Epiphany 5 (2)
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(NIV)
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
In the cover letter to the call here to St. Paul and Grace was some information about the area that some might find appealing. Included in this was the statement that there is plenty of hunting and fishing in the area. Many men and women and children find this very appealing. I did a lot of pan fishing in my youth and still have many fond memories of it. In our family it seems to be a tradition to take a picture of the fisherman and his/her “catch of the day”. I have a picture in my office of my mother in her youth holding a good sized Walleye (I think). She took a picture of me when I was about five holding a bullhead. But we really aren’t fishermen. I did not accept the call so I could be near good fishing. Nor did I accept the call because I thought there was a golf course within a mile of St. Paul’s (which, of course, is no longer there). I accepted because I believed that this would be a good opportunity to continue “fishing for people” which I have been doing for over thirty years.
In today’s sermon we are reminded how Jesus called some fishermen to leave their profession (which was very stable) in order to enter into a new phase of their lives which he describes as “fishing for people”. We are also reminded that regardless of what job or career we have, we all have been called by that same Jesus to participate in the lofty goal of “fishing for people”.
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.
This event happens about one year into Jesus’ public ministry when we compare the narrative of the synoptic gospels with John. So Jesus is already well known and has been in contact with Simon and others on a part time basis. Jesus’ popularity is growing. He has become a celebrity and the people would crowd around him. I think of the press of people after the Superbowl and how they pressed close to Tom Brady or how millions of people tuned in to listen to President Trump. I also contrast this with what we don’t see so much of in churches today. We don’t see the people crowding around the pastor to listen to the word of God and we sometimes joke about how we as Lutherans are more likely to sit in the back of the church than in the front row unless we are here to watch the Children’s Christmas program. Well, the people certainly pressed to be near Jesus and to hear him.
But Jesus had a problem. Even though he is the son of God, human limitations kept him from being heard clearly. He had a solution.
2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
Our solutions to being heard today may involve an electronic sound system and broadcasting the message through media. The purpose is the same. We want people to hear the word of God. We may even present that message by using visual aids when appropriate. Although I was never a big fan of “body packs” and wireless mics (only because I have to switch it on and off), I realize that such devices enhance our ability to communicate and I am thankful that we have them here.
This is just one occasion in which we are told about how Jesus would teach the people in a public setting. His ministry involved many circumstances in which he taught individuals and crowds. Although we are not given the text of this sermon, we have summaries of his teachings in the sermon on the mount and the sermon on the plain. But Jesus’ teaching days were going to come to an end. And in a rather short period of time.
Today’s pastors’ and teachers may anticipate (Lord willing) a career of 40 years of public ministry. This is based on being ordained at the age of 27 and retiring at the age of 67. You were blessed with a dedicated pastor who did not fully retire until he was 80 years old and he still offers wisdom and guidance at the age of 90. (Rev. Mutterer). I have been blessed to be a called pastor for over 32 years. But some day that will end too. One thing I have done (but who knows what will happen to them) is that I have saved almost every sermon I have ever preached. I hope that some day my descendants will read them and grow in their faith as I have from preaching them.
Although Jesus always taught and preached the perfect lessons and sermons, we do not have a comprehensive record of everything he did. But we do still learn from him because of what happens next. He called men to be his disciples whom he would train to continue his teaching until he returns on the Last Day (Heaven and earth may pass away but my words will never pass away.)
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
Jesus (who was not a fisherman but a carpenter) gives a command to a seasoned fisherman who knew how to fish. It was a strange request. Normal protocol was to fish in the shallows at night (attracting the fish with a light). Kind of like smelting. Jesus told Simon to do the exact opposite. Simon objects but does comply.
Sometimes it may seem that what we are commanded to do as Christians doesn’t make a whole lot of sense and we may be reluctant or even refuse to comply. We are like Simon who objected or Jonah who ran the other way. We are like the son in the parable who responds to his father by saying , “I will not”. We think we know more than God. (Specific sin).
We do well to believe that God does indeed know more than us.
6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Peter realized his sin of doubt and was also moved to trust in Jesus.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
Peter believed that sinful man has no standing in the presence of a holy God. He was like the children of Israel who trembled at the foot of Mt. Sinai and wanted to be distant from him.
But God does not want his children to run away from him nor does he forsake us. He invites to worship him with humble and penitent hearts and has forgiven us. This is expressed in our liturgy during the confession and absolution. We are to come to him in faith and assured of his forgiveness.
And so Jesus did not leave Peter. Rather he called him and the others to be his disciples.
10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
For the disciples this event caused a dramatic change in their lives. For some even now the degree to which they follow Jesus and fish for people brings about a marked change in their lives. For others they continue in where they live and what they do but with a new emphasis on what they say.
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I think of what happened with some of the women who believed in Jesus. We know that Jesus and his disciples were accompanied by Mary, Martha, Salome and others. Following him meant a big change in where they were and what they did. Another woman (unnamed) but knows as the Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar, changed her sinful activity but as far as we know remained in Sychar witnessing to others about Jesus. She fished for people.
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
We have possibilities and opportunities. For some it may mean a drastic change as we answer a call into the public ministry. For others it means serving the Lord in special ways such as on the church council. For all of us it means trusting in Jesus as our Savior and having opportunities to (NIV)
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.