The Mission of Peter and Paul and Us All

Photo by Steve Sharp on Unsplash

John 21:1-19

Imagine for a moment what it must have been like to be Simon Peter. He started off as a fisherman in Capernaum, a little town on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus called him to be a disciple and he did for years. Simon Peter witnessed many miracles and extraordinary healings. He heard parables that expanded his understanding of God and the meaning of life. He came to believe Jesus was the Messiah and was told by Jesus that he would be the rock on which He would build His church. Probably because of this, Simon is given the new name Peter means which “rock” that’s Cephas in Aramaic or Petros in Greek. And throughout it all, Simon Peter came to know Jesus not only as teacher and lord, but also a close personal friend.

When Jesus told his disciples he was about to die and that they would all scatter, Peter promised to be there for him and said he was even ready to die with him! And in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus is getting arrested, it’s Peter who draws out his sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest’s slave. Peter was clearly ready to go down swinging. But Jesus tells him to stop, and then allows himself to be arrested without a fight. Peter must’ve been confused but he still didn’t abandon Jesus. He followed at a distance to see what would happen. That night while Jesus was being questioned and his accusers demanded crucifixion, someone asked Peter if he knew Jesus. And Peter denied it. And then he denied it a second time and a third time. And when he heard the rooster crow in the early morning, he remembered how Jesus told him that before the cock crowed he would deny Jesus three times. And then, scripture tells us, Peter left and wept bitterly. That must have been an absolute low point in Peter’s life.

But three days later, women shared that Jesus was alive and Simon Peter ran to the empty tomb. Then Jesus appeared to Simon Peter and the other disciples, first without Thomas present, then a week later with Thomas there. But they still apparently didn’t know what to do with themselves without Jesus to lead them day by day. So they decided to go back to their old way of life and go fishing.

And in the powerful story we just heard, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. It’s an obvious reference to the three times he denied Jesus. This text is often called the “reinstatement of Peter”. Now it’s important to point out that I think Jesus had already forgiven Peter (he forgave the people who crucified him, so I’m sure he forgave his friend Peter too). So these three questions are not done for Jesus’ sake or to give Peter a chance to earn forgiveness. Perhaps it’s done so Peter can forgive himself. And perhaps it’s also done to repeat three times what his mission will be. It’s not to go back to fishing—in everything he does from now on Peter’s mission in life is to feed Jesus’ sheep.

Jesus adds that when Peter was younger he used to decide what to do and where to go. He used to decide whether to follow Jesus or whether to go back fishing. Now Jesus is telling him entrust his life to the direction of the Spirit. Peter will no longer go fishing and the old way of life that represents. Now the Holy Spirit will guide his life. Peter will no longer choose where he’ll go and what he’ll do. Now the mission of the Gospel will be his whole life. Peter will even have to be prepared to surrender his life to sinful humans who wish to kill him, as John adds parenthetically. Peter’s whole life will be different now. He will always be a disciple, but now he is also an apostle: one who is sent out. He will always a follower of Jesus, but now he will also be a leader in Jesus Christ’s church.

Many consider Peter’s second call story. A renewal of his call. A deepening of his understanding of what God wants of him. The beginning of something completely new.

God changes the direction of another man’s life in our first reading we heard this morning. It’s another call story, also known as the conversion of Saul. Saul was a man deeply committed to his religion, to his understanding of truth. He’s on a mission he believes is from God. He’s determined, he’s zealous, and will do anything for his cause. Saul’s mission is clear: he believed it was God’s will for him to travel to Damascus, arrest followers of Jesus, and bring them to trial in Jerusalem. Saul was one of the leaders at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. And now Saul is THE leader of this expedition. He is certain that he’s doing God’s will and journeys with his eyes set on Damascus and his vision completely obscured by religious zeal.

Then something amazing happens! Saul sees Jesus. Saul falls down in fear and discovers that this one he calls “Lord” is the one whom he has been persecuting. The Bible doesn’t say whether he was riding a horse or walking, but according to the internet this event is the origin of the phrase getting “knocked off your high horse”. But whether he was riding a horse or not, Saul falls to the ground and loses his sight. He is then guided by his companions into Damascus. Notice he goes from being the one with the power and control to being a man faced with humble vulnerability. Ananias, a Christian in Damascus, follows God’s call to lay hands on and heal Saul of his blindness. Through this, Saul is transformed from being a persecutor of the church to being one of its most famous and influential leaders ever.

These two stories have a lot in common. Both are call stories in a way, stories about God calling us to discipleship. And both reveal the need for learning and change in our lives if we are going to fulfill God’s mission. Peter needed to learn to give up his old life of fishing and live into his new life as a leader and feeder of Christ’s sheep. He needed the determination and sense of mission that Jesus instills in him. Paul was already very committed to God’s mission for him, he just deeply misunderstood what that mission was. He needed a reframing. He needed to be knocked off his high horse and learn humility and the importance of spiritual discernment and reconsidering your views. Both men needed to change in order to fulfill God’s calling for them. Peter’s story shows us that instead of following your own way (going back to fishing, business as usual) discipleship means surrendering to God’s plan and courageously following the Spirit’s lead. And Paul’s story shows us that instead of forging ahead convinced you understand God’s plan, discipleship takes continual discernment and humility.

The other scripture lesson we heard this morning reveals something else about what the call to discipleship entails. Decades after Jesus’ death and resurrection, and probably after the lives of Peter and Paul have ended too, John of Patmos has a vision which is written in the Book of Revelation. In the reading we heard this morning, John has just gotten into heaven and is in God’s throne room. He looks around and sees that everybody wants these certain scrolls to be opened, but nobody’s able to do it. These scrolls contain God’s preferred future, God’s plan for the world. But no one is able or worthy to open them. Then John hears angels say that the Lion of Judah is worthy and can open them! So John turns around, expecting to see a fierce lion, and instead sees a slaughtered lamb. Then all the angels rejoice and start singing “Worthy is the lamb who was slain!” John hears them say that all power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing are his. He sees it’s this slaughtered, bloody lamb. This defenseless animal that was easily killed is apparently the one who is able to open these scrolls and bring about God’s desired future.

This lamb is Jesus Christ. The one who was slaughtered on the cross. The Crucified One is the one who understands God’s plan and this path of suffering is apparently the best way to bring it about. John’s revelation proclaims that the way of suffering revealed on the cross is the way to transform the world.

This scripture text is the basis of our Hymn of Praise during the Easter season, This is the Feast. We sing it every year and proclaim that this lamb who was slain has begun his reign- alleluia! And in singing these words we remember that it is not in the world’s understanding of power and glory and might that God conquers sin and death—but in the way of the slaughtered lamb, the way of suffering, the way of the cross. The path of surrender and humility and forgiveness. That’s what changes the world. That’s what manifests God’s preferred future. That’s what brings about the Kingdom of God in this physical realm.

This way of suffering is the life Jesus led; and it is the life Peter and Paul are called to enter into as well. The Way Jesus calls us to forgive and to refuse to dish back out whatever sin people throw at you. Even if it kills you. Ultimately following this Way will lead to violent deaths for both of Peter and Paul. But it will also lead them to change the world. They will help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ far beyond the regions of Galilee and Judea. By the time of their deaths, the Good News of Jesus will spread across the Mediterranean world. It will spread as far west as modern day Portugal and Spain and as far east as India. Their message will be shared north to Europe and south to Africa. In that first generation of the church, the Gospel spreads like wildfire. So far, so fast that it must be the work of God.

And the fact that almost all of the apostles suffered and died as part of this mission demonstrates that the mission of God is not about our safety or comfort or gaining wealth or power or prestige. This is the opposite of the “Prosperity Gospel” spoken about by some branches of Christianity today that says if you love Jesus God’ll make you rich. That’s a modern day heresy. Jesus is clear when he warns his disciples to expect suffering. The early church understood persecution and martyrdom as signs that they were doing the right thing. Prosperity preachers teach the opposite: that worldly success is a sign that you’re doing the right thing; that the richer you are the more God favors you. But Jesus says if you serve God you’ll probably end up bearing a cross. Being a disciple doesn’t promise us the good life. Being a disciple involves sacrifice for others and dying to ourself. That’s what Jesus is preparing Peter and Paul for and that’s what disciples today should be ready for as well.

The stories of Peter and Paul tell us that discipleship involves determination and commitment; as well as humility and discernment. And the Revelation text reminds us that following Jesus will likely involve suffering in some way. And so this Easter season let us all pray that we may be empowered to live into our life of discipleship. Let us pray for God to guide us and give us the determination and the lesson in humility he gave Peter and Paul. Let us follow our own calling as disciples of Jesus Christ. Not because we have to earn God’s favor or forgiveness, but because we get to participate in all that God is doing in the world. And what better way could there be to spend our lives. Let us join Peter and Paul and disciples of all times and places in dedicating our lives to Christ and participating in God’s mission for the world.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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