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In the early stories of the calling of the disciples, the excitement is unmistakable. They recognize in Jesus something dynamic, and they willingly throw in their lot with him. They expect drama and glory, without too much responsibility – Jesus will tell them what to do.

But if the stories at the beginning of the Gospels are the honeymoon period, what we see here is the commitment ’till death do us part’. Once, Peter may have thought being a fisher of people was going to put him in the spotlight, to be admired and loved. Now he’s seen Jesus crucified and risen, and he knows that the calling to follow Jesus is grim and costly. John pulls no punches here, clearly linking Peter’s call to feed the sheep with the death that Peter will suffer.

And if Peter initially left his nets to follow Jesus in the throes of a kind of hero worship, he now takes up the charge Jesus gives him without any illusions. He knows that he’s betrayed Jesus; he finally knows what kind of mission Jesus’ is; he knows that he’ll not be able to rely on Jesus to rescue him from tricky or terrible situations. He is now prepared for the awesome responsibility of caring for people as Jesus did.

What he does best

Grieving for Jesus, guilty because of his denial, confused by what has happened since he visited the tomb, Peter returns to what he does best: fishing. His friends go with him. Amid turmoil and instability, the disciples return to what they know how to do – what they are gifted in and trained for – they get in a boat on the Sea of Tiberias, and they fish all night. It’s a wasted trip. They catch nothing.

But this is the third week of Easter, and God is doing new things. Transformation has occurred through the resurrection of Jesus. Nothing is quite as it seems. Nothing will ever be the same again.

As the new day begins, a stranger on the beach gives the disciples instructions to change tack and fish from the other side of the boat. Their success is stupendous. They net a varied and hefty catch of enormous fish – unexpected, inexplicable, unreal. Suddenly they remember that this is exactly what happens when Jesus is around – feeding five thousand, healing the blind, raising a little girl to life.

Now we see him

John calls out, ‘It is the Lord’, and Peter can’t get out of the boat fast enough, running through the water, getting dressed as he goes.

This is the resurrected Jesus. Now we see him, now we don’t. We don’t recognize him and then we do – a man filled with the mystery of the Godhead. He’s prepared a barbeque for the fish – practical, ordinary, extraordinary! Jesus invites the disciples to bring their fish to his fire. This new day with God is a partnership to which all are called, and all are welcome – one hundred and fifty three different fish and the net isn’t torn. The kingdom of God is flexible and strong – open to everyone.

Everyone – even Saul, shouting murderous threats against the early Church, the people of the Way, raging from Jerusalem down to Damascus, intent on rooting out this new movement. Saul is followed, chased and sought out by the resurrected Jesus, who calls to him, ‘Why do you persecute me?’ No one and nowhere is beyond the reach of God’s transforming power. God, who so often calls the most unlikely people to his service – Moses, David, Mary, Peter – and now Saul, soon to change tack, to become Paul, that great Christian missionary. It has the fingerprints of Jesus all over it. Who do you know that seems a million miles away from the kingdom? Who needs the power of God’s transforming love more than anyone? Pray for them.

Unfinished business

Back on the beach, there’s unfinished business to attend to – the restoration of Peter. ‘Do you love me?’ Jesus asks Peter. He asks again and again until Peter is fed up because he thinks Jesus doesn’t believe him. But the risen Christ is giving Peter opportunities to redeem the past. Three declarations of ‘I love you’ to undo three betrayals of ‘I don’t know you’. God’s forgiveness is loving and far-reaching.

Can you imagine how much Peter must have dreaded having that conversation with Jesus? God’s forgiveness is so skilful that it happens for Peter lovingly and naturally. Before he knows it, the past has been redeemed – he’s changed tack, a new future beckons. It will be difficult and demanding, but walking in Christ’s footsteps Peter will be equal to it.

Commission

Our readings show us the two leaders, on whom the Church is built, accepting their commission. Paul’s meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus, like Peter’s meeting with the risen Christ, is not primarily a joyous occasion. Jesus’ words to Paul are almost harsh. Nothing about forgiveness or love, but a ruthless forcing on Paul of the understanding that to persecute his followers is to persecute Jesus.

It is, perhaps, the other side of Peter’s commission, to love Jesus by loving the ‘children’. Just as Peter had to learn to let go of all the illusions of greatness that he had cherished when he started to follow Jesus, so Paul, too, has to let go of all the things he thought he knew, and start again.

Receive forgiveness

There’s no need for any of us to carry and be worn down by guilt. God forgives us, loves us and often gives us chances to redeem the past, change direction and move forward. Peter’s whole life could have been blighted by his cowardice during the events of Holy Week. Paul’s whole life could have been blighted by his early violence towards the Church, but both were able to receive forgiveness and change approach in their relationship with the risen Jesus.

Following him, serving him, getting it wrong, putting it right, changing their lives and the world around them. Christianity is a faith of liberation – a faith that sets people free, to be fully alive, to be whole.

Like Peter, like Paul, we too are commissioned to tend and feed Christ’s sheep. Going about the work of the kingdom for and with God, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Searching for the lost, befriending the lonely, bringing healing to a whole variety of people, seeking justice and equality for those on the margins or who are oppressed.

We’re not necessarily called to drop everything and go out – but to work with God in our everyday lives, listening for God’s direction so that we fish on the right side of the boat, and allow Jesus to guide us, and the Holy Spirit to lead us into new and surprising adventures.

‘Unfinished Business’ was delivered by Sheila Beattie at St John and St Mark on Sunday 4^th May 2025. It was based on Acts 9.1–6 (7–20) and John 21.1-19.