The Power of a Callback
Life After Ressurection • Sermon • Submitted
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· 36 viewsThe disciples return to what they know how to do: fishing. Jesus calls them back to into the mission of God... the exact same way he called them the first time.
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Life After Resurrection
Life After Resurrection
The power of a call back
What is a callback? Stand up comics use the term call back to describe using a punchline or a joke that was used earlier in their set, at a later point in their set. This has the effect of making the entire audience part of an inside joke. Inside jokes give you a feeling of belonging. “We’re a part of something, together.” It builds camaraderie to have this shared knowledge and reference. It’s fascinating when you think about it. A person can go on stage, in front of a room fool of strangers, talk for 30 min. to an hour, and by the end of their set have people feeling like their part of a shared experience complete with inside jokes.
Stand-up comics are the only ones to use the callback. It’s become a trope in television and movie writing. Avengers Endgame has 21 movies to call back to, and it probably does call back to all 21! From “on your left” to “cheeseburgers” each callback gives the story deeper meaning and draws the audience further into the story to make them feel the depth of what is happening in the story.
One of the most famous “call back” lines in all cinema is from Casablanca. “Here’s looking at you, kid.” is used 4 times throughout the movie. Each time it has deeper meaning for the character and the viewers because time it’s said, we have more knowledge and understanding about who these characters are.
It’s not just words are quotes that are used as callbacks, sometimes it’s entire scenes or settings in Harry Potter, the real adventure begins on platform 9 3/4 in Kings Cross station, and the series concludes with an epilogue that takes place on platform 9 3/4.
We’re at the end of the book of John. We jumped into John on Easter Sunday with John’s resurrection account, and we decided to stay here and finish out the Gospel of John. These are the events that happened in the weeks following the resurrection. Weeks! I mentioned last week that we tend to condense history and jump from one major event to the next, not paying attention or giving consideration for the time in between those events. Weeks still contained 7 days, days still contain 24 hours, and the disciples (after the Resurrection, the earth shaking, history changing event that forever transforms the nature of mankind’s existence and relationship with our creator) still had to live their lives one day at a time. Hour by hour minute, by minute. It’s how we all live. These are the events that happened to the disciples in the in between.
This final chapter of the book of Jon is one giant call back. Not a literary callback where the author is trying to contrive some deeper meaning than what actually took place. But These are events that actually happened after the resurrection. So before authors, and Hollywood writers started utilizing the power of the callback, our creator God who knows us more intimately and intricately than we could understand, gives 7 of his disciples one of the most profound callbacks that would deepen their understanding, appreciation, and relationship with Jesus.
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”
6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.
7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.
8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.
14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Pray
I said this was a bookend, a call back. But what is this a call back to? There’s another widely known, widely circulated story in Matthew, Mark, and Luke about Jesus’ telling his would be disciples how to fish. Matthew and Mark make reference to these fishermen having to mend their nets after a huge catch, but John’s gospel does not give an account of the 1st time Jesus tells some fisher men to go out cast their nets after a long night of unsuccessful fishing. I don’t think John felt he had to re-tell this story. the other 3 gospel accounts were written before his (70 AD). These 3 gospel accounts were in circulation and widely known, so this story was probably widely known as well. I’m assuming maybe that’s why John did not include the first account in his gospel.
We’ll look at that story in Luke, but for now let’s focus on what’s happening here.
Story through the text.
Read:
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
JOhn 21:
Jesus has taught the disciples all he needed to teach them. He’s given them all the tools they need. He’s even sent them out 2x2 in the past… but for some reasons the disciples have stopped doing the ministry they had when Jesus with them.
Reasons for this
They were sheep without a shepherd
In the absence of purpose and leadership the disciples simply drifted back into what they always did.
If we become complacent in our walk with God. We’ll simply return to doing the same things we’ve always done
as a church
as individuals
Read:
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”
6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.
7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.
8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
The power of a call back
Let’s look at Luke’s version:
4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”
6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.
7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,
10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:
The first even took place before these men were official disciples. It was the beginning of an incredible journey.
Jesus is reminding these men of what it was like at the very beginning
since that time these men had
tasted wine that miraculously transformed from water
They saw lame people recieve the power to walk
witnessed blind men seeing.
Witnessed Jesus’ power of the wind and the waves
walked on water
See a dead man come to live (lazarus)
talked to Jesus after he had been crucified and laid to rest for 3 days.
They’ve also:
Been called “satan” by Jesus himself
cut off a mans ear
doubt the ressurection
scattered and abandoned Jesus when he was arrested
denied that him 3 times
This is the power of a call back.
This is t
-Luke: Occurred in front of many. John: Just before the 7 disciples
Luke: Occurred in front of many.
Jesus telling his disciples to throw their nets on the other side of the boat is a reminder of when they were first called to be disciples.
John: Just before the 7 disciples
Luke: Jesus is a Rabbi w/o disciples / John: The 7 men are Disciples w/o a rabbi
John: The 7 men are Disciples w/o a rabbi
Jesus called them back then, and he’s calling out to them now
Occupation:
He hasn’t changed his mind about them.
- Luke: Jesus is a Rabbi w/o disciples / John: The 7 men are Disciples w/o a rabbi
Jesus knew what he was getting into when he called these Men from the very beginning and if he had to do it all over again he would choose them all again!!!
Luke: Jesus is a Rabbi w/o disciples. Peter, Andrew, James, and John are fishermen
Scriptures that come to mind
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
philippians
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations
What does this mean for us?:
John: The 7 men are now Disciples w/o a rabbi. Jesus is a Lord
I want you to recall when you first recieved the good news of the gospel:
was it as a child? at vbs? with a parent or grand parent? a youth camp? retreat? a college bible study? With a co-worker? Where were you? what was it like think about that moment or that time… Think about how you felt to let the truth wash over you that you were forgiven and free
What has happened in your life since. I’m sure you’ve had some spiritual highs, where you’ve walked close to God and experienced the nearness of His presence. I’m sure there have also been times where you’re 100% sure Jesus is sitting up there at the right hand of God with his palm on his face.
but guess what:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
-23
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
God knew what he was doing when he called you. He has no regrets that he’s made you a part of his family
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
psalm 139:13
13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
the psalmist cried out
restore unto me the joy of my salvation and renew a right spirit within me...
I don’t know where you are today, but I do know we as a people are in constant need of reminders about who we are and whose we are. We are a royal priesthoold, a chosen generation, a parculiar people, called and set aside by God for His glory. Your an adopted child of the king. He chose you. He didn’t chose you by accident, b/c the king doesn’t make mistakes.
Parent/Child Dedication:
This isn’t Baptism.
This is a ceremony of commitment between a child’s parents, the church, and God.
Introduce each child
"When kids grow up believing they are made by God, they will grow up wanting to know the God who made them."
"Today we are a shaper of the world of tomorrow"
Today you parents stand in the shoes of countless other godly parents of history who have dedicated the most precious gift they’ve ever received back to Him.
And so parents I want to ask you all a question in front of God and your church family…
Do you dedicate your baby to God,
· by committing all of your best efforts to raising them in a godly home,
· by being an example for them,
· by keeping them in church,
· and giving them the opportunities that will lead them to faith in Jesus Christ? (If so, respond: “We do.”)
Congregation
Everyone stand. The church isn’t like a family, the church is a family
And b/c we are a family we all need to work together to make this a great church family for them to grow up in physically and spiritually. So, let me ask you who make up this church family a question…
“Will you do all that you can to provide and support the efforts to create an environment and opportunity for these babies to know and fall in love with Jesus Christ? And will you, with God’s help, set an example with your life and maintain an atmosphere in this church that will inspire these children to desire a life of following Christ?”
CHURCH-
If you’re up to that challenge, say, “We will!”
PRAY - straight into next song