The World Turned Upside Down
Free Version, The Third Sunday of Easter- Acts 9:1-6; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19
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All of our readings this week have the theme of abrupt surprises, challenged expectations, and the hopes and challenges of living in a new world: the world of resurrection.
In our Acts reading (Acts 9:1-6), Saul is transformed by the appearance of the risen Christ. The devout servant of YHWH whose zeal had led him down a warped path has now seen the one whom he has been persecuting. Saul sees that YHWH and Jesus are one. But this is not just the overturning of personal mission, or even identity. Violence itself is overturned. Jesus has taken the violence of the world upon himself, standing in the role of the oppressed. Here, he identifies with his followers. When Saul persecutes them, he is persecuting Jesus himself.
This overturning of expectations continues in our reading from the book of Revelation (5:11-14) as the conquering hero who is worshipped, the Lion of Judah, is revealed as a slain Lamb. It is this slain Lamb who has conquered death itself, who has unfurled the scroll of God’s will. Christian worship is the acknowledgement that power and wealth and wisdom and strength are His.
Finally, the very presence of the stories of John 21 are surprising. The story seemed to wrap up rather nicely at the end of chapter 20, and there’s more? The disciples too are surprised. After they have been commissioned by the resurrected Christ, they go back to what they know: fishing. Like all of us, the disciples are not oriented to a world where resurrection has happened. As much as they try, they are unable to go back to normal, pre-resurrection life. Everything has changed! Their faculties are strained as they try to catch fish the way that they used to, but are unable. Why? They are called to something new.
Peter’s calling is specifically highlighted. His vocation has been overturned as he goes from fisherman to shepherd. His denials have been forgiven as we walks out his reconciliation. He had previously denied Jesus three times. Here, he declares his love three times. As Jesus has fed him, he now will feed the sheep. Following Jesus also means suffering the same fate which Jesus suffered. Peter will feel out of control. The old ways of the world will no longer work and he will be led to places where he does not want to go. Yet, as we have seen all along: the way of vulnerability, the way of the slain Lamb, the way that we do not want to go is the way of new creation.