Lessons for April 22, 2007 – Third Sunday of Easter

The first lesson

Acts 9:1-20
 
    Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath. He was eager to destroy the Lord's followers, so he went to the high priest. [2] He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. [3] As he was nearing Damascus on this mission, a brilliant light from heaven suddenly beamed down upon him! [4] He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?" [5] "Who are you, sir?" Saul asked. And the voice replied, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! [6] Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do." [7] The men with Saul stood speechless with surprise, for they heard the sound of someone's voice, but they saw no one! [8] As Saul picked himself up off the ground, he found that he was blind. [9] So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days. And all that time he went without food and water. [10] Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord!" he replied. [11] The Lord said, "Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you arrive, ask for Saul of Tarsus. He is praying to me right now. [12] I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him so that he can see again." [13] "But Lord," exclaimed Ananias, "I've heard about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! [14] And we hear that he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest every believer in Damascus."  [15] But the Lord said, "Go and do what I say. For Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. [16] And I will show him how much he must suffer for me."  [17] So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you may get your sight back and be filled with the Holy Spirit." [18] Instantly something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. [19] Afterward he ate some food and was strengthened. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. [20] And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is indeed the Son of God!" (NLT)

Psalm 30

L.  I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
C.  You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. 
L.  O Lord my God, I cried out to you for help, and you restored my health. 
C.  You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.
L.  You kept me from falling into the pit of death.
C.  Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. 
L.  His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime!
C.  Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning.
L.  When I was prosperous I said, "Nothing can stop me now!" 
C.  Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.
L.  Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered. I cried out to you, O Lord.
C.  I begged the Lord for mercy, saying, "What will you gain if I die, if I sink down into the grave?
L.  Can my dust praise you from the grave? Can it tell the world of your faithfulness? 
C.  Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me. Help me, O Lord."
L.  You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
C.  You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, 
L.  that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
C.  O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!  (NLT)

The second lesson

Revelation 5:11-14
 
    Then I looked again, and I heard the singing of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and the living beings and the elders. [12] And they sang in a mighty chorus:

    "The Lamb is worthy—the Lamb who was killed.
        He is worthy to receive power and riches
        and wisdom and strength
        and honor and glory and blessing."
 
    [13] And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They also sang:

    "Blessing and honor and glory and power
        belong to the one sitting on the throne
        and to the Lamb forever and ever."
 
    [14] And the four living beings said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped God and the Lamb.  (NLT)

The Gospel Lesson

John 21:1-19
 
    Later Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. [2] Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 
[3] Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing." "We'll come, too," they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. [4] At dawn the disciples saw Jesus standing on the beach, but they couldn't see who he was. [5] He called out, "Friends, have you caught any fish?" "No," they replied.  [6] Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get plenty of fish!" So they did, and they couldn't draw in the net because there were so many fish in it.  [7] Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and swam ashore. [8] The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only out about three hundred feet. [9] When they got there, they saw that a charcoal fire was burning and fish were frying over it, and there was bread. [10] "Bring some of the fish you've just caught," Jesus said. [11] So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn't torn.  [12] "Now come and have some breakfast!" Jesus said. And no one dared ask him if he really was the Lord because they were sure of it. [13] Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. [14] This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. [15] After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him. [16] Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you." "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said. [17] Once more he asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep. [18] The truth is, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will direct you and take you where you don't want to go." [19] Jesus said this to let him know what kind of death he would die to glorify God. Then Jesus told him, "Follow me."  (NLT)