Resurrection Life

Brad Sullivan
3 Easter, Year C
Sunday, April 14, 2013
St. Mark’s, Bay City
Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)
Psalm 30
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19
 

Today, we got to hear the power of Jesus’ resurrection, the power of the Gospel to give new life where there was death.  From our story in Acts, Saul was a devout Jew, a Pharisee, who was so devout in his faith, that he actively pursued imprisonment and death for followers of Jesus.  Saul was a bringer of death.

Then enter the Gospel into Saul’s life.  Saul met the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus, and while he was on his way to bring and spread even more death, Saul was given new life to become an apostle.  He was later renamed Paul and, as we know, wrote letters to the churches he founded, letters which became the majority of New Testament scripture.  The power of the Gospel is to bring new life where before there was only death.  That’s the resurrection life which Jesus gives us.

Peter was given new life amidst death by Jesus’ resurrection also.  Before Jesus’ arrest, during the last supper, Jesus had told his disciples, “where I am going, you cannot follow.”  Now, he says, “follow me.”  Previously, during the last supper, Jesus told his disciples, and specifically Peter, that they could not follow him.  Peter said that he would follow Jesus even into death, and Jesus responds by telling Peter he would deny Jesus three times that morning.

Well, Jesus was right.  The disciples abandoned Jesus, and Peter denied him.  Where Jesus was going, they could not follow.  Their lives as Jesus’ disciples were dead. In our story today, however, Jesus’ disciples are given new life in Jesus’ resurrection. 

At the beginning of the story, the disciples had already seen Jesus, he had already appeared to them after he was raised from the dead.  They were overjoyed at the return of their beloved, and yet, the last thing they had done was abandon and deny Jesus.  Their life as Jesus’ disciples was dead.

That’s where we find them this morning, wondering what they are supposed to do.  Jesus had been raised, but “what are we supposed to do now?” we find them wondering.  If they could no longer follow Jesus, then Peter decides they should go back to their previous way of life and go fishing.

So, they get in the boat and try to fish, only to find they aren’t any good at that any more either.  Their life as fishermen was dead.  Their life as Jesus’ disciples was dead, then Jesus shows up and gives then new life.  After fishing all night and not catching anything, Jesus says, “hey guys, they’re obviously not biting there; try fishing someplace else.”  Then Jesus gives them a sign of his resurrection in the huge catch of fish they take in simply by trying the other side of the boat.  Jesus shows them new life, from no longer being fishermen who are worth anything at all to being the greatest fishermen ever.  Jesus gives then new life, sharing in his resurrection.

Then Jesus gives then new life to once again be his disciples.  “Feed my sheep,” Jesus tells Peter.  “Feed my sheep,” and “follow me.”  You abandoned me and denied me, and I don’t particularly blame you, Jesus was saying.  All is forgiven.  Have new life.  Share in my resurrection.  Feed my sheep and follow me.  That’s the power of the Gospel, the power of Jesus’ resurrection, the power of new life amidst death.

            Saul, Peter, the other disciples, were all given new purpose and new life by Jesus resurrection.  Saul, a bringer of death was given new purpose as a bringer of light and life.  Peter and the disciples, now crummy fishermen on a very unsuccessful comeback tour, now the founders of Jesus’ church, continuing his ministry of proclaiming and enacting God’s kingdom here on earth.

Resurrection means that in the midst of death, Jesus gives us new life, and it is not going back to life as usual.  Resurrection means new purpose and new creation. 

The vast scope of this cannot be overstated.  In our reading from Revelation today, we heard about John’s vision of the Heavenly court, with “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,

‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’”  They were all worshipping Jesus and his victory over death.

This image helps us understand the enormity of who Jesus is and the cosmic scope of what Jesus accomplished in his resurrection.  Through John’s vision, we catch a glimpse of the beauty of the heavenly court, of the power and significance of Jesus and of Jesus’ resurrection in the vast hugeness of everything.  This is wonderful to see and helpful to understand the importance of Jesus’ resurrection for all of creation, not just for us.  By and large, however, we don’t live in the vast hugeness of everything.  We live, by comparison, simple lives here on earth, and here on earth is where Jesus showed up to bring resurrection life to his beloved. 

The power of the gospel is the power to bring us new life amidst death as well.  We are all amidst death in this world.  Our bodies die.  Our relationships die.  Our jobs and livelihoods die.  Our dreams sometimes die.  Our loved ones die.  Amidst all this death, Jesus comes, bringing new life.

“Feed my sheep,” and “follow me,” Jesus said, and even amidst death, receive new life, new purpose.  Receive back your beloved, Jesus, and be transformed, like Peter and Saul, into a new creation in the resurrection life.  Amen.