Last week we heard the final chapter in John’s gospel. However there is another section which follows after this (which we hear today – Jn 21:1-19). It seems to have been added later by a different author. We might well wonder why.
The main focus of this additional section is the role and responsibility of Peter. In John’s gospel, the only mention of Peter after Jesus’ death is a brief reference to him getting first to the empty tomb. But it doesn’t seem as though Peter understood the significance of what he saw. Other than that, we last hear of him, in excruciating detail, denying that he even knew Jesus.
Given that Peter emerged as the leader of the disciples, as described clearly by both Luke and Paul, it seems likely that the followers of John saw a need to ”rehabilitate” him, as it were. The setting chosen to do this is a fishing story, reminiscent of the call of the apostles in Luke’s gospel (John has nothing about fishing in his account). Once the disciples recognize Jesus, his attention turns to Peter. The threefold affirmation of faith parallels the threefold denial. The mission of Peter is then described more as service than leadership – at least if we think in human terms of leadership as control. Fidelity to the idea of ”servant leadership” is a continuing challenge for the church.
However Peter found his way back from his betrayal, it is obvious he was a different man following his Easter experience. But in focusing on Peter we should not overlook the other disciples. Luke’s account of their encounter with the Jewish leaders in our first Reading (Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41) describes a group that could not be more different from the frightened men locking themselves away for fear of these very leaders. Easter changed them all, out of all recognition.
Easter continues to change people. It has the power to change anyone, as so many who listened to Peter and the apostles discovered. We also listen to the apostles through Scripture. We can also be changed by Easter.