in proclaiming the message of the Gospel. Both sinned – but the outcome was vastly different.

When I think of denials I think of the reported 26 people who die as martyrs for their faith every hour. Of churches filled with parishioners bolted shut and burned. Of people rounded up and slaughtered execution style. It’s easy ensconced in my comfy chair at the computer in the relative safety of my home to think I could be noble and stand firmly for my faith if terrorists were to come into my church and say they’d kill all who didn’t deny their faith. Yet I know that kind of resolve can only come through the power of the Holy Spirit.

It is portrayed in smaller doses in standing up for truth and justice – when it would be much easier to embrace a philosophical attitude toward sin or rationalize wrong thinking – because standing up for what is right risks severing ties I’d like not to be severed.  We live in the reality of a world that does not have a God-informed worldview. 

It is a daily walk. But this day is going to be a tough one – for Jesus, certainly, but for his disciples as well. It hurts to fail. But how tender that Jesus warns Peter – that He knows human frailty and still demonstrates His love. That he is about to die, with this group of followers as his ‘firstfruits,’ all the while knowing they will run away in fear, and desert him in his hour of deepest need – and He loves them anyway.

One final poem to share:
A LAST GOODBYE
by Lola Cain 1/9/2007

If I’d had time to say goodbye
I’d have held you close and told you
That I’ve loved you every moment
With all of my heart
Through good times and bad
‘Til death do us part
With the love that we promised
Way back at the start.
I’d have affirmed my love is enduring
And that my love for you has grown
To envelop me and help mold who I am….
If I’d had time to say goodbye.

If I’d been able to say goodbye
I’d have held you close
And told you not to cry too long,
But to live life
With the same exuberance
We’ve shared
I’d tell you that you are the love of my life
And that because I love you
I want you to live to love again,
Though not too soon…
I’d say that loving honors love lived
If I’d been able to say goodbye.

If I could have said goodbye
I wouldn’t have wasted time with regrets
But with remembered joys.
I’d have told you how I’ve loved
Waking up before you, lying beside you
Absorbing the sound of your breathing,
Watching you sleep.
I’d tell you how I’ve thrilled
To your slightest touch
Even though I sometimes didn’t affirm it;
I’d have told you now.
If I could have said goodbye.

If I had the chance to say goodbye
I’d ask you to tell the kids
how much I love them.
No matter how many times I said it
It was never enough
To cover the coming hours and days of silence.
And then, before I finally had to go
I’d hold you one last time in my embrace,
Feel the warmth of your body,
Your breath against my neck,
and tell you one more time I love you…
…If I had the chance to say goodbye.


This poem was inspired by the thought of life that ends abruptly with no chance to say goodbye. Life lost by inches is terribly painful, but those who take advantage of that time get to say their last goodbyes. This poem speaks for those who did not get that opportunity.

I was reading poetry by the then-current (2007) poet laureate, Donald Hall, in preparation for leading the discussion on our book group’s author for April. He writes prolifically in “free verse” and his experience of recording the process of the loss of his wife, Jane Kenyon, made me think about those who lose someone suddenly, unexpectedly. I know that even “knowing” the loss is to occur does not prepare us for the reality – when we are blindsided by an emotional onslaught we had no way of anticipating – but it does give us a chance to say some of the things we want to say. This was written at a time when our family was grieving for a loss that soon would be reality (while poignantly aware of friends experiencing similar loss.)