Sunday, May 16, 2021
In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Nate shared about Jesus’ resurrection "miracle" found in John 21:1-14. In this story, Jesus gives rather ordinary instructions to the disciples to cast their nets on the other side of the boat, even though they had fished all night and turned up empty. They listened to Jesus and ended up with a “boat load” of fish (literally!). This passage is Jesus’ final act recorded in the book of John before he ascended to Heaven. Quite fitting, given that it was the final message in our 39th Day series, and also Ascension Sunday.
The emphasis in this story seems to be less on Jesus’ power to do extraordinary miracles and more on Jesus’ miraculous invitation to his ordinary disciples to take part in ministry work. Pastor Nate said it best: “The truth of this story of fishing folklore is not the miraculous catch, it’s the ordinary work of ministry." The ordinary work of ministry is “an incredible opportunity to partner with Jesus, done by very ordinary people, in ordinary jobs, when we are open to and attentive to the Holy Spirit.” Whether you are doing dishes, working on a production line, leading a business meeting, eating dinner with friends, or doing anything at all, you can choose to be attentive to the Holy Spirit and accept Jesus’ invitation to take part in the ordinary work of ministry.
