Sunday, April 15, 2012

愛CCS (Ai CCS) Goin’ fishin’! わたしは漁に行くのだ


Just after the death of Jesus イエスの亡き後, the 11 and some friends of Jesus, locked themselves in an upper room-in fear of the Jews.  That is, the leaders who had arrested Jesus and had Him crucified. 
Not that long before, anyone who spoke of Jesus in a positive light would be kicked out of the Worshiping community—they were excommunicated from the Faith.  People like Nicodemus believed in secret.  People like Joseph of Arimathea were closet believers.  Every once in a while, one would come out and identify themselves as followers and show some real courage. 
What do you do when your world falls apart?
Where do you go?
What happened to what you believed?
How do you feel?
Before we get into that, please note that the four Gospels 4つの福音書による詳しい記事are four ways in looking at the same event.  A little different from each other, some with more information than others, but all agree that He did return from the dead. Some had deep reasons to write these ESP in light of Matthew’s account. Go and make disciples. In John, the reason for writing the account: so that people would believe in Him.

John-(20) Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and on Monday eve, showed Himself to the disciples, then to Thomas. Later Peter (21) went fishing with some of the guys. Jesus then meets with him/them there and reestablishes (reinstates) His friendship.
Today, we will look at John’s account. John 20-21.
• Cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings.  Meaning:=I will return.
• They saw it all and believed—according to the Scriptures…like last week.
• They went home.  What else to do?  Where do you go when your Center was gone? Go home.
Mary was standing outside the tomb-crying, stooped and looked in-saw 2 white-robed angels. They spoke to her: 13 “Why are you crying?” Why are you sad? Why the tears?  Reason was unknown to them. “They have taken away my Lord…and I don’t know where they have put Him.”
Jesus was there as she turned but she did not recognize Him.
“Dear woman, why are you crying?  Who are you looking for?”
“Mary!”
“TEACHER!!” Just said her name and she knew. John 10:4, 14 4His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.  14 “I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me…”
“Don’t cling to Me. But go find my brothers and tell them…I will leave soon.”
She leaves and tells them. “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. Have you seen Him? Has it changed the way you live?—it should.  The witness is clear—she told them what He had said to her.  A faithful witness.  Their response is not her job: Just tell what He has said/done.
Vs 19: 19 On the evening of that first day of the week …locked the doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.  POW!  “Peace be with you.” あなたがたに平和があるように.
Speaking with them and showing His wounds, they were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!  Again: “Peace be with you. あなたがたに平和があるように.As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you.”
This was not an option.  It was not a preference. He sends us out! My Peace is with you--as you follow Me!
Breathed on them: “Received the Holy Spirit.”  This act had to do with the area of forgiveness. The act of forgiving people—If you don’t forgive—they are not forgiven! And neither are you! This might be a good time to look over your list of people who have hurt you or that you have hurt.  You NEED to forgive them.  That is His Call on your life-the life He died for!
Then He appeared to Thomas—I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds and put my figure into the holes—eight days later-shows Himself to Thomas.  Again with the “Peace be with you.” 「あなたがたに平和があるように.
 Don’t doubt—believe! Stop your unbelieving! You know it is true.
Go ahead and put your figure here and your hand there—“Don’t be faithless any longer.  Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” “Blessed are those who don’t see yet believe.”
Purpose of the writing of John 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name. This is FAITH!
Chapter 21: Appearing to others:The disciples beside the Sea of Galilee…just as He had said!
            Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the two sons of Zebedee and 2 other disciples.Simon Peter: “I’m going fishing.” 「わたしは漁に行くのだ」 “We’ll come too.” Went out to fish—all night and caught zero.
At dawn, Jesus as standing on the shore and said: “Try the other side!” Or try it My way! イエスは言われた、「わたしの方法でやって見なさい」 Better than a fish finder. In fact, they even counted them: 153 large fish.  Nets did not break.  Then John said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” he swam toward the shore and his Master.  There, on the shore was Jesus, cooking fish and had some bread ready for them.  Jesus invited them to “bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
“Come and have breakfast.” Verse 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
Fish and bread. 魚とパン さらにまたWhere have we heard of that combination before? Twice He fed thousands with fish and bread. パンを裂き さらにまた   Then on the road to Emmaus, when He broke the bread, they realized it was Jesus. It was to be a reminder for us all
Now, comes the main point of today: 15-19.  Peter had been the loud mouth in the group.  He would speak without thinking and sometimes even get it right. “You are the Son of God!”  Remember the events back during the last Passover Jesus had with His followers? He told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the cock would make a sound.  During the early stages of the mocked trial of Jesus, Peter was confronted three times with claims that he too was with Jesus.  No!  Not me!  I don’t even know Him!  The cock screeched and he realized that he had indeed denied his Lord. 主を否定する Such shame.  Deep personal disappointment. 
How would you have felt? Here was your Lord and Master—being treated ever so poorly.  Someone comes up to you and asks “Are you one of His followers?”  The pressure to lie—to deny that statement is overwhelming. 
Or, at school, a fellow classmate asks you if you go to that stupid church meeting on Sunday. How do you answer?
A neighbor is talking with you about the upcoming funeral of a close relative and asks if you will go along with the traditions of Shintoism and offer prayers at the coffin.  Do you offer the ash during your prayer? Do you tell them of your Faith?
Is there any difference for anyone of us when we deny Jesus’ claim on us in ANY situation? When we are tempted to lie? When we are tempted to steal? When we are tempted to covert? When we are tempted to become silent rather than defend the Name of Jesus?  Has that ever happened? What do you feel?  How do you move on? 
I can really feel for Peter.  His heart was in the right place but he was afraid.   I’ve been afraid. I have felt the tug to conform. The pressure NOT to stand up for what I know is right! And when I did not—I felt as Peter did.  Rejected.  Alone.  Unforgiven.  “I might as well go fish.  I am not worth anything anyway.”
And Jesus is there, preparing not only a meal, but also a great invitation to remember God’s Grace.
“And when you return to Me…”  Jesus knew all along and He wanted Peter to know too.  “Go tell My disciples AND PETER…” AND here in this section of God’s Word, we see Jesus once again putting His mouth where His heart is: 

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me私を本当に愛するか more than these?”
   “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
   Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” 私を本当に愛するか
   He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love you.”
   Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
 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?” 私を愛するか He said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
   Jesus said, “Feed My sheep.”
What a caring God we serve! He forgives. He restores.  Fully restores. And in this wonderful example of His tender care of the beast of a man like Peter, we can see that God’s plans are once again not like ours. His ways are not like ours.  Seven Times Seventy.  Forgiveness beyond counting.  Our response: 私たちの反応And that is just were we are today. He has forgiven you and me.  Of all the horrid things we felt inside against Him and other people. All the attitudes that were kept hidden. All the dirt we covered ourselves with!  All the wrong we did-our jealously, our pride, our self-centeredness. Covered!  Where are you going? あなたはどこへ向かうLet’s not go fishing!>>>Let’s go follow this Forgiving God for He is alive still!