Going Fishing (Jan 22, 2023) Matthew 4.12-23

Have you ever had one of those moments that you were not sure what to do and when to do it? A moment that stumps you and makes you wonder “How did I get myself into this position?” This is the position that I found myself in this week. After having a week off where I assisted with family matters, I looked over what the texts were for the week and found that I wanted to do this particular text. Not really sure why, but I did. And when I got digging into the text, I found lots of good things that were there. And I will do my best to share those things with you. But you need to bear with me on some of this because I might not know exactly what I am talking about because I am not, shall we say, an expert on some of the matters that I will be speaking of today.

The text today follows the baptism and temptation of Jesus. If you recall, Jesus was baptized by John in the river Jordan. Then after this momentous occasion, he was led into the wilderness where he was tempted with various things that would have made him a power in this world. As you should know, Jesus passed this temptation or test with flying colors reminding the devil that he was there to fulfill a higher purpose than what the world could and would be able to fulfill. And so, we come to the text for today.

We find that some time has gone by. Whether it is days, weeks, months or even a year we are not told. Matthew does not seem to feel that this was an important part of his story of the Messiah that he was telling. But there is some time that has passed. John has been arrested and is in prison though for what we do not know. We just know that he is in prison. Jesus looks at what is happening and decides to withdraw from the area of Judea. This withdrawal was not one of cowardice or saving one’s skin. Jesus is showing the world an “alternative vision of kingship, which is non-violent and non-retaliatory…”[1] He is showing the world what it is like to have a kingdom that does not rely on showing its might to get things done.

Jesus withdraws to his home in Nazareth, in Galilee, where he gathers some things together and moves to the larger town/city of Capernaum. It is from here that he will begin his ministry. Now in our highly mobile society this may not seem like a big deal, but in ancient times most people never moved beyond 50 miles of where they were born. To do so meant something extraordinary had occurred that made them move. Most people lived and died in the same village or town where they were born. According to Matthew, Nazareth was the town where Jesus moved to when his family returned from Egypt. It was there that he grew up. It was there that he had friends, family, and a life. So, for him to move beyond that would have been a big deal even if he did not move that far away from his hometown. But to Matthew there is more to the story. This move is in fulfillment of what the prophet Isaiah proclaimed, that in the land of the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun “the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”[2] This light that is dawning is shining on the Jewish people to whom Matthew was writing his gospel. D. A. Carson says that “ “Dawned” suggests that the light first shone brilliantly here, not that it was shining brightly elsewhere and then moved here.”[3] The people that are in the darkness see a bright light that has come in fulfillment of the prophet.

But here is the message that comes from the light, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.” To repent means something far different than what most of us have come to know of repent. For most of us, to repent is to feel bad about what we have done and ask to be forgiven by God. But what the word means is to turn, to do a 180 and turn from the path that one is following. To repent is to stop doing what one is doing and change. That was the message that John was proclaiming and the message that got him in trouble. Jesus opens his ministry with the same message. It is a message that tells those listening that Jesus came to call sinners, not saints. The message is one of hope and challenge at the same time.

Capernaum is on the shore of the Sea (or lake) of Galilee. There was here a thriving fishing industry as this city was one that was on the road to Caesarea with garrisons of soldiers along the way. Those who were in the fishing industry would have fallen into one of three categories: 1) a tax collector with the fishing franchise who sold fishing rights to local businessmen; 2) a person who owned or leased boats and employed day laborers; 3) or the seasonal day laborers themselves.[4] In Capernaum Jesus would understand this industry and its ups and downs.

While traveling in his ministry Jesus sees two brothers working at casting their nets to catch fish for their livelihood. Their names are Simon, called Peter (this should alert us that this person is going to play a larger role in the story that is to come), and Andrew. Whether they know of Jesus and his ministry we do not know. What we do know is that they probably fell in the second tier of the fishing industry. They were probably what we would call middle class, making enough money to continue in their business and have a little bit extra to set aside. They would have been comfortable but not living in the lap of luxury. They knew what it was to work hard and make sure that their family was cared for.

Going back to the ministry of Jesus, again, we do not know whether Simon and Andrew knew of Jesus. In a small area there is the possibility that they heard the man going around calling for people to repent. But this day he says something different. As he is walking along the side of the sea he sees them and calls to them saying “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”[5] Now they do not look at him and say, “Say that one more time. We did not catch what you said.” nor do they say something like “What’s in it for us?” What they do is drop their nets and follow him, leaving all of their lives behind them. Jesus continues, not even looking back to see if the two men are following, and comes upon two more brothers, fishermen as well. He gives the same call and these two, James and John, leave what they are doing with their father to follow the man who has called them.

The fascinating thing about this story is that those following him did not ask “Where are you going?” when they were called but they left what they were doing and all the things that tied them to their area and followed the man. They were told that they would fish for people and they followed not knowing what all that entailed. One commentator has said that it was the miracle of Jesus’ call that brought them to follow him.

And this is different from following any other rabbi. Most rabbis would teach and students would come to them to be taught. The students chose the teacher in other words. Here it is the teacher who chooses the students. He does not tell them anything about what they are to do but only tells them to follow. It is the perfect showing of election of those in Christ by God. They follow the man who has called them.

Have you ever been fishing? I find it hard to do. I cannot sit still for a long time without getting a bite. I get bored and want some action. It is also expensive. Have you priced a good rod and reel? And have you ever seen the variety of fishing gear that is in a place such as Bass Pro Shop? It is a bit overwhelming. And this is just for recreational fishing, not for a livelihood.

Those who fish for a livelihood might have a difficult time with these men leaving everything for Jesus. They left all. Family, work, home. To follow a man who told them nothing about what they would do following him.

We are called to follow. Eugene Boring says this about the call of Jesus: “In this text Jesus appears disruptively in our midst and calls us not to admire him or accept his principles, not even to accept him as our personal Savior, but to follow him.”[6] Anna Case-Winters says this: “The call is unexpected, disruptive, and intrusive. The disciples are called from other good and important things—from work that sustains them and from families that love them. This new commitment may not break these relationships and obligations, but it will now take precedence.”[7] This is the same that Jesus calls us to do. To follow. And in following we are to fish for people. We are not told that it would be easy. But if we follow the one who calls us, if we follow and do the things that Jesus tells us to do, then when we fish for people, they will want to know what it is that we have and how they can have it. It is the power of Jesus’ word that brings people to follow and to go out and tell others.

Have you been fishing lately?

[1]Boring, Eugene M. New Interpreter’s Bible: Matthew. Vol. VII. Abingdon Press, Nashville. 2015. 99 [2] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989. Print. [3]Carson, D. A. “Matthew.” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew–Mark (Revised Edition). Ed. Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland. Vol. 9. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010. 145. Print. [4]Boring, 102. [5] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989. Print. [6]Boring, 103. [7]Case-Winters, Anna. Matthew. Ed. Amy Plantinga Pauw and William C. Placher. First edition. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2015. Print. Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible.