Encounters with the Risen Jesus

Acts 9:1-20; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19

Today’s readings all relate encounters with the Risen Jesus. We discover that Jesus shows up in some unexpected places, in Scripture, and in our lives. First, we need to remember we are reading John’s Gospel, and there are only a few reported resurrection appearances. In contrast, Luke tells us Jesus appeared frequently for 40 days. So, the disciples in John’s story aren’t accustomed to Jesus showing up in their midst.

… Jesus and some of the disciples are back in Galilee. Peter isn’t sure what to do, so he does what he has always done. He’s gone fishing, but they have caught nothing all night. As they pull near the shore, there’s a man on the beach who tells them to throw the nets out on the right side of the boat. They do so, and the nets are so full, they need help hauling them in.

It turns out that a person on the shore can see a school of fish that can’t be seen from inside the boat. So, the disciples believe the person’s guidance, and that’s why they are able to catch so many fish. But Peter knows it’s more than the perspective from the beach that gives them this catch; it’s Jesus who makes it possible. He puts his outer clothes back on and runs through the water to be with Jesus. Can you imagine the joy the disciples feel when they see Jesus again here?

… The first story, of the large catch of fish, is followed by a second story with just Peter and Jesus taking a walk down the beach away from the others. It’s the first private conversation they’ve had since Peter denied knowing Jesus in the courtyard during his trial. They talk about love, as they did so often during Jesus’ life and ministry.

Three times Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” The first time, Jesus says, “Do you love me more than these?” I began wondering if Jesus is pointing to the fish. In other words, “Do you love me more than fishing?” The other two times, Jesus charges Peter with caring for Jesus’ sheep as well as Jesus has. “If you love me, love my sheep the way I taught you to.”

It’s obvious in this encounter with the risen Jesus that the disciples’ lives are to be a continuation of the ministry Jesus started. They are now going to be led by Peter, and take the good news of God’s love to all people.

… In Acts, Saul has an encounter with the risen Jesus as he travels to Damascus in search of people who believe in Jesus. At this time, Saul has a passion for seeking for those who sin by believing Jesus is God. He is very good at his job, and known and feared by all followers of Jesus.

Saul is temporarily blinded by the encounter, and cared for by a man named Ananias, who also has an unexpected encounter with the risen Jesus. Ananias is reluctant to do as Jesus asks. “Do you know what evil Saul does to us believers?!” “Yes, and I have chosen him to spread my name to Gentiles and kings. And, I have chosen you to tell him the truth about me.” 

This is not a conversion for Saul but a redirection of his passion. He has been forgiven by Jesus for persecuting Jesus-people. Only someone who has passionately sought the guilty can passionately share the good news of God’s love and grace.

And just a quick note: Since Saul spends most of his time with Gentiles, he goes by the Roman name Paulus, or Paul, when he is with them, and Saul when he’s with the Jews.

… John of Patmos has a different kind of encounter with the risen Jesus. His vision of the risen Jesus lasts a long time, and encourages those who are being persecuted to remain faithful to Jesus. In this portion of the vision, Jesus is shown as the Lamb who was slain, who freely gave his life. Beyond the grave, Jesus the Lamb is also the Divine One who is worshiped and glorified. John writes down what he sees: a glimpse of heaven, or at least what God wants him to tell us about who Jesus is.

When I dream, sometimes the stories I see are strange, but this story of the Revelation to John is beyond a dream. It is an apocalypse, a literary form that resembles modern fantasy novels. Lots of scary stuff happens, but in the end, the good guy always wins. Jesus … always wins.

… I hope you understand that each week you have an encounter with the risen Jesus. We remember we are baptized and forgiven. We receive the gift of his body and blood in the meal we share. Today, we also receive his blessing as we receive anointing and laying on hands while we pray for the healing of our bodies, our minds, our relationships, our spirits.

We also have the occasional encounter with the risen Jesus when we hand food to a hungry person with a smile and a prayer. We may encounter Jesus as we travel or shop for groceries or visit a homebound person.

… One of my encounters with the risen Jesus happened while I worked with Women of the ELCA at the Churchwide office in Chicago. One weekend, I was with the Board of the Metro Chicago Synod. It was there I met Betty, the instigator of Rachel’s Day.

In the mid-1990s, gun violence was causing the death of almost 1,000 young men a year in Chicago. Betty decided she had to do something. She began looking for women who had lost children to gangs and gun violence. Together, they planned a non-violent demonstration of how enormous the problem really was.

They located an empty lot, and invited all families to put a cross with their child’s name in the lot set up like a cemetery. The observance gave everyone an opportunity to lament their losses and to protest that conditions in their communities needed to change. Soon, the event became a Women of the ELCA Churchwide event, which we are observing today. It all started with one woman who had a Jesus-driven passion to make life better for her people.

… And yesterday, at the Pinelands Spring Gathering at Luther Springs Camp, I met Nicky. He grew up going to camp, attending from the time he was in elementary school to today, when he is a camp counselor.

He talked with passion about meeting campers year after year, and how they open up to him and to each other in ways they never would at home, or with friends. It is clear to me he has known the risen Jesus, and shares him with the kids he meets at camp, and wherever he goes.

… This week, I hope you will reflect on the times you have had an encounter with the risen Jesus. It may be hard to discover them, because Jesus shows up incognito, looking like a regular person, but I assure you, he has been there with you all the time. Amen