First United Methodist Church
May 4th, 2025
Rev. Lauren Hall
Freedom to Follow
In the Nature Center at Camp Crosley we had a snake. There was one particular instance that I remember when the cover to the snake cage wasn’t replaced properly and the snake got out. We looked all over the place for it and we finally located it between the wall and the display case, which was about six feet tall and eight feet long and way too heavy to move. The snake had crawled into a space where it was within reach, but down in a dark crevice which made it pretty much untouchable. I don’t mind handling snakes, but I don’t particularly enjoy snake bites. It was obvious that if I reached down into the crevice to try to lift it out that I would be bitten.
After awhile I came up with a great idea. I thought that it might be hungry, so I designed a “fishing pole” by tying a string to a broomstick and attaching some snake bait to the end of it. One would think that the snake would attempt to swallow the bait and then I could pull it up as if it were a fish and place it back into the cage. Well, within seconds the bait was gone, and I was holding onto a broomstick with a string and a tiny portion of the bait still attached to it.
The snake remained in its hiding place. Realizing that snakes only eat once a week or so, I spent the rest of the day trying to come up with a better solution. That night, the snake, seeking warmth, found its way back into the cage on its own, and we discovered it the next morning. We made a couple of adaptations to keep it from escaping again. The reason I share this story is to point out that sometimes we waste a tremendous amount of time trying to control situations, when, if we just let God be God, quite often things will naturally just fall into place. [Let us pray:]
Both of the Scriptures we read today give us examples of people wasting a tremendous amount of time trying control things rather than trusting in or allowing God to be God.
Peter is convinced that his denial of his relationship with Christ will forfeit his participation in the role Christ prepared him for in the Kingdom of God. Saul, in his zeal to be obedient to God is persecuting the one God sent for his salvation.
When we encounter the disciples on the beach, they are fully aware of Jesus’s resurrection. There are at least two recorded versions of earlier appearances of the Risen Christ, and they have openly professed their faith in him as their Lord. But they still don’t seem to know what Jesus wants them to do.
They have been told to go to Galilee and wait for Jesus. Instead, Peter takes them fishing. Perhaps they were just killing time, doing what was familiar to them. But based on the narrative that follows, we assume that Peter was going back to his old way of life because he was ashamed of his denial on the night of Jesus’ arrest. These guys weren’t on a pleasure fishing trip – they spent the entire night trying to bring in a haul that would result in monetary income – money that they could use to support themselves and their families. They were doing what they knew how to do to control their future, rather than waiting for Jesus’ instructions, as directed.
I think it’s important to remember that this account does not begin with Peter’s call to martyrdom. It begins with breakfast on the beach. This part of the story reminds us of the presence and abundance of Jesus’ gifts. Everyone present receives a gift. Peter is forgiven and his relationship is restored with Jesus. He is also given a plan and purpose for his life. The beloved disciple will become a witness. Thomas is once again given the opportunity to see and believe, and the others are presented with a good catch, breakfast and time with Jesus. Although their discipleship will take varied forms, they all have an opportunity to celebrate Christ’s presence with them before they begin serving in his name.
As this encounter with Jesus unfolds, we begin to see the restorative power of Christ’s gifts, which is central to the message of this text. Jesus reminds us that God’s grace is not completed in the crucifixion. His resurrection and his continuing presence with the disciples relieve them of their doubt, guilt, confusion and unworthiness.
Peter comes to realize that loving Jesus requires trusting Jesus, because as Jesus’ words to Peter make clear, to love Jesus is to shape one’s life according to Jesus’ life. Words of love must be matched by a life of love. Peter’s love of Jesus will be evidenced when he cares for Jesus’ sheep, not apart from that care. Later in Acts, Saul will come to this same understanding when he realizes that the Lord that he loves is the Lord that he is persecuting.
Wesley believed the life, death and resurrection of Jesus was the greatest outpouring of God’s love and mercy upon the world. In Jesus, the power of sin that penetrates every aspect of our lives and all of creation was exposed, engaged, and overcome. One of the marvelous benefits flowing to humanity through the person of Christ is the cancellation of sin and guilt before God.
Peter is told that his life, from this moment forward, is to glorify the Lord. He is no longer to live for himself, but in everything, he is to live for the glory of God. The last thing Jesus does is to give Peter this command, “Follow Me!” The last call is the same as the first. When Jesus found Peter and called him the first time, this was his command (Matt 4:19). When he re-commissions Peter, He issues the same call. This tells us that Jesus hasn’t changed his mind about Peter, or about the vision he has for Peter’s future.
God gives the same command to you today that He gave to Peter then, “Follow me!” All Jesus wants from you is a surrendered life; one that is lived for the glory of God. He simply wants you to follow him.
Christ calls us into a life of discipleship. From his first appearance to Mary in the garden to his last before his ascension, when the risen Christ appears, he commissions his disciples either to go and tell or to follow. The vocation and mission of the church is to respond to this commission. Christ’s resurrection transforms and empowers Christian mission because our participation with Christ shapes our own lives and futures as mirrors of Christ’s. Peter’s journey may be different from ours, but we cannot end our journey with the crucifixion. Our future hope lies in the way we live out the resurrection – our new life made possible through the Risen Christ.
Letting go of the past is no small feat, but the freedom to move forward is what God promises. “Easter people,” are aware of the tragic circumstances that occur in our lives and our world, but Christ frees us from the guilt that comes from sin and the shame that arises from the separation sin causes between humanity and God. In the crucifixion Christ bears the penalty for sin, and in the resurrection, Christ returns to us offering forgiveness and reconciliation.
Jesus’ resurrection marks the beginning of a new era in which the Kingdom of God is inaugurated. We are called to live in the reality of this kingdom, spreading His message and living in anticipation of His final return.
In the resurrection, Christ gives us a new identity. Accepting that identity often requires freeing ourselves from past guilt and shame. Last week I asked you to think about what kind of freedom you want and/or need to fully commit to your new life in Christ. This week I invite you to consider Jesus’ invitation to follow him. What would your life look like if you accepted Christ’s gift of grace and fully committed to following Christ and growing as a disciple? What is your vision?
Each week, we will progress toward our recommitment to freedom and new life. As you think about your vision, think also about what steps you need to take to achieve it.
Jesus recommissions Peter for service. I’m sure Peter felt that his ministry with Jesus was gone forever, but Jesus freed him from his guilt and sin and failure and called him to follow. Peter and the disciples returned to the fishing boat and Christ called them back out. They moved on to a more purposeful future.
When you come up for communion today, think about the life that Christ is calling you to. What does your future hold for you? What first step do you need to take today?
Let us pray…
Gracious Lord, We rejoice in the wonder of your resurrection but then tend to sink back into our old ways of thinking, behaving, responding to people’s needs. Forgive us when we so easily become distracted by our own cares and worries that we ignore the needs of others around us. Forgive us when we forget your power and love for us.
Give us a spirit for rejoicing, willing hearts and hands for helping, voices for praising you forever! Help us to understand that the Cross is not our ending point, but rather the pivotal point. Help us to be people of astounding faith, who have seen the light of Resurrection, who know that you have conquered sin and death. Fear cannot claim and bind us. You have released us to serve others and witness to the glorious, good news. As we bring the names of those near and dear to us to you in prayer, help us to feel the rejuvenating power of your love in our lives. Today we pray for: [names]. Wrap your healing arms around them and bless them. Inspire us to move into compassionate ministries to our world. We ask these things in the name of our Risen Lord. AMEN
