David Bahn – Reflections

I’ve overcome it, but for years I had difficulty saying that I loved God. I didn’t hate God. But to say I loved him seemed presumptuous. For if I loved God surely I would obey him. I would put him truly first in my life. I would be a saint. I didn’t want to presume to say that I did all those things. I knew all too well that I was a sinner. I didn’t think I could claim to love God truly. I fell far too short in that regard.

Since then, however, I’ve embraced the idea more fully. In fact there came a time when I was facing some large challenges in life and ministry that I declared my love for God unashamedly. Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heartbecame my favorite hymn. Many a morning I would go to the sanctuary and sing that hymn, with the the thought of Martin Luther, “He who sings prays twice.”

Speaking of Luther, he once said, “Love God?!? I hated him!” He struggled so much with his sinful nature, God’s justice, and the conundrum: Is God just? Yes. Does he punish sin? Yes. Am I a sinner? Yes. Must he punish me? Yes. His wise confessor turned him to scripture where Luther discovered the beautiful truth that “the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17). He learned more fully of God’s love for him and all people and his grace in forgiving and saving us for the sake of Jesus, and not for anything we have done.

God’s love for us inspires our love for him. Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” We’ll deal with the “more than these” tomorrow. But let’s just consider Jesus’ question, “Do you love me?” Peter boldly says, “Yes Lord, you know I love you.” Three times Jesus asks. Three times Peter affirms his love for Jesus.

I believe there is a fine line between being quick to claim that we love Jesus and failing to confess our love for him altogether. It’s not a simple question. It’s one we should ponder deeply. Do I love Jesus? Why would I say that? Is there any evidence of that love in my life? What does it mean to love Jesus?

My high school best friend first opened my eyes to the importance and blessings of the Lord’s Supper. We talked about it one night as we sat in his car outside the Lutheran Campus Center. He asked me what I thought about the bread and wine in Holy Communion. I told him that they symbolized Jesus’ body and blood. He kindly and firmly corrected me. “Jesus didn’t say, ‘This symbolizes my body,’ he said, ‘this is my body.’” I hadn’t really thought about it much before and I was willing to take Jesus at his word. I simply believed that what Jesus said was true. When we receive the bread and wine of the Sacrament of the Altar, we receive the body and blood in, with, and under that bread and wine. It’s a mystery. Don’t try to explain it. Just believe it. Jesus wants us to have him in our being. He wants to be present with us in very real ways. What a blessing this is for us today.

When Jesus called his disciples to bring him some fish, and then gave that which they brought to him back to them, it was a different but very real communion. Not the body and blood of Jesus. He was already there. But a communion of a different sort.

The word communion means to hold in common, to be united with. Com: With. Union: One. When we commune we hold Jesus body and blood in common with one another. We remember his death. We celebrate his love. We repent and kneel, and hold in common God’s love, grace, forgiveness, and presence.

If I put myself in the company of those disciple on the beach that day, I sense a celebration of mutual love, grace, hope, joy, and true gladness. Jesus is alive. He wants his followers to be very certain that it is indeed he, that he is not a ghost, and that his presence is a very good thing. This is the very best kind of communion. Jesus is immediately present. He doesn’t have to come to them through other means.

As they enjoy this time of fellowship and food, it is also a foretaste of an eternal feast that will never end. This day will have come and gone. The meal will be remembered and even reported to us centuries later through John’s witness. This third time Jesus appears is the last John will record. But one day he will appear for all to see. And he will take us to be with him in his heavenly banquet hall. And we will feast and commune like never before. And we will be deeply satisfied.

How do you feel about questions? Like ’em? Make you nervous? Put you on the defensive? Make you think? Jesus asks lots of questions. In fact Zach Zehnder authored a blog post on the subject, listing 305 questions Jesus asked. Zach observed…

Where would you put this question, “Children, do you have any fish?”? Perhaps a bit curious. Not really open-ended; the answer was a simple yes or no. Challenging? You decide. But as is often the case with God, Jesus knew the answer to the question he asked even before he asked it. It wasn’t for his information. It was an opportunity for the disciples to acknowledge their lack of success in fishing all night. It was an opportunity to admit failure.

Many years ago I attended an Alcoholics Anonymous Open Meeting. The men around the table that night, one after another, introduced themselves, “My name is Joe and I’m an alcoholic.” A brutal admission of their failure to be able to control themselves in the area of drinking alcohol. That is the first step toward recovery: we admit we have a problem.

In the case of the disciples’ failure to catch any fish that night, Jesus’ question seems like more of an invitation than a challenge. But it is an invitation to admit their failure and lack of resources. And it became an opportunity for Jesus to show his gracious provisional power. Who would have thought it? So now, the questions I posed more than two weeks ago seem ever so appropriate.

1. Why did Jesus appear at this time to these people?
2. What was the impact in their lives?
3. What do I learn from these accounts?
4. What am I going to do about it?

Are you willing to ask these questions of yourself?

Jesus’ resurrection, God’s promises, heaven’s hope, and our future joy in the life of the world to come is as real as the fish the disciples caught and Jesus enjoyed with them that day.

Once Again…

1. Why did he appear at this time to these people?
2. What was the impact in their lives?
3. What do I learn from these accounts?
4. What am I going to do about it?

Once Again…

1. Why did he appear at this time to these people?
2. What was the impact in their lives?
3. What do I learn from these accounts?
4. What am I going to do about it?

I love this account of Jesus’ appearing to his disciples at the sea of Galilee. There are so many things that catch my attention. What’s up with the 153 fish? Why count them? Is there a message in the actual number 153? Why does Peter put on his cloak and jump into the sea? And Jesus’ three times questioning of Peter is a wonderful probing opportunity.

Let’s start, however, with the fact that Jesus shows up (again) after his resurrection, and offers convincing proof that he is actually alive. He’s no ghost. He’s not a figment of their imagination. He’s real, alive, and present. What’s more, he will intrude in the most impactful times.

I get the picture that Peter and the disciples were almost bored. Listless. Purposeless. Nothing else to do. So they go fishing. But they’re not successful. In fact they fish all night without catching anything. And when Jesus shows up he nearly embarrasses them, asking, “Do you have any fish?” I think he knew they didn’t. I’m wondering whether God set this up so that they would be thwarted in their efforts. Until he comes into the picture.

Jesus changes everything. He directs them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. And sure enough there is a great haul of fish – so many that they cannot haul in the catch. Then suddenly they are made to realize it’s Jesus.

I wonder how many times I’ve struggled with no apparent success only to have Jesus show up and bring a degree of success I could never imagine. I wonder if God has not engineered some things in my life so that I did not succeed until I recognized Jesus’ presence and went his way. I do believe Jesus wants to show himself to us because of his love for us. He doesn’t come to chide. He comes to bless.

Once Again…

1. Why did he appear at this time to these people?
2. What was the impact in their lives?
3. What do I learn from these accounts?
4. What am I going to do about it?

1. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene

Mark 16:9-11

Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. ¹⁰ She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. ¹¹ But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. [This part of Mark’s gospel does not appear in the earliest and most reliable New Testament manuscripts.]

John 20:11-18

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹² And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,^[a] “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

2.  Jesus appeared to the other two women who were with Mary Magdalene—Salome and Mary the mother of James 

Matthew 28:1-9

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ² And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he^[a] lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” ⁸ So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

3.  Jesus appeared to the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13-35

4.  Jesus appeared to the apostles, except for Thomas

Luke 24:36-43

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” ³⁷ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. ³⁸ And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate before them.

John 20:19-25

 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews,^[a] Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” ²² And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

²⁴ Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

5.  Jesus appeared to the apostles with Thomas

John 20:26-29

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

6.  Jesus appeared to seven of His disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee

John 21:1-25

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. ² Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. ³ Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵ Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” ⁶ He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. ⁷ That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. ⁸ The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards^[a] off.

⁹ When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

¹⁵ When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

²⁰ Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” ²¹ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” ²² Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” ²³ So the saying spread abroad among the brothers^[b] that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

²⁴ This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

²⁵ Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

7. Jesus appeared to the apostles on a mountain in Galilee

Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Mark 16:15-18

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

8, 9, 10  Jesus appeared to over 500 brothers, James, and Paul

1 Corinthians 15:3-11

 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. ⁸ Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. ¹¹ Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

11.  Jesus appeared to the apostles and ate a meal with them

Luke 24:44-49

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

⁵⁰ And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ⁵³ and were continually in the temple blessing God.

12.  Jesus’ ascension

Acts 1:9-11

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹ and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Mark 16:19-20

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

Luke 24:50-53

And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ⁵³ and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Once Again…

1. Why did he appear at this time to these people?
2. What was the impact in their lives?
3. What do I learn from these accounts?
4. What am I going to do about it?