Season of Easter
Third Sunday
John 21:1-19
Read the Bible passage: John 21:1-19, The Message; or John 21:1-19, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).
Click here for the complete Holy Textures background commentary on John 21:1-19.
Click here: George Hermanson's sermon, for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this post.
The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson
John gives another experience with the risen Jesus. We have just come from the upper room event with Thomas, which followed the earlier event with Peter and Mary. Now we are back to lake Galilee.
The disciples have gone back to their earlier habits of life - fishing. A small question emerges of why? Here they are - back fishing. Then a stranger on the shore yells at them - “lads, you haven’t caught any fish, have you?” They respond with some frustration -no. The man yells again - “try another side.”
Lets stop for a moment to experience the narrative - to play with its meaning. The old habitual way of fishing was not working. Like many of us, the habits of the past keeps us acting the same old way, even when it does not work. Then a word comes - change - try another approach. Rethink and break your old habits.