How God converts mistakes into mission
Bible readings from the inter-denominational Revised Common Lectionary for Sunday, May 1.
Psalm 30 — setting the scene
John 21:1-19 — A huge catch confirms the Lord’s third appearance
Acts 9:1-6 — Saul’s zealous hate is dissolved by God’s grace and love
Revelation 5:11-14 — Countless angels exalt Christ as the Victor
- See also this week’s linked article From Mistakes to Mission which tells the story that comes out off these readings
- And this week’s video (12 min approx) From Mistakes to Mission
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Verses from Psalm 30 — setting the scene
1-2 I will exalt You, Lord, for You lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my God, I called to You for help, and You healed me.
4-5 Sing the praises of the Lord, You His faithful people;
praise His holy name. For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favour lasts a lifetime
11-12 You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise You forever.
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John 21:1-19 — A huge catch confirms the Lord’s third appearance
Peter’s shame is reversed in three affirmations as the Lord’s under-shepherd
1 Afterwards Jesus appeared again to His disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:
“Jesus appeared” — a further eyewitness account of encountering Jesus resurrected.
2-3 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus ), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
“Going out to fish” — but not a sign that they had given up on their call as disciples.
• For further study, seeActs 18:3, Acts 20:34, 1 Cor. 4:12.
“That night” — fishing was usually most successful at night and at daybreak.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus.
The disciples did not realise” — in the dim half light, at a distance, or (like others) divinely prevented until the moment of revelation, e.g. John 20:14-16, Luke 24:13-16; 28-32.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
“Right side of the boat” — Galilean fishermen avoided handling nets from the steering oar side of the boat. A reminder of a previous time when a non-fisherman helped them find a shoal, Luke 5:1-11.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
“The disciple…” — Generally taken to be John, younger son of Zebedee, and one of the seven in v.2.
“Wrapped his outer garment…” — stripped off for work, Peter needed to regain Jewish decorum to respond to a greeting.
8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
“With fish on it” — as with the crowd on the mountainside, John 6:1-13, it appears that the Lord created this meal.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
“Dragged the net ashore” — Peter heading the effort, too heavy for one man.
“Full of large fish” —— and they counted out the catch, as fishermen were accustomed to do — there is no symbolic meaning in the number. The miracle showed God’s abundant level of provision, as previously with water changed into wine, and feeding the five thousand, John 2:1-12, 6:1-15.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
“The third time” — previously to the gathered disciples without Thomas, then with Thomas present, John 20:19-23, 26-29.
15-16 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.”
“Do you love me” — The same of Peter’s three denials of Jesus is reversed by t he Lord’s threefold affirmation of love.
17 The third time He said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Feed My sheep.
“Feed My sheep” — Jesus restores Peter, the man who denied Him, with forbearance, forgiveness and grace.
18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
“You will stretch out your hands… someone else will dress [bind] you” — an allusion to Peter’s martyrdom at the time of Nero, AD 67-68.
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then He said to him, “Follow Me!”
“The kind of death” — Peter held his life lightly, 2 Peter 1:12-15, but wrote that such suffering brings praise to God, 1 Peter 4:14-16.
Reflection
SUMMARY Now back in Galilee, the fishermen among them have taken up their old occupation. After an unsuccessful night’s fishing, in the half-light of early morning, they saw a figure on the shore who shouted to them to cast the net on the side of the boat they would not normally use, and they caught a huge shoal of fish there. John was the first to recognise this was the Lord — His third appearance to them together. Jesus had a fire, and some bread, and they grilled some of the fish and ate together. Then Jesus addressed Peter and He put to him the same question, in three different ways: “Do you love Me? Then feed and care for My sheep.”
APPLICATION Jesus saw beyond Peter’s failure under pressure to the strength of character he would gain, in learning from it. Three affirmations from the Lord cancelled the shame of his three denials and gave him the lead of the continuing mission.
QUESTION Jesus treated Peter better than he deserved. What does that teach us about our responses to the mistakes of others?
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Acts 9:1-6 — Saul’s zealous hate is dissolved by God’s grace and love
Arrested by the Lord on His way to arrest others, he realises his deception
1-2 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
“Saul… went to the high priest” — this young man was well-connected with the religious elite, see Acts 7:58, Galatians 1:14.
“Letters to the synagogues” — these letters to the several synagogues — there were probably 20,000 Jews in Damascus — recommended Saul and also acted as warrants for arrest.
3-4 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
“On his journey” — best part of a week on foot, highlighting Saul’s earnestness to carry out the arrests, Acts 22:4-8; 26:9-15.
“Why do you persecute Me” — the Christian church is the living body of Christ, rather than a religion and to persecute followers, is to hurt Jesus Christ Himself.
5 “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.
“Who are you, Lord?” — Saul’s rabbinic tradition would have understood a voice and light from heaven as being of deity. Other accounts tell us he actually saw the risen Christ in this encounter, Acts 9:7.
• For further study, see 1 Corinthians 9:1, 15:8; Galatians 1:16; Acts 9:27.
6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
“You will be told” — Ananias, Acts 9:10-17, would explain his mission later. Christians in Damascus had to come to terms with the repentance of their feared inquisitor.
Reflection
SUMMARY Saul, who was party to the stoning of Stephen and the persecution which broke out at that time, Acts 7:58-8:3 is travelling from Jerusalem to Damascus with a warrant from the high priest to arrest followers of the Way. Before he reaches the city, he is overpowered by a blinding light and hears Jesus’s voice asking why Saul is persecuting Him.
APPLICATION Everyone needs an encounter with Jesus and when we meet with the Lord in this way, it is always life-changing. For Paul, it was an about-turn from his religiously judgmental mindset to learn about God’s love and grace through having received it. His lesson is also ours: sharing God’s love with others without judging them..
QUESTION What is your story of meeting Jesus? Have you had other encounters with Him that have changed you?
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Revelation 5:11-14 — Countless angels exalt Christ as the Victor
Their praise anticipates the time when every creature will submit to His rule
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
“Then…” — following the dramatic entrance of the Lamb to receive heaven’s worship from an infinite number of angels, Rev. 5:1-10.
12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!”
“Worthy is the Lamb” — to receive a sevenfold (e.g. complete) tribute and honours reserved for God alone.
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
“Every creature” — in response to Christ’s sacrifice, all creation will come to give glory to the Lamb, even those in rebellion against God in places of death and evil. Similarly: “…At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father”, Phil. 2:10-11.
• For further study, see Psalm 146:6, Isaiah 45:23-25, Romans 14:11, Phil 2:7-11.
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshipped.
“Amen” — a conclusion of agreement.
Reflection
SUMMARY In John‘s vision of heaven, the ‘mistake‘ and the mission appear in a different perspective. It was the devil’s error to turn the Son of God into a bloodbath, thereby fulfilling the divine purpose in making Him a sinless sacrifice. Now Jesus Christ the Lamb of God is enthroned, His kingdom mission is ongoing , and He receives praise for the future time on earth when all will honour His rule.
APPLICATION This picture of heaven gets our attention on to the might and majesty of the enthroned Lord. For us, His mission can seem complex and overwhelming, but from His position it is already accomplished. This reminds us that we are joining the Lord in what He is doing — and not the other way round.
QUESTION Should we be singing about what God is like, or joining with the angels in praising Him personally for who He is?
PRAYER Lord, we know that we, like Peter, make promises which we don’t deliver. Like Saul, we fail You by judging others religiously according to our narrow view of what is right. Thank you, risen Lord and Saviour, that you are the Way, the Truth and the Life — Your life given, to offer us new life. Like Saul, we simply receive what we do not deserve, rejoice in our unexpected acceptance, and humbly seek to join You in Your mission to extend the good influence of Your kingdom. Yours is the praise and the glory. Amen.
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