Luke 5:1-11. The call of discipleship 7/2/10
(1) One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people 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 catch men." {11} So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Here this morning we have a record of Jesus’ call of discipleship to Simon Peter, James and John; and certainly there are some interesting things that we can learn about our call to follow Jesus from this as well. I wonder how many of us here feel a bit like Peter when we hear that we are to go out and witness and be God's people in the community. We might feel as though we have toiled long and hard with little or no results, and that things are little better than when we started. So we are tempted to think that it is all a bit too much - almost a waste of time. The fish out there are just not interested.
So when it comes to getting out there and doing what God wants; come on - be reasonable – what’s the point. But then, because we know that this is what God wants of us, we feel as though we need to give it a go: because after all we are Christians and that is what we are supposed to do. But we don't feel as though we are really going to achieve much at all. So with that often being our thinking, let us listen again to what happens to Peter.
Jesus comes preaching and teaching around the countryside, and this day he comes to the area where Peter, James and John were fishing. On the edge of the lake there is a crowd of people pushing up to hear Jesus and so he gets into Peters boat and they push out just a little way so that Jesus can preach and teach to the crowd of people.
Now when Jesus finished speaking he asks Peter and his mates to take him out fishing: to go out into the deep water and let down their nets for a catch of fish. But Peters responds to this request with; ‘Come on, look, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing – the fish are just not biting. And look, we are tired. Anyway now it is daytime, and every fisherman surely knows that we can't catch anything much now.’ Never-the-less he goes along with Jesus’ request and they go out and drops their nets in the deep water, and lo and behold they catch heaps of fish. So many in fact that they have to call in their partners with their boats, and even then, they all just about sink. Amazing! Unbelievable!
It is here then that we are given an insight into the most significant aspect of this whole event. Peter falls on his knees. No jumping up and down for joy now that his ship had finally come in. He has just made his fortune as a fisherman. No wanting to run around skiting about his good fortune: his obvious goodness because God has blessed him with this catch of fish. No, he falls on his knees.
He recognises his sinfulness and unworthiness. This has to be God at work - right in front them, and who is he but an untrusting, no-good, ordinary person; a simple fisherman; one who thinks he knows his own business, fishing - but God turns everything upside down. This is too much for him – he is not worthy of this – he is not good enough for God to be present in his midst. ‘Get away from me God for I am a sinful man.’
With that response, Jesus tells Peter, James and John that he has got important work for them to do: Instead of catching fish, they are now to catch men: They are now to follow him and do his work: and they do – they pull their boats up on the beach, leave behind their newly made fortune, and follow Jesus. Their lives were never again the same, despite the fact that they were simple, ordinary, sinful human beings; totally unworthy and unqualified for what God had in mind for them. As a result, the Good News of Jesus has spread across the world for all to know.
Therein we here today find a number of lessons for us as God’s people. Here we have a message to humble us and at the same time encourage us as we go forward to be the people God would have us to be.
However, up to this point, when Jesus speaks and calls us to a task, have we listened and trusted God, or do we look to and follow our human thinking and the ways of the world? Do we want to change God’s Word to suit the prevailing thinking that is going on around us? Do we think; I can't speak - we can't do it - we have tried all night and nothing? The traditional way of being church is no longer successful, so we need to give up on it and use modern human strategies.
Yes, from the human perspective doing God’s work, is like fishing when we know the fish cannot be caught. Humanly speaking and under our human strength we cannot achieve what God wants and cannot achieve what is expected. When we look at this from our perspective it just doesn’t seem possible. And even when we do outwardly achieve some sort of results, we need to be careful that it has not been done for the wrong reasons, which means that the results will not be lasting. Ministry and mission in this day and age, is a lost cause from a human perspective.
However, we have our Lord's direction to head out into deep water and get on with the job: to faithfully get on with the task, using the means that he has given us; his Word and the Sacraments. Here we have the most unlikely means and the least attractive bait possible. In fact, it is foolish to our human minds. The message of a man dying in cross, for us and our stupidity: Then rising again from the dead; how unrealistic. Then we have Baptism where a person, a child in many case, is washed clean from their sin and adopted into God’s family. To top it off, we are given Jesus’ flesh and blood to eat and drink to sustain us. This would seem to be utterly ridiculous and hopeless.
Yet it is here that we suddenly see surprising results. When we look at ourselves, and the rest of humanity as well, we can see that we have gotten ourselves into really deep water indeed. Through our rebellion against God and the subsequent selfishness and disobedience, we find that we are in big trouble. In our relationships with one another, we are in a mess. In our inner selves, there is no peace and contentment. And most importantly in our relationship with God, we are lost and condemned.
However, it is here that God has stepped in and done the most surprising thing of all. He produced the real miracle that turns life upside down for us all. He forgave us for Jesus sake. He made it possible for us to be a part of God's family by punishing his own Son on the cross and then he raised him from the dead again, so that we can know that there is life beyond death for us all in heaven. So that we can be sure that it is for each one of us individually, he called us to be baptised so that we can be washed clean and welcomed into God’s family. And he gave us Holy Communion so that we can regularly be reassured that forgiveness of sins, life and salvation is ours. Now that is a huge catch for us! There we have the assurance of an eternal inheritance that is beyond measure. There we have that which is utterly impossible for us to achieve on our own. Every other miracle, achievement, good happening, riches or feelings are nothing by comparison.
Now what is our reaction to this great miracle? Surely, it leaves us in awe as to how great our God is? Here is something that is absolutely mind-blowing; God loves us –you and me - so much, that he gave his one and only Son into death so that we might have eternal life with him. He has rescued us from Hell and wants us to be his very own. He comes to us, in order to give us life and salvation and much more, even though we don’t deserve it. Incredible! Absolutely incredible!
But again look at me and you; poor, miserable, insignificant, no good sinners. We have no right to be near God's presence. We have no right that he should do such a thing for us; and yet he does. He is just too awesome - too special - too great. Get away from me God - I have no right - no good – I don't deserve to have this wonderful Good News bestowed on me. And look even now I cannot live up to your expectations. I can't be the person you want me to be. Go - leave me be – I am sinful and far from perfect - go away from me.
But our Lord says to us, ‘Don't be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ He knows our weaknesses, frailty and failings, and yet he still wants to work with us and through us. Despite us, he still wants to reach out to others through us: through our fumbling work; our poor and weak efforts; our mistakes; He wants others to know of his love for them. And through us he wants to tell them of his Son Jesus and what he has done for us all: how his death on the cross and resurrection has brought forgiveness, life and salvation to us all. He wants us to be baptised, and to baptise, so that he might cleanse us and incorporate us into his family. He wants us to eat Jesus’ body and drink his blood so that we might be reassured again and again that he did die for us and for our forgiveness. He wants a huge catch, so that we all can share in his glory. So yes, he says to me and to you; “Come follow me. Come follow our Lord Jesus Christ. For to him alone belongs all glory and honour now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
(1) One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people 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 catch men." {11} So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Here this morning we have a record of Jesus’ call of discipleship to Simon Peter, James and John; and certainly there are some interesting things that we can learn about our call to follow Jesus from this as well. I wonder how many of us here feel a bit like Peter when we hear that we are to go out and witness and be God's people in the community. We might feel as though we have toiled long and hard with little or no results, and that things are little better than when we started. So we are tempted to think that it is all a bit too much - almost a waste of time. The fish out there are just not interested.
So when it comes to getting out there and doing what God wants; come on - be reasonable – what’s the point. But then, because we know that this is what God wants of us, we feel as though we need to give it a go: because after all we are Christians and that is what we are supposed to do. But we don't feel as though we are really going to achieve much at all. So with that often being our thinking, let us listen again to what happens to Peter.
Jesus comes preaching and teaching around the countryside, and this day he comes to the area where Peter, James and John were fishing. On the edge of the lake there is a crowd of people pushing up to hear Jesus and so he gets into Peters boat and they push out just a little way so that Jesus can preach and teach to the crowd of people.
Now when Jesus finished speaking he asks Peter and his mates to take him out fishing: to go out into the deep water and let down their nets for a catch of fish. But Peters responds to this request with; ‘Come on, look, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing – the fish are just not biting. And look, we are tired. Anyway now it is daytime, and every fisherman surely knows that we can't catch anything much now.’ Never-the-less he goes along with Jesus’ request and they go out and drops their nets in the deep water, and lo and behold they catch heaps of fish. So many in fact that they have to call in their partners with their boats, and even then, they all just about sink. Amazing! Unbelievable!
It is here then that we are given an insight into the most significant aspect of this whole event. Peter falls on his knees. No jumping up and down for joy now that his ship had finally come in. He has just made his fortune as a fisherman. No wanting to run around skiting about his good fortune: his obvious goodness because God has blessed him with this catch of fish. No, he falls on his knees.
He recognises his sinfulness and unworthiness. This has to be God at work - right in front them, and who is he but an untrusting, no-good, ordinary person; a simple fisherman; one who thinks he knows his own business, fishing - but God turns everything upside down. This is too much for him – he is not worthy of this – he is not good enough for God to be present in his midst. ‘Get away from me God for I am a sinful man.’
With that response, Jesus tells Peter, James and John that he has got important work for them to do: Instead of catching fish, they are now to catch men: They are now to follow him and do his work: and they do – they pull their boats up on the beach, leave behind their newly made fortune, and follow Jesus. Their lives were never again the same, despite the fact that they were simple, ordinary, sinful human beings; totally unworthy and unqualified for what God had in mind for them. As a result, the Good News of Jesus has spread across the world for all to know.
Therein we here today find a number of lessons for us as God’s people. Here we have a message to humble us and at the same time encourage us as we go forward to be the people God would have us to be.
However, up to this point, when Jesus speaks and calls us to a task, have we listened and trusted God, or do we look to and follow our human thinking and the ways of the world? Do we want to change God’s Word to suit the prevailing thinking that is going on around us? Do we think; I can't speak - we can't do it - we have tried all night and nothing? The traditional way of being church is no longer successful, so we need to give up on it and use modern human strategies.
Yes, from the human perspective doing God’s work, is like fishing when we know the fish cannot be caught. Humanly speaking and under our human strength we cannot achieve what God wants and cannot achieve what is expected. When we look at this from our perspective it just doesn’t seem possible. And even when we do outwardly achieve some sort of results, we need to be careful that it has not been done for the wrong reasons, which means that the results will not be lasting. Ministry and mission in this day and age, is a lost cause from a human perspective.
However, we have our Lord's direction to head out into deep water and get on with the job: to faithfully get on with the task, using the means that he has given us; his Word and the Sacraments. Here we have the most unlikely means and the least attractive bait possible. In fact, it is foolish to our human minds. The message of a man dying in cross, for us and our stupidity: Then rising again from the dead; how unrealistic. Then we have Baptism where a person, a child in many case, is washed clean from their sin and adopted into God’s family. To top it off, we are given Jesus’ flesh and blood to eat and drink to sustain us. This would seem to be utterly ridiculous and hopeless.
Yet it is here that we suddenly see surprising results. When we look at ourselves, and the rest of humanity as well, we can see that we have gotten ourselves into really deep water indeed. Through our rebellion against God and the subsequent selfishness and disobedience, we find that we are in big trouble. In our relationships with one another, we are in a mess. In our inner selves, there is no peace and contentment. And most importantly in our relationship with God, we are lost and condemned.
However, it is here that God has stepped in and done the most surprising thing of all. He produced the real miracle that turns life upside down for us all. He forgave us for Jesus sake. He made it possible for us to be a part of God's family by punishing his own Son on the cross and then he raised him from the dead again, so that we can know that there is life beyond death for us all in heaven. So that we can be sure that it is for each one of us individually, he called us to be baptised so that we can be washed clean and welcomed into God’s family. And he gave us Holy Communion so that we can regularly be reassured that forgiveness of sins, life and salvation is ours. Now that is a huge catch for us! There we have the assurance of an eternal inheritance that is beyond measure. There we have that which is utterly impossible for us to achieve on our own. Every other miracle, achievement, good happening, riches or feelings are nothing by comparison.
Now what is our reaction to this great miracle? Surely, it leaves us in awe as to how great our God is? Here is something that is absolutely mind-blowing; God loves us –you and me - so much, that he gave his one and only Son into death so that we might have eternal life with him. He has rescued us from Hell and wants us to be his very own. He comes to us, in order to give us life and salvation and much more, even though we don’t deserve it. Incredible! Absolutely incredible!
But again look at me and you; poor, miserable, insignificant, no good sinners. We have no right to be near God's presence. We have no right that he should do such a thing for us; and yet he does. He is just too awesome - too special - too great. Get away from me God - I have no right - no good – I don't deserve to have this wonderful Good News bestowed on me. And look even now I cannot live up to your expectations. I can't be the person you want me to be. Go - leave me be – I am sinful and far from perfect - go away from me.
But our Lord says to us, ‘Don't be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ He knows our weaknesses, frailty and failings, and yet he still wants to work with us and through us. Despite us, he still wants to reach out to others through us: through our fumbling work; our poor and weak efforts; our mistakes; He wants others to know of his love for them. And through us he wants to tell them of his Son Jesus and what he has done for us all: how his death on the cross and resurrection has brought forgiveness, life and salvation to us all. He wants us to be baptised, and to baptise, so that he might cleanse us and incorporate us into his family. He wants us to eat Jesus’ body and drink his blood so that we might be reassured again and again that he did die for us and for our forgiveness. He wants a huge catch, so that we all can share in his glory. So yes, he says to me and to you; “Come follow me. Come follow our Lord Jesus Christ. For to him alone belongs all glory and honour now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
posted by Roger at
10:08 am
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home