Sermon Series: Welcome of Resurrection
Failures Welcome
John 20: 1-19, NRSV
Psalm 32:1-2, NRSV
Reflections
We must always be ready to be surprised by God. They were, that spring morning, the third time they saw him after his resurrection… They were surprised by the huge catch… They were surprised by Jesus himself. And they were surprised, we may suppose, at themselves. Who were they? What were they doing? What was to happen next? When God ceases to surprise us, that may be the moment we have ceased to do business with him.
— Tom Wright
John For Everyone Part II
- In facing failure, we need:
- Community
- Compassion
- Commission
- Community
- Let God’s love and grace come through others
- We want community of very different people, to let God’s love and grace come from many different ways
- Disciples were gathering in secret, to support one another, reflecting together, after crucifixion of Jesus
- Compassion
- v7 – although Peter was brought down by shame and guilt, Jesus welcomed him with compassion and called him to himself, showing God is full of grace and mercy
- Commission
- Jesus addressed Peter’s specific failure, giving him exactly three times to reclaim his denial into love
- Jesus pushed Peter toward a new commission
- God is inviting us to love by following him in action
