Fishers of Men
Sermon
THE GREENING OF THE GOSPEL
SERMONS FOR ADVENT, CHRISTMAS AND EPIPHANY SUNDAYS 1-8 IN ORDINARY TIME)
Just south of Capernaum lies the ancient plain of Gennesaret. The setting for this episode in the life of Jesus takes place near the shores of what Luke calls "the lake of Gennesaret." The other gospel writers call it the Sea of Galilee. Not only is the name designation different, but Luke's account of what happened that day is more detailed and more dramatic.
Jesus left Capernaum early in the morning. He planned to spend some time meditating by the sea. But soon a considerable crowd of people, knowing his reputation, gathered to hear him expound "the word of God." (v. 2) Since public address systems were unknown in those days, effective preaching out of doors required a strong voice and the best use of available acoustics. This is doubtless the reason that Jesus co-opted a seat in a fishing boat, anchored by the shore from which to exhort the multitude. He sat at a lower level on the surface of the water, using the sea as a resonator. His standing congregation tiered upward on the beach. This assisted the impact of his voice and enabled him to look into the faces of the multitude.
Simon, the owner of the vessel, had not only given his consent for its use, but at the Master's request he had moved the boat a little off shore. Then the "big fisherman" joined his companions who were washing and preparing their nets for the next excursion into the deep. The composite chronology of the synoptics suggests that Simon and Jesus may have met on a prior occasion. John records a meeting between the two in Judea, where John the Baptizer was holding forth. (John 1:35-42) Simon was a citizen of Capernaum, so we may assume that they knew each other.
Jesus finished his message and dismissed the congregation. Doubtless Peter had heard every word of the Master's sermon, as he labored over his nets with his partners, James and John. The latter were two brothers. They were ready to tether their gear and go home to rest.
Evidently, seasonal factors dictated that fishing at night this time of year was more rewarding. Hence they were surprised and reluctant when Jesus said: "Launch out into the deep [water] and lower your nets." (v. 4) "Master," said Simon, "we have toiled [fished] all night and caught nothing." But Jesus was insistent. So Simon said: "At thy word we will let down the net [again]." (v. 5)
So they maneuvered the boat seaward until they were in deep water. Then they dropped their net, with one end cinched to the side of the boat. Once in place beneath the water, the net suddenly grew heavy. Peter and his companions pulled at the draw end of the net. But they were fearful that it might break. So they called for help from another boat. Together the two crews eased the overflowing net out of the water. The "catch" was so large that it filled both boats, causing them to sink to the water level with their heavy cargo.
Peter was stunned. He fell at the feet of Jesus confessing his unworthiness. "I am a sinful man," he admitted. His partners, James and John, joined him in expressing their amazement in this miraculous happening. Jesus dismissed their fearful apprehensions and challenged them with a life-changing invitation. The Living Bible adds this paraphrasing: "Do not remain ordinary fishermen. Come let me make you fishers of men." That was a categorical moment of decision for Simon, James and John. They responded. Luke's description is terse: "... They brought their boats to land and, ... left all and followed him [Jesus]." (v. 11)
The initiative Peter displayed at the beginning of his discipleship, characterized his leadership role thereafter. On one occasion, he tried to walk on water. (Matthew 14:28) Peter was impulsive. Characteristic of fishermen, he often swore to reinforce the authority of his words. In the presence of the other disciples, he blurted out the first messianic acclamation: "Thou art the Christ!" (Matthew 16:16) In the post-resurrection church he was the leader who preached the pacesetting sermon on the day of Pentecost. It was in response to Simon's confession that Jesus gave Simon a new name and a new promise:
Thou art Peter [the rock],
and upon this rock,
I will build my church;
and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it.
(Matthew 16:18)
The teaching and preaching of Jesus was verdict-oriented. He was seeking to make converts out of spectators. Everywhere in the Gospel he stirred the indifferent, the oppressed, and the poor to move, to take a giant step. Contemporary local churches, in the footsteps of the Master, must recover the Christian instinct for the passionate pursuit of people.
As a local church pastor for many years, I always included in my worship service "the invitation to Christian discipleship." Those who wished to declare their faith were invited to come forward and, in so doing, acknowledge their intention. On many Sundays there was no visible response, but I always made the invitation the most serious part of the service. It affected the way I developed my sermons and it kindled a prayerful hope in the congregation that someone would come forward and accept Christ as Savior and Lord of his or her life. Almost all of the persons I received into membership united with the church in response to "the invitation to Christian discipleship."
That dramatic engagement between Jesus and the fisherman must be central in the life of every Christian congregation. We are called to win new disciples every day. (Matthew 28:19) The invitational methodology may be different from place to place. But the invitational ingredient is indispensable. When Jesus referred to his new converts as "fishers of men," his words fixed an inescapable identification mark on credible Christians from henceforth.
Deep-sea fishing is a cooperative effort, just as the work of the local church is a congregational effort. Each fisherman has a special role to play to make the "catch." Some work with the casting of the net, some have to operate the rudder or the wheel. Others skillfully maneuver the sails to win the support of the wind. Others make preparation to handle the full net and prepare the fish for the marketplace.
Standing on the shores of Ghana, in Africa, facing the great Atlantic, some years ago we watched a group of primitive fishermen preparing for a "catch." They were net fishing from small boats not far from the shore. Their nets were placed by strong men wading out in the water. As soon as the nets had garnered a harvest, they pulled them ashore. Women from the villages were waiting with their baskets to buy the fish and hurry to the marketplace to retail them before sundown. Every action by the fishermen and the waiting women was executed with a sense of urgency. They had no refrigeration systems; catching and consuming was all done on the same day.
Early in the history of the church the "fishers-of-men [and -women]" concept of the church became central. Not only do we find the sign of the fish present in ancient relics in the life of the church, but the letters in the Greek word, "IXTHUS," meaning fish, were popularized among the Christians as an anagram abbreviation for the phrase "Jesus Christ, God's Only Son."
It is interesting that Jesus drew his first recruits from vigorous outdoorsmen with salty tongues and boisterous lifestyles. This is why Peter humbled himself before Jesus, proclaiming himself an unworthy sinner. Peter's contrition foreshadowed a long line of splendid saints to come, who emerged from the ranks of hardy sinners to blaze a new trail in the Kingdom of God.
Jesus saw the society of his day trapped by its own greed and sinfulness. Dominated by Rome and controlled by Jewish collaborators, the underclass had minimal expectations. The controllers were forced to use their power to consolidate their privileged positions. This made them suspicious of any creative thinkers who challenged the order of things. Jesus wanted the people to catch a vision of God's will in the world. He couched his dream of the redeemed society in the eschatology of the "Kingdom of God." His goal was the realization of the rule of God. This mystical transformation, the unchallenged rule of righteousness yet to be fulfilled, continues to be the very heart of the message and mission of the church of Jesus Christ.
Jesus left Capernaum early in the morning. He planned to spend some time meditating by the sea. But soon a considerable crowd of people, knowing his reputation, gathered to hear him expound "the word of God." (v. 2) Since public address systems were unknown in those days, effective preaching out of doors required a strong voice and the best use of available acoustics. This is doubtless the reason that Jesus co-opted a seat in a fishing boat, anchored by the shore from which to exhort the multitude. He sat at a lower level on the surface of the water, using the sea as a resonator. His standing congregation tiered upward on the beach. This assisted the impact of his voice and enabled him to look into the faces of the multitude.
Simon, the owner of the vessel, had not only given his consent for its use, but at the Master's request he had moved the boat a little off shore. Then the "big fisherman" joined his companions who were washing and preparing their nets for the next excursion into the deep. The composite chronology of the synoptics suggests that Simon and Jesus may have met on a prior occasion. John records a meeting between the two in Judea, where John the Baptizer was holding forth. (John 1:35-42) Simon was a citizen of Capernaum, so we may assume that they knew each other.
Jesus finished his message and dismissed the congregation. Doubtless Peter had heard every word of the Master's sermon, as he labored over his nets with his partners, James and John. The latter were two brothers. They were ready to tether their gear and go home to rest.
Evidently, seasonal factors dictated that fishing at night this time of year was more rewarding. Hence they were surprised and reluctant when Jesus said: "Launch out into the deep [water] and lower your nets." (v. 4) "Master," said Simon, "we have toiled [fished] all night and caught nothing." But Jesus was insistent. So Simon said: "At thy word we will let down the net [again]." (v. 5)
So they maneuvered the boat seaward until they were in deep water. Then they dropped their net, with one end cinched to the side of the boat. Once in place beneath the water, the net suddenly grew heavy. Peter and his companions pulled at the draw end of the net. But they were fearful that it might break. So they called for help from another boat. Together the two crews eased the overflowing net out of the water. The "catch" was so large that it filled both boats, causing them to sink to the water level with their heavy cargo.
Peter was stunned. He fell at the feet of Jesus confessing his unworthiness. "I am a sinful man," he admitted. His partners, James and John, joined him in expressing their amazement in this miraculous happening. Jesus dismissed their fearful apprehensions and challenged them with a life-changing invitation. The Living Bible adds this paraphrasing: "Do not remain ordinary fishermen. Come let me make you fishers of men." That was a categorical moment of decision for Simon, James and John. They responded. Luke's description is terse: "... They brought their boats to land and, ... left all and followed him [Jesus]." (v. 11)
The initiative Peter displayed at the beginning of his discipleship, characterized his leadership role thereafter. On one occasion, he tried to walk on water. (Matthew 14:28) Peter was impulsive. Characteristic of fishermen, he often swore to reinforce the authority of his words. In the presence of the other disciples, he blurted out the first messianic acclamation: "Thou art the Christ!" (Matthew 16:16) In the post-resurrection church he was the leader who preached the pacesetting sermon on the day of Pentecost. It was in response to Simon's confession that Jesus gave Simon a new name and a new promise:
Thou art Peter [the rock],
and upon this rock,
I will build my church;
and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it.
(Matthew 16:18)
The teaching and preaching of Jesus was verdict-oriented. He was seeking to make converts out of spectators. Everywhere in the Gospel he stirred the indifferent, the oppressed, and the poor to move, to take a giant step. Contemporary local churches, in the footsteps of the Master, must recover the Christian instinct for the passionate pursuit of people.
As a local church pastor for many years, I always included in my worship service "the invitation to Christian discipleship." Those who wished to declare their faith were invited to come forward and, in so doing, acknowledge their intention. On many Sundays there was no visible response, but I always made the invitation the most serious part of the service. It affected the way I developed my sermons and it kindled a prayerful hope in the congregation that someone would come forward and accept Christ as Savior and Lord of his or her life. Almost all of the persons I received into membership united with the church in response to "the invitation to Christian discipleship."
That dramatic engagement between Jesus and the fisherman must be central in the life of every Christian congregation. We are called to win new disciples every day. (Matthew 28:19) The invitational methodology may be different from place to place. But the invitational ingredient is indispensable. When Jesus referred to his new converts as "fishers of men," his words fixed an inescapable identification mark on credible Christians from henceforth.
Deep-sea fishing is a cooperative effort, just as the work of the local church is a congregational effort. Each fisherman has a special role to play to make the "catch." Some work with the casting of the net, some have to operate the rudder or the wheel. Others skillfully maneuver the sails to win the support of the wind. Others make preparation to handle the full net and prepare the fish for the marketplace.
Standing on the shores of Ghana, in Africa, facing the great Atlantic, some years ago we watched a group of primitive fishermen preparing for a "catch." They were net fishing from small boats not far from the shore. Their nets were placed by strong men wading out in the water. As soon as the nets had garnered a harvest, they pulled them ashore. Women from the villages were waiting with their baskets to buy the fish and hurry to the marketplace to retail them before sundown. Every action by the fishermen and the waiting women was executed with a sense of urgency. They had no refrigeration systems; catching and consuming was all done on the same day.
Early in the history of the church the "fishers-of-men [and -women]" concept of the church became central. Not only do we find the sign of the fish present in ancient relics in the life of the church, but the letters in the Greek word, "IXTHUS," meaning fish, were popularized among the Christians as an anagram abbreviation for the phrase "Jesus Christ, God's Only Son."
It is interesting that Jesus drew his first recruits from vigorous outdoorsmen with salty tongues and boisterous lifestyles. This is why Peter humbled himself before Jesus, proclaiming himself an unworthy sinner. Peter's contrition foreshadowed a long line of splendid saints to come, who emerged from the ranks of hardy sinners to blaze a new trail in the Kingdom of God.
Jesus saw the society of his day trapped by its own greed and sinfulness. Dominated by Rome and controlled by Jewish collaborators, the underclass had minimal expectations. The controllers were forced to use their power to consolidate their privileged positions. This made them suspicious of any creative thinkers who challenged the order of things. Jesus wanted the people to catch a vision of God's will in the world. He couched his dream of the redeemed society in the eschatology of the "Kingdom of God." His goal was the realization of the rule of God. This mystical transformation, the unchallenged rule of righteousness yet to be fulfilled, continues to be the very heart of the message and mission of the church of Jesus Christ.
