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• Lockdown Limbo

Everything has changed. In a matter of days our world changed. • Lockdown! (photo – baby) Shelter in place without going crazy. Now what? Limbo!

• (photo – Christ in Limbo, Bosch) The idea of “limbo” origi­nated in some Roman Catholic traditions that a soul dwells in a state of Limbo between heaven and hell after this life.
• Limbo of the Patriarchs (photo) is seen as a temporary place or state of those who died in the friendship with God but could not enter Heaven until the redemption by Christ.
• Limbo of the Infants (photo) is applied to children who die before being baptized.

The church has stepped away from the theory of Limbo as recently as April 2007.

Perhaps one idea of Limbo comes from Matthew 27:50-53

• ⁵° Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.
• ⁵¹ At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
• The earth shook, rocks split apart,
• ⁵² and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead.
• ^5’1 They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

These chosen saints who resurrected after Jesus arose on Easter Sunday began to walk around the Holy City. What a trip it would have been to see people who were dead for ten or hundreds of years cruising around Jerusalem!

Notice they rose from the dead the moment Jesus died and waited until Sunday, after Passover, to enter the city.

• A 2nd view of limbo is defined by Merriam-Webster as:
• an intermediate or transitional place or state;
• a state of restraint, confinement, neglect or oblivion; “The graduate was in limbo for a while, trying to decide what to do next.”
• a state of

I feel like I am in limbo today. Lockdown limbo.

Are you in a state of limbo? Uncertainty?

Now what? What do we do while we are waiting – in limbo?

That was a question for the disciples.

It was after Easter and before Pentecost.

They had followed Jesus three years.

They expected great things: A Kingdom of God, the removal

Roman oppressors, and to Rule this new Kingdom.

Then Jesus died and with Him their hopes and dreams.

But He came back. Now what?

• John 21:1-14
• ‘Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it
• 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
• Simon Peter said, “I’m going“

We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

• ‘At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was.
• ^“He called out, “Fellows (boys), have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied.
• ^“Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!”
• So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
• ⁷ Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s 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 headed to shore.
• ^“The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore.
• When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
• “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said.

 

• “ 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.
• None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
• ¹³ Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish.
• ¹⁴This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.
• When you are in Limbo – go fishing.

But you won’t catch anything without Jesus’ help.

Gone fishing. Back to the familiar, returning to his old occu-

pation.

Why? Did he not have anything better to do?

Was he in Limbo?

Had he given up his preaching commission.

Maybe Peter needed money.

Whatever his reason for fishing, he didn’t catch any.

Some say that God would not bless him with a catch.

But wait, He does.

When you are in Limbo…

• Go fishing for God.

Peter had been called to be a fisher of men. So are we.

• Luke 5:4-11

¹ Jesus said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your rwts to catch some fish.”

• ⁵ “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.”
• ⁶And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!
• ⁷A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
• ⁸ When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.”

 

• ⁹For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. ‘° His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.
• Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!”
• “ And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Peter was called to fish for people.

When you are in Limbo..

• Recognize Jesus gives you success.
• Another time, in Matthew 17:27, Peter is told to go fishing to meet a need, to pay his taxes. Jesus tells him:
• “So go down to the lake and throw in a line.
• Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin.
• Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

When you are in Limbo . .

• Great success comes with God’s help.

They caught 153 large fish.

Peter was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught Just as before, when they follow Jesus, they have great success. So will you.

Ask God to guide you out of Limbo and into doing something for Him. He’ll make it great.

Joe – care provider, Paradise fire prayed, witnessed to her. Ruth – neighbor planting her garden. “I was looking for some­thing to do and this is it”

Many stories of running errands. If nothing else – Pray!

• Ephesians 5:1-2

‘ Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

• ²Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.
• He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.