John 21 records one of the most compelling stories of the New Testament. It’s easy to preach and I’ve done so on many occasions… but let me just share the opening verses here.

21 ^1-3 After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.”

^3-4 The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him. – The Message

It’s the last line there that jumped out at me this morning in my reading, And they did not recognize him. Now it is post-resurrection, and there does appear to be something about Jesus that has those who were close to him unable to immediately recognize him. He has not gone to the Father, but He is clearly walking with them (the road to Emmaus) and is visible easily. He is recognized by Mary once she hears him say her name. So I am not being too hard on the disciples when I point out that they did not recognize him immediately.

But here’s the question that ran through my mind. As I go about my day, as I am caught up in the details of a day, whether getting groceries, or tending to the garden, or talking to neighbours, is it possible Jesus could be there and I do not recognize Him?

The thought first crossed my mind when we were in Calgary. One of the women of the congregation used to bring from time to time, as she was able, her very dependent and disabled daughter. Though now a young lady she had almost no ability to talk, no ability to walk, and no ability, to my knowledge to make a spiritual decision as we would be used to. One Sunday as they were entering I thought of Matthew 25

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

It’s the last line…whatever you did for one of the least of these you did for me….!

That young lady was in a real sense reminding me/us of the presence of Jesus. Her need was our opportunity to serve Jesus.

I’ve never forgotten that. So when one of our neighbours needs help with something, however small, I think of this opportunity to be in service of Jesus.

And when I’m too busy, too preoccupied, too tired, too disinterested. I think you get the point. I have failed to serve Jesus.