Jeff Lucas - Faith in the Fog: Believing in What You Cannot See

Also by Jeff Lucas

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Up Close and Personal: What Helen Did Next

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Creating a Prodigal-Friendly Church

There Are No Strong People

Seriously Funny (Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas)

Seriously Funny 2 (Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas)

Lucas on Life

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I Was Just Wandering

Standing on My Knees

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Lucas on Life 3

Lucas Unleashed

Lucas Out Loud

Walking Backwards

Grace Choices

Friends of God (with Cleland Thom)

Gideon: Power from Weakness

Going Public: The Life and Times of Elijah

Rediscovering the Father Heart of God

Life Everyday with Lucas 1

Life Everyday with Lucas 2

Life Everyday with Lucas 3

ZONDERVAN

Faith in the Fog

Copyright 2013 by Jeff Lucas

ePub Edition December 2013: ISBN 978-0-310-41336-3

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lucas, Jeff, 1956

Faith in the fog : believing in what you cannot see / Jeff Lucas. 1st [edition].

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-310-28154-2 (hardcover)

1. Bible. John XXI Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Faith Biblical teaching. I. Title.

BS2615.6.F3L83 2014

226.5'06 dc23

2013020967

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated in the endnotes, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover photography: Tim Hall

Interior design: Katherine Lloyd, The DESK

Printed in the United States of America

13 14 15 16 17 18 /DCI/ 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

To Kay,
who has held my hand for years, but more tightly on foggier days.

And to all who are learning this truth: seeing isnt believing.

Then Jesus told him, Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

(John 20:29)

CONTENTS

It is, without doubt, my favorite passage of Scripture: the twenty-first chapter of Johns gospel.

John wraps up his epic gospel, specifically penned to inspire and nurture faith, with a detailed account of a quiet breakfast shared among friends. The story that unfolds has all the components of an Academy Award winning story: following deep betrayal, a wounded friendship is repaired by a dramatic reunion and an even deeper reconciliation. Theres poetic resonance as the past is recalled. Mystery mingles with clarity, with a prediction of martyrdom, and a confirmation of calling.

A miracle is on the menu as well.

Peters future hinges on this encounter. And far from being detached from what happened that early morning, John invites us into the episode: theres nourishment and strength for us all now that its our turn to follow Jesus.

And so, in the pages that follow, Id like to quietly slip into the little fireside huddle that formed around the fire on that damp, probably foggy morning. Id be delighted if youd join me; together well eavesdrop on the conversation. Look, theres a vacant spot for us there on those lumpy stones. Our seating arrangements arent terribly comfortable, but I hope itll be worth it.

As we settle in, would you do me a kindness?

As someone who talks endlessly about the Bible, Im convinced that Scripture should be read, allowing it to speak for itself, uncluttered and unspoiled by human comment. And so, for now, lets just read through Johns account. That way well hear his report firsthand, without any behind-cupped-hand whispers from me.

To make that easier, here it is in both the NIV and The Message versions. As a dedicated fan of Eugene Petersens work, I invite you to read both.

NIV

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Im going out to fish, Simon Peter told them, and they said, Well go with you. So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, Friends, havent you any fish?

No, they answered.

He said, Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord! As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, It is the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish you have just caught.

So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, Come and have breakfast. None of the disciples dared ask him, Who are you? They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?

Yes, Lord, he said, you know that I love you.

Jesus said, Feed my lambs.

Again Jesus said, Simon son of John, do you love me?

He answered, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.

Jesus said, Take care of my sheep.

The third time he said to him, Simon son of John, do you love me?

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, Do you love me? He said, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.

Jesus said, Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, Follow me!