Gillian reminded us at the end of the service that just because something is not visible, audible, tangible, touchable or able to be smelled does not mean it doesn’t exist. Air can’t be seen, smelled, heard, tasted or touched, but it still exists! The Bible tells us that the fool says in his heart ‘there is no God’ (Ps 14:1, Ps 53:1) and so often, people demand ‘proof’ before they believe in God. Faith is revealed to us by God supernaturally; it requires spiritual insight, as Jesus made clear when talking about Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Christ, the son of God (Matt 16:17).
Thomas was one of the disciples who wanted proof of the resurrection, which Jesus graciously gave, but we are reminded that we are blessed if we do not see and still believe. (John 20:24-31)
Peter‘s discipleship is revealed to us in many different places in the Gospels. Matt 14:22-33 shows his impulsive but very genuine faith as he steps out of the boat and walks to Jesus on the water, only sinking as he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the enormity of his situation! In Matt 16:13-16, he confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and Jesus reveals something of the amazing things He will do through Peter, including using him to build His church. Nonetheless, Peter’s vision of Jesus’ identity could not cope with the revelation of death; he wanted to protect Jesus from God’s will. So often we find we want to do things our way rather than God’s.
Peter’s experience with Jesus was amazing; on the Mount of Transfiguration, he heard the voice of God proclaiming ‘this is my Son whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’ (Matt 17:5) Yet in the Garden of Gethsemane, he fell asleep instead of keeping watch in prayer (Matt 26:36-46) and despite his fervour in declaring he would never fosake or deny Jesus actually did both. The disappointment and bitterness he must have felt were great, so much so that even after the resurrection, he returned to his comfort zone (fishing.) Often, when God calls us, we are taken out of our depth; faith involves that sense of inadequacy because we know we can’t do what He asks without His help!
Jesus not only helped the disciples catch 153 fish (John 21:1-20), He gave Peter the opportunity to be forgiven and restored, reminding him that there was still a job for him to do: to feed His sheep and lambs. When we fall, the arms of Jesus pick us up; God’s forgiveness is great.
Faith may look foolish to people and may not be ‘explained’ easily. But as Peter was told it was Jesus who was giving advice about fishing, he became more interested in Jesus than he was in fishing! We’re not fools who demand proof of God’s existence. Instead, we’re fools for Christ: our relationship with Him matters more than anything else in the world to us.