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Here we are, after the resurrection, after a couple of dramatic appearances to some of the disciples, and now we find ourselves back where it all began. We are back at the Sea of Galilee -- John calls it by its other name, the Sea of Tiberias -- where Jesus had called his first disciples and told them that they would be fishing for people. Nathaniel is here, just as he was when Jesus first called disciples in John 1. The truth is we haven't heard a whole lot about Nathaniel in between; and there is Peter, but Jesus calls him "Simon, son of John," a name we haven't heard since that first encounter between him and Jesus at the beginning of the story. And of course, they are up to their old trade, fishing, and like fishermen from time immemorial, they are having no luck.

Then this voice cries out, "Cast the net on the other side -- throw it to the right!" Now this in itself was not remarkable; often someone standing on the fairly steep hills overlooking the Sea of Tiberias had a better view of things in the water than fishermen in the boats. Without the glare of the sun reflecting in their faces, from that elevated vantage point someone could often spot a school of fish -- in fact fishermen occasionally sent someone to stand up on the hillside and direct them. What is remarkable, of course, is what a dramatic haul they make when they follow Jesus' directions, and only then do the beloved disciple and Peter realize that it is the resurrected Lord.

The symbolism here is straightforward -- and John's Gospel is always highly symbolic. Without Jesus' guidance, they catch nothing; with Jesus' they have a remarkable catch -- 153 fish. "I am the vine, you are the branches," Jesus had said earlier, "apart from me, you can do nothing." Today's story reinforced that truth. Even after the pain of the cross, we are not left out on a limb -- the resurrected Lord Jesus is with us!

Why is that number recorded? Obviously it may be recorded because there were exactly 153 fish. But it is worth noting that according to Greek biologists of that time, there were 153 varieties of fish in the known world. So, with Jesus' guidance, they have symbolically caught a perfect number of fish -- every conceivable kind of fish; a reminder that when we are faithful to Jesus Christ, when we follow Jesus' direction, we can have an enormous impact on all different kinds of people in every conceivable circumstance. In a society which has now gone through over a decade of subtle but real economic, racial, and social polarization, this image of every conceivable kind of person drawn together by the Lordship of Jesus Christ is very powerful.

But another key point in this story -- so obvious that we may overlook it -- is that the fishermen had to do something. They had to follow Jesus' advice: they actually had to lug the net up out of the sea and throw it out on the other side of the boat. A number of influential Protestant clergy -- including Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove California -- have worried in recent years about a trend for much contemporary Protestant worship and preaching to get stuck at the "pre-evangelization phase" of Christian discipleship -- "Wouldn't it be grand really to follow Jesus! Wouldn't it be wonderful to grow in your discipleship!" "What a joy it would be if we had a more Christian nation!" Such inspirational theorizing is great; but there comes a point where you actually need to do something about it.

The reason that the Reverend Schuller is particularly concerned about getting stuck at this "pre-evangalization phase" is that it is a particular danger for the electronic church or very large super-churches where no one really knows anyone else. Especially in that setting, Christianity can very easily become a spectator sport with marvelous music and inspirational speaking, but not much definite expectation. Nobody really knows anybody else well enough to be specific enough to say, "Pull up your net and throw it out on the right side!"

This is the reason that through the chapel and religious groups like Kappa Chi we stress local service projects as well as national and international mission trips. They are opportunities actually to try something specific -- maybe something that you have never done before, but that you feel that the Lord may be calling you to do. I'm very pleased that this summer several UE students will be involved in full-time mission work: in inner city St. Louis, in downtown Philadelphia, at the Heifer Project Livestock and Learning Center in Arkansas, and with the United Methodist Short-term missionary program. I'm pleased both because the work is valuable in itself, and also because it will give these students the opportunity to explore possibilities for later in their lives. One of my own experiences in mission and outreach work is discovering abilities and strengths of which I was unaware until they were really called for. Beginning in the fall, we will be even more systematic in offering a variety of opportunities for all of us to throw our nets on the other side, and try something different in service to Christ and serving other people in little simple ways: working in a soup kitchen, helping at the House of Bread and Peace, working at Patchwork Central. We offer these opportunities because Jesus Christ does not just call us to get teary-eyed and emotional, but to do something. "Throw your net on the other side!"

As this story goes on we are struck that while the setting is the same, and while the characters are the same, some things really have changed. There is a charcoal fire on the beach. The last charcoal fire we heard about in the Gospel narrative was the one in the high priest's courtyard, the one where Peter warmed himself as he denied knowing Jesus for the third and final time. Now, as they share a community breakfast which has obvious similarities to the community meal we will share in a few minutes -- Jesus is after all the host of both -- Peter has an opportunity to assert his love for Jesus three times. The fact that Peter, who had failed Jesus in a really big way, was given this opportunity for yet another chance is a great encouragement to any of us who fail Jesus. But there is a little catch.

"Simon, son of John," Jesus says, "do you love me more than these?" I guess the standard interpretation of this question is, "Do you love me more than these other fellows love me?" But the word "these" is just as ambiguous in the Greek text as in the English. This question could just as well mean -- and I am inclined to think it does mean -- "Do you love me more than you love these things: these people, these surroundings, these fishing boats? Are you really willing to make the significant changes in your life -- to take the risks, to follow the commands -- that will be necessary really to show your love for me? Do you love me more than these?"

So, here we are today, in a familiar-looking place with some familiar-looking people. And Jesus Christ is asking us, "Do you love me more than these?" Are you really willing to follow Jesus Christ in your life? Are you willing to throw the net on the other side when there may very well be family and friends on shore shouting, "Leave the net where it is! Leave well enough alone!" Are you willing to risk and change and grow? "Do you love me?"

Jesus ends with the same words with which he began: "Follow me."