April 26, 1998
Acts 9; John 21
Our God is a bridge builder. In all his thoughts and actions toward us he is reaching out to let us know that in this vast and mysterious universe we are not alone. In the first pages of scripture God is seen as looking for Adam and Eve in the Garden, calling, reaching out. The final words of Revelation are reaching out words: "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come! And let anyone that hears say, 'Come!' And let anyone that is thirsting come! Whosoever will, let them take of the water of life freely.'" Those are bridge-building words!
God wants his people to be bridge builders as well. If we want to be better friends to God we can learn from Him to reach out. It is God-like not simply to "win souls," but to "be there" for others with God's caring love.
Our scriptures today tell the stories of two bridges being built. The first story is about a man who had already met Jesus, but now he was potentially the loneliest man in the world. If Saul became a Christian his old friends would hate him— even kill him. But Saul had been so vicious the Christians felt they could never trust him. For three days Saul of Tarsus sat in a daze in a house on Straight Street absolutely in the dark. Then along came a bridge builder named Ananias, who lived in the ancient city of Damascus, Syria.
It is easy to read the Book of Acts and see the stars. Peter and Paul dominate the action, and there is no doubt they were the stars- they were great! But it is also easy to read the Book of Acts and overlook the bridge builders. If it weren't for a praying church, and a house prayer meeting, and a big-hearted disciple named Barnabas, and faithful martyrs like James and Stephen there wouldn't have been any stars. When God was reaching out to Paul he used a bridge builder named Ananias.
Ananias was in touch with God; he was "connected." God called his name: "Ananias!" The answer came back immediately! "Present! Here I am!"
"I have an assignment for you! Over at Judas' house on Straight Street is a man named Saul. He needs a man like you!"
Ananias loved and trusted God. He could (in a sense) argue lovingly with Him. "Is this really what YOU want me to do? You know who this Saul of Tarsus is!" God gave him assurance; this was what Ananias was to do.
Ananias was absolutely obedient when he knew it was God's will. There was no hesitation once it was established: this is God's will! Sanctifying grace will do that for you— it takes the "Shall I do God's will?" question, and replaces is simply with "What IS God's will?" It is already settled that there will be obedience!
Ananias carried through in spirit as well as letter. "Brother Saul!" And before Ananias was through Saul-Paul was "connected" to the believers. Another bridge-builder took over later, a man named Barnabas. If there had not been a bridge builder, a person to "reach out", Paul could not have become the great missionary he became.
God needs great men like Peter and Paul. But in his providence he doesn't anoint many apostles. There simply aren't many Billy Grahams and Chuck Colesons. And maybe the church has as many as it can use. They are the "stars." But the church desperately needs more men and women like Ananias of Damascus, and Barnabas the Son of Consolation. It needs people who are willing to build bridges— to reach out with God's love, to go one-on-one with people who are trying to find their way. We have some people like that right here this morning! Thank God!
(I was blessed this morning as I thought of people in this church who have been bridge builders: Carol Mann, Loretta Fish, Lois Howard, Esther Sanger; I thought across the years to people who have been for me like Barnabus and Ananias: Walter Edsall, George Anderson; you have had them, too; maybe you have been there for others as well . . .as a church we are called to that sort of ministry.)
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The second reaching out story is a fishing story. Well, it starts out about fish, but it sort of ends up about sheep. It is one of the most beautiful stories in the Bible. It is a sort of add-on after the climax of the Gospels and Thomas' confession of Jesus: "My Lord and my God!" and John put it there to show how Jesus is at building bridges.
The disciples had gone back to Galilee as Jesus had told them. No Jesus. After a few days Peter declared, "I'm going fishing!"
I don't fault Peter one bit for going fishing. It doesn't mean he didn't love Jesus. It doesn't mean he wasn't willing to do the right thing. Fishing is an exercise in hope, when you come to think of it. Like McCawber in David Copperfield, the true fisherman always is saying down in his heart, "Something will turn up!" And besides that people have to eat. So Peter and six others went fishing. They fished all night. And something did turn up. Or I should say, Someone.
It may have seemed unreal at first. Three years before they had fished all night long and caught nothing. Then a non-fisherman— a Carpenter, had told them to push out into the deep and let down their nets for a draft. Now once again after fishing all night without catching a single fish they see this solitary Figure on the shore who calls, "Cast your nets on the other side of the boat!" And immediately they have several hundred pounds of very lively fish in their nets. One-hundred-fifty-three big ones, to be precise. And believe me, every fisherman knows exactly how big, how many, what bait, and where!
From a hundred yards offshore John recognized the Stranger. "It is the Lord!" With that Peter grabbed a tunic and over the side he went swimming and wading ashore. He was so glad to see Jesus! But then just about the time he stepped out of the water Peter remembered. He had let Jesus down. In his time of greatest pain he had denied that he ever knew Jesus. Peter wondered what to say, and so he just turned and helped pull the heavy nets on shore.
If the Passover that was transformed into a sacrament is called "The Last Supper," maybe this story ought to be called, "The First Breakfast." It says a lot without words to think that the risen Lord of the Universe would meet seven tired and hungry fishermen with a hot bed of coals for a delicious morning fish fry. You might say we have a Savior who comes to breakfast. But the bridge building, the reaching out— that is what this chapter is really about.
After breakfast Jesus called Peter a little way apart from the rest. Nosy John tagged along, and I'm glad he did for several reasons. John heard Jesus ask Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you (still) love me more than these (other fellow disciples)?"
The competitive spirit, at least against his fellow Christians, had gone from Peter. Chastened he answered, "Lord, I am your loving friend!"
Jesus came back: "Feed my lambs!" There are tender hearts who need your redeemed, restored ministry.
Jesus bored in again, "Simon, do you love me?"
A little more quietly, a little more subdued, Peter responds: "Lord, you know that I love you!" "Feed my sheep," came back the command again.
But Jesus was building a strong bridge to Peter. A third time Jesus came back, this time in Peter's own word for love: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" And this time Peter is totally broken. He knows Jesus has forgiven him. He understands a little of the great love that is reaching out to where he is right now. I am certain tears were flowing as Peter said the third time, "Lord, you know all things: you know that I love you!"
Jesus did not deny Peter's statement. But again he came back as if to say, "The only way you are going to prove that love to me is by caring for my sheep!" And then Jesus told Peter there would come a time when he would prove that love even by dying for Him. It was a sobering moment.
(Incidentally, a modern-day Christian teacher, the late Henri Nouwen left a tenured position at Harvard University and became a servant to severely retarded people on the strength of that challenge in verse 18 to Peter.)
The bridge was built. Jesus had reached out. Contact! But the story was not quite over. For John had tagged along. John had gotten Peter into the high priest's courtyard the night Jesus was arrested. John had run away, too. John didn't seem to need a bridge. Peter was human. He asked, "What about him, Lord?"
Peter heard the final word— for him and for us. "What is that to you? You follow ME!" And that is exactly what Peter did. His call was renewed. the fisherman became a bridge builder. He spent the rest of his life reaching out. He became a mighty preacher and soul winner. He became a representative of Jesus in healing miracles— even raising one young lady from the dead.
God needs us to be bridge builders, people who will reach out. Jesus will meet with us at the place of reaching out in fellowship to one another within the church. And he certainly will meet with us at the place where we are willing to reach out to those who do not yet know this Savior.
We are not saved in order to shut and lock the door against the world, circle the wagons and wait for the Rapture. We have been reached by grace so that we, too, can be bridge builders. Wherever God sends us, he will meet us and go along with us. We meet him at the place of reaching out.
Prayer - Lord in some small measure we have sought to reach out to our brothers and sisters, and to those in our community who may not yet know you, and by prayer and faith, to reach out even around the world. grant to us that we can be like You, bridge builders— bringing your body together in love, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen
702 Christ for the World We Sing
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Dr. Russell Metcalfe is Pastor Emeritus of the Wollaston Church of the Nazarene. Permission to reprint or publish this material is GRANTED as long as the reprinting or republishing is not-for-profit.
You can access more of Dr. Metcalfe’s sermons at his scripturally indexed sermon archives web site. Now with MP3 audio sermons and audio bonus material. http://russellmetcalfesermons.nazarene.nl/Sermons/Sermons.htm
