It is so weird that Peter is naked and then clothes himself and then jumps in the water. How can we not talk about it?
For Sunday
Third Sunday of Easter
Collect
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Reading
From John 21:1-19
“When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea.”
Reflection
There are a lot of different parts to this story. And we can totally take on any of them and feel satisfied. But the part that always makes me notice it is that part about Peter being naked. It makes me laugh every single time I read it.
Why is it there?
- Why is he naked?
- And why should we care?
- What does this have to do with anything?
Every time, I wonder. Of course, there are so many speculations. It could be anything. It also could be a whole lot of nothing. But I always want to engage with it.
In one sense, the meaning is quite obvious. Especially given what is going to happen in the end. Peter’s nakedness will be reflected in his loving interrogation by Jesus: Do you love me? In that way, the “real Peter” will be exposed.
It also brings to mind the garden of Eden, when the first humans discovered their own exposure; they felt the need to clothe themselves and hide.
It is the third thing Peter does that is most curious, however. He jumps into the sea. And this may be the hardest motive to diagnose with true certainty.
Now, it is likely to be avoidance. Much like clothing himself eliminates his intimate exposure, jumping in the sea avoids the contact with Jesus. Whom he betrayed.
It may also be zeal. Like the stories in the synoptic gospels of Peter asking Jesus to command he walk on water: and he does it. For a few seconds, anyway.
Unclear
The thing about both of these motives is that Peter is not thinking clearly as the others are. None of them puts clothes on and jumps in the water. They row to shore to hang with Jesus. This is so obvious (and Peter’s response so ridiculous) we might mistake this as a picture of right vs. wrong. We might assume Peter is doing something wrong here.
And yet we are constantly reminded that Jesus loves Peter, not for being right, but for being himself. He loves Peter for being Peter. Just as in the same way, the nonsense about a “disciple whom Jesus loved” distracts us from seeing how Jesus loves them all.
Every time Peter is in the picture, I know where I am in the story. I know what part I am playing. Not who I am supposed to be, but who I am. And that is the zealous goofball who sometimes gets it right. And is sometimes jumping in the sea.
And yet Jesus gives ME the opportunity to redeem myself — and express my love.