Journey to Pentecost

April 20, 2010     John 21.7-9

Peter was the type of person who would speak first and suffer the consequences later.  He was always quick to dialogue when he should have kept quiet and always first to move when he should have stood still.  It seemed he was always a day early and a dollar short.  To be honest the “spirit” of Simon Peter lives in a lot of people still today.  They have good intentions but sometimes those intentions will lead them into dissatisfaction, disappointment, discouragement, disillusionment, detriment and despair.  Such was the case with Simon when Jesus visited this group of distracted rag tag fishermen.

When Simon Peter realized who Jesus was  – he immediately jumped out of the boat and made his way toward Jesus.   At first it seems like Peter was in a hurry to meet Jesus.  I like to think he was – but it is mere speculation.  We know that Peter did assist with bringing in the net full of fish but I think this was an after thought.  I would almost be out of character for Peter to think of someone else needing his help and not putting himself first. 

We are like that today.  We have a lot of Simon Peter’s spirit in us.  We often jump to conclusions without evidence to support our claims.  We speak before we think.  We react instead of respond.  Whatever motive was behind Simon Peter’s actions – he didn’t hesitate to jump into the water before the others did.  He was always first in line – good or bad. 

Sometimes we deal with things in life that are like what Peter dealt with.  We are faced with facts that motivate us.  But what we don’t do is process those facts so that they serve the kingdom more than they do ourselves.  Case in point – Simon Peter.  He had the fact of Jesus standing in front of him.  His goal was being with Jesus – but the greater good was bringing in the load of fish that Jesus directed them to catch.  Jesus proved the greater good by asking for some fish that they had just caught. 

I commend Simon for jumping into the water to get to Jesus.  What I fault him for is nearly missing out on helping the other fishermen with the laborious task of bringing in the catch.  We can get so caught up in being in the presence of the Lord, being with Him in worship that we forget about the other guys in the boat – tugging at the net full of fish.  We forget that we have responsibilities that sometimes keep us from His immediate presence. 

Read the text.  The men in the boats had to haul the mega load of fish about a hundred yards to the shore line.  Peter only got involved when Jesus specifically asked for some fish from the catch.  He simply walked to the net and grabbed some of the catch.  It was the other men who labored to get the fish net to shore.   Simon Peter stepped away from responsibility of help only to be willing to once again be the first in line to share with Jesus.  He was first in line to serve Jesus but last in line to serve the others.  Sometimes we do the same thing.  When this happens we are out of balance.  We may enjoy our up front seat with Jesus while we create enemies due to our lack of responsibility toward the whole.

Jesus inspired John to write seven churches in various locations.   They’re found in the book of Revelation.  Here Jesus says that while the churches for the most part were doing good there was some fault to them.   Without detailing all seven churches in this blog, suffice it to say that some were willing to be in the presence of Jesus – while ignoring the greater revelation of good.   We forget that serving one another is important. 

How many today are more than willing to jump out of the boat and race into the presence of Jesus.  What they don’t realize is that Jesus blessed the group and that meant there was a group responsibility.  Simon left the “boys” to drag in the net themselves.   I am not sure how Jesus felt about this event but Simon almost blew it.   There is a balance in serving Jesus and His church.  He wants us to be committed to the hard tasks as well as the simple ones like jumping into waste deep water and working our way toward Him.  Dragging the fish net was tough work.  Remember they didn’t have a motor boat with modern technology.  Everything was done by hand. 

When you’re seeking Pentecost remember that you can jump out of the boat and pursue His presence and leave others behind.   I am confident that God wants us to sometimes “wait” in the upper room.  He wants us to serve Him but He wants us to serve one another also.  Pray about what you’re doing to serve others.  Not just serve Him – but what are you engaged in that benefits others?  I am told that there are enough “one another” passages of scripture to lead us into serving for every week of the year.   What did you do last week that was for the express good of someone besides yourself?  We are called to serve – and not to always outrun everyone else toward His presence. 

In seeking your Pentecostal experience remember that the Gift of the Spirit was given for the express purpose of being witnesses of Him towards “the utter most part of the world.”  Obviously the Gift of the fulness of the Spirit was for serving others.  While we may pursue His presence as Simon Peter did – we can’t forget the others who are diligently working to serve the kingdom.  You see Jesus blessed their efforts and they were responsible for the blessing.  Today our churches are blessed but we hesitate in serving one another.  We want to continue in the vein of receiving.  But what about serving.  Simon Peter eventually went back to grab some fish for Jesus.  What if he had not gone back?  What if the blessing of Jesus had gone without Simon Peter giving a reasonable service to the Master?  Who would have lost out?  Simon Peter, Jesus and the other disciples would have lost out.  Are you willing to let a blessing get by you, by others and certainly be withdrawn from Jesus because we are slothful with the blessings of God.  Don’t let Pentecost get by you this easy.  Go on.  Help the others get the fish to shore!  You will appreciate your efforts and feel pretty good about being able to help others as well.  Trust me.