This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. ~John 21:24-25 (NRSV)
This past Sunday, many of us heard the gospel lesson from St. John’s Gospel where Jesus and Peter are reconciled over breakfast. Each time, as Jesus asks Peter if he loves him, and Peter says he does, serves as a kind of echoing response to Peter’s denials of Jesus as the cross approached. Their exchange on the beach is a healing story, where Jesus invites Peter to show his love for him by following him and feeding others who will follow.
One thing we did not read this past Sunday was the very last passage from the Gospel of John. It is now one of my favorite portions from Holy Scripture. At the end, after having attempted to give us a deep dive into the life, teachings, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the gospel writer admits a kind of defeat. No matter how much of Jesus’ life you try to capture, there is as much more you cannot include. If everything that was done by Jesus was written down, we couldn’t find enough books to hold those stories.
When I hear that, my response is to suggest that the Gospel of John is STILL being written. You and I are still finding Jesus—at breakfast on the beach, sitting next to us in the pew at an early morning Eucharist, or in a downtown ER late at night. The One who revealed the face of God to us in Jesus is still in our midst, still walking among us in this Easter season.
What does this mean for us? Keep looking for Jesus! Where you find him, follow him. Where you find others with him, join in with them and share a meal with them. And write that story down. There is more gospel to find, to record, to know.
Peace,
+Brian
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