Sermon preached by Pastor Daniel Locke on January 26, 2020 @ St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, FL
Matthew 4:12-23
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 "Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 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." 17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
SERMON
Let me preface today’s sermon by saying I am not a fisherman. In fact, I have only been fishing a handful of times and I’ve learned that I am most successful if the rod is plastic, the line has a magnet on the end, and I’m trying to catch plastic magnetic fish in a kiddie pool. I classify fishing as NMG - not my gift.
That being said, I can recall a few impactful experiences that taught me about the art of fishing. As a boy scout, we once camped out around someone’s pond. One of the reasons for our weekend camping trip was for some folks to work on their fishing merit badge. So, that evening, our scout master asked who wanted to go fishing in the morning. He offered to wake us up in the morning, and since I had never really gone fishing before, I thought, sure, why not. When 4 am came, I immediately regretted my decision. Apparently, most fish are active at dusk and dawn. I guess early worm gets the fish, as they say.
My second lesson was that going fishing was not equivalent to going to catch fish. That same camping trip I learned that you can sit for hours, doing nothing, and get no result. Fishing takes patience.
In high school I was invited to go fishing off the pier at a friend’s lake house. I’d say that this experience was a bit more successful, but it was also the time I learned that fishing requires attentiveness. Turns out, you can’t cast the line, lean the pole against the rail and trust the fish would bite and politely wait to be reeled in. Apparently, fish like to eat on the go. I lost my friends fishing pole.
Growing up, my dad got me a small tackle box. Through scouts I had collected two or three bobbers, a few weights, some fun little lures and a variety of hooks. I felt cool. That is until I was invited to go fishing with a group of folks from scouts. I took my cute little tackle box with more cubbies and compartments than things to put in them. I really liked that when I opened the lid, the top compartment raised on its own, revealing the secret hidden compartment beneath. Anyways, we arrived and got settled. I sat my box on the bench and opened up slowly so others could take notice.
Meanwhile, I noticed the leader open what I can only describe as one of those giant metal rolling tool cabinets. Cabinets lined with hooks and lures. Endless drawers full or artificial bait, bobbers, weights, sinkers, and... well that’s the extent of my fishing accessory knowledge. He strapped on his sleeveless fishing vest. I was intimidated and overwhelmed. That was the day I learned that there are 1000s of species of fish, and every one of them is different and everyone requires a different approach to successfully catching them. Fishing takes preparation, careful planning, and creativity.
Fishing, from my limited experience and observation is a profound hobby and sport. And to be successful, it requires immense patience, perseverance, and experience. It requires that you know the fish that you’re trying to catch and that you have the precise tools necessary. Successful fishing requires hope and endurance. It even means failing. And, perhaps the most profound lesson I’ve learned is that you absolutely cannot catch a fish if you don’t go fishing in some way or another.
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Almost every time I read this text or its parallel in Mark or Luke, I get hung up on the immediacy of the disciples’ following. How is it that at Jesus’ call and invitation, they drop everything to follow this minority voice of hope. They leave it all behind to be in the footsteps of something new - to take part in the reign of God’s kingdom.
But, for some reason this week, I was hooked by the prospect of fishing for people. Pun- intended. The notion that as Christians we are called by Christ to become people who fish for people. To exhaust the metaphor, we are called to cast to the proclamation of Jesus, to shed light on the dark and dreary world, to offer a message of love, grace, forgiveness, peace and hope that is so lure-ing, that others’ can’t help but bite. Right, and in Jesus’ day, it was more about casting a wide net in hopes that you might catch a few from the many.
And I’ve found myself so deep in prayer lately about Christ’s invitation to fish for people, mostly because I’m a terrible fisherman. Fishing takes patience and endurance. It takes perseverance. Fishing takes pride and knowledge of the fish you want to catch. And to optimize success it takes the proper use of gifts and tools.
Now look, I don’t mean to suggest that our call as Christians is to bait and lure, or even deceive people into knowing Christ. I don’t want to overplay the metaphor. Rather, I think that to be successful in our call to discipleship, to fully honor the privilege and responsibility of proclaiming the grace-filled reign of God, it might take some practice. Some patience. Some perseverance. If we understand our call from Jesus through the shores of the baptismal font to go forth in the name of Christ to make disciples then at some point we have to at least go fishing, trusting in God to guide us.
Our gospel text today marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Following Jesus’ birth, he fled to Egypt for safety with his parents, he was baptized by John in the river. The spirit descended upon him like a dove and drove him to the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil, and now he withdraws to Galilee and the area of Capernaum. And it’s here that he begins his public ministry within the gospel according to Matthew.
And our gospel text opens with a stark reminder of the hostile and tumultuous time that Jesus emerges. Again, Matthew writes, “Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.” John the Baptist, the one who came crying in the wilderness, “prepare the way of the Lord.” The one who pointed to the Messiah and the one who is greater. John, who baptized Jesus in the river and pointed his followers to Christ, has been arrested by Herod.
Now we won’t hear the story of John’s beheading this year, but within the other gospel narratives we can recall that John the Baptist was beheaded at the request of Herod’s stepdaughter Salome, influenced by her mother, Herodias. Ultimately, it is a testament to Herod’s rage and violent temperament, sparked by John convicting Herod for divorcing his wife to take his brother’s wife.
Jesus continues to live and move in the territory of a violent, tyrannous rulers. In Jesus day, the region around Galilee was ruled by Herod Antipas. He was the son of Herod the Great, the one who tried to manipulate the wisemen into telling him where Jesus was. Who, ultimately tried to have the baby Jesus murdered. Herod Antipas was known for his brutal nature and his utter intolerance for anyone who may threaten his power.
Furthermore, the region of Galilee was under Roman Imperial Rule. The roman rule was an oppressive force that affected a large portion of the population. Most common citizens relied on brutal, physical, labor-intensive work to support their way of life. But excessive, unjust taxes suppressed the fruits of their labor. Therefore, many also lived in poverty - void of basic life-sustaining needs.
The kingdom in which they lived was not necessarily one of hope or joy. It is riddled with intimidation from authority, submission to the Roman Imperial rule, and a longing for the fulfillment of their ancestral promise.
This is the power of the day that Jesus initiates God’s reign. While there is a need to be diligent and careful in his ministry, God through Jesus has come to proclaim the presence of a new kingdom, a kingdom ruled by grace, forgiveness, justice, and love. Jesus is the light of hope, freedom, and justice that is to shine as a light in the darkness of oppressive rule.
This is the time and place to which Jesus as a light to the darkness, proclaiming the promise of the Kingdom of God, a reign of hope, justice, mercy, and grace. God, through Jesus, has come to offer salvation to God’s people. To raise up the lowly and cast down the mighty. To heal the sick, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, make the blind to see and the mute to speak. To bring good news to the poor, release to the captives, and to set the oppressed free.
And one of Jesus’ first actions is to invite others to follow, to risk it all and experience a new way of life. Inviting them to come and see.
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21
When Jesus invites the disciples to come and follow, our translation says, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” This translation can make it sound as though fishing for people were a task to be completed. And if you’re like me, that’s terrifying, because as you recall, fishing is not my gift.
But thanks be to God, Jesus’ invitation is a richer than our translation might seem In fact, a better understanding of the invitation might be to say, “Follow me, and I will make you to become fishers for people.” In this translation fishing for people is no longer a task, but rather becoming fishers of people is a new identity. Jesus invites us to come and see, to participate and learn about the work for the kingdom. Christ promises to equip the ones who will be doing the fishing. It is to become their new identity.
They are to become fishers of people. In a world desperate for the hope of something better, Christ calls and invites these disciples to use their gifts and abilities for the furtherment of the kingdom of God. This is the kind of discipleship that you and I are called to as well
Despite our anxieties or doubts or fears, Christ confidently calls us to be disciples. To become fishers or people, casting the good news of the light of Christ to all people, all times, and in all places. And the good news, especially for someone who is not keen on fishing, it is not about us. It’s not about what you or I do.
It’s about what God does through us. Using our God given, gifts, abilities, experiences, to cast the story of faith, to fan the spark of hope to a world deeply in need of healing. And successful fishing, to be sure, successful discipleship is not measured in the number of fish you catch, but rather the passion and commitment to the craft. True discipleship takes time, patience, endurance, knowledge, experience, trust, and hope.
Jesus entered the world at a tumultuous time. God, the Emmanuel, came forth so that 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. It was true then and it is true today.
And, as I understand it, most fishermen and women don’t just go fishing in order to catch something, but rather they often go fishing, because they’re people who fish, and fishing is what fishermen and women do.
Amen.
©Sermon preached by Pastor Daniel Locke on January 26, 2020 @ St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, FL
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