Sermon 17th January 2010

Today our Associate Vicar, John Itumu, preaches based on the reading from Luke 5: 1-11

Jesus calls his first disciples

For the next two months we will follow the story of Jesus as described by a man called Luke the evangelist, an early Christian writer. Scholars attribute the books of Luke and Acts to this evangelist due a consistency in style. Notably too, Luke is identified as a doctor (Col 4:14) – he often displays a particular interest in the diagnosis of illness. We also know that he was a companion of Paul in his missionary journeys (eg 2 Tim 4:11) and he was also not a Jew Col 4:14.

Luke is writing to a man called Theophilus. According to Luke this is an orderly account of ‘the things that have been fulfilled among us...so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. Writing after the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, this suggests that Theophilus has some familiarity with ‘these events’ but needs some additional information to know their truth. Luke writes to persuade him and I hope we are too. He seeks to clarify some key ingredients that are missing in his understanding.

One notable aspect of this gospel is Luke’s emphasis on the inclusivity of the community established by Jesus. Again and again, Jesus is portrayed as a friend of the excluded, the outcasts, even the unlikely people in society. I want to spend the next few minutes looking at the amazing story we have just heard read.

And so we catch up with Jesus in his itinerant ministry in the area around Lake Galilee. Picture a natural amphitheatre – boat in the water and Jesus speaking to a huge crowd from it. Note also that Luke does not concentrate on the content of Jesus’ speech to crowd. The focus is some gentlemen who had lent him the boat

When he had finished speaking he said to Simon…
Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch

One scholar identifies these nets as made of linen, visible to fish during the day and so used at night, requiring 2-4 men to deploy and needing washing every morning. They had been fishing all night. That is what they did for a living as professional fishermen. Then comes someone who thinks he knows better...
I can’t imagine what is going inside Simon’s head at this time.
Is this man a lunatic? May be the unspoken question

Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch

Whatever is gong inside him he composes himself however and manages a reasonable reply:
Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.

In other words, this is the business we live on. Last night was only one of those bad nights!
But because you say so, I will let down the nets

We will never know Simon’s tone when he answered Jesus. What is clear is that he did a stupidly brave thing, contrary to all conventional wisdom in fishing techniques: he dared Jesus in obedience and his life was never the same again
But because you say so, I will lower the nets...

This is a line we will do well to remember. This verse reveals the true condition of a sincere heart. God delights with this kind of heart and attitude. Doubting faith, scepticism, hesitation even unbelief is part of what we bring and carry when we approach him. We do not obey God because all the outstanding doubts and queries have been sorted. Neither do we obey because we have fully comprehended this gospel of salvation that we are called to live by. We do not continue to cry to God for our loved ones who are ill and suffering because we know when or how he will answer our prayers. We however soldier on as we are; with trusting, fragile faith. The good news is that God is bigger than all of these. He understands our infirmity, even our inability to articulate what we believe, even why we believe


Master, we have worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let the nets down

Jesus responds to this type of humble naked trust and faith. Trust and faith empty of any religious claim. Trust and faith that is devoid of any acts that ‘compel’ God into action. Some teaching proposes that gifts to God – or ‘planting a seed’ will cause God to answer our prayers. But Jesus responds even to faith that is empty of such presumptuous actions. The Christian life continues from day to day with days of doubt, fear, apprehension, uncertainty, even unbelief. These things however should and must not derail us. That is why I think it is helpful to come back to these words by Simon:
But because you say so, I will lower the nets

It is not because of what I know, or my experience but because of what the word of God says. The story continues that they caught so many fish that the nets began to break, the boats begun to sink from the weight and they had to summon for help. Isn’t it comforting also to be reminded that Jesus knows our needs even before we ask? He was well aware that it had been a difficult fruitless night for Simon and company. This echoes Matthew 6 when Jesus teaches his disciples not to worry, because their heavenly Father understands and knows their needs.

Notice this also; when Jesus steps into the scene, other things suddenly become insignificant in comparison. Simon recognizes in Jesus the agency of God, whoever he may have perceived God to be. He suddenly has a new vision. It is the reason why he responds with the words;
Go away from me Lord. I am sinful man!

His response was to fall down on his knees in humility. He recognized the vast difference between himself and Jesus. He saw himself as someone in need of divine redemption. Something happens within a human being when they come face to face with Jesus. It is not possible to engage with Jesus and be left unchanged. Why? Because Jesus is holy and his holiness shines onto our sinful selves. The response is either to ignore and turn away and find excuses about why we cannot submit to God...or to go down on our knees in humble submission as Simon did. However more often than not we are better at finding excuses. If you are here this morning and have never said ‘yes’ to Jesus what are your excuses? I thank God that you are here this morning to listen to this.

Responding to God should be as basic a human duty as washing. The story is told of a pastor who fed up with all the reasons that people gave for not going to church decided to include in the news bulletin ‘ten reasons why I never wash’:

1. I was forced to as a child
2. People who wash are hypocrites – they think they are cleaner than everybody else
3. There are so many different kinds of soap, I can’t decide which one is best
4. I used to wash, but I got bored and stopped
5. I wash only special occasions like Christmas and Easter
6. None of my friends wash
7. I’ll start washing when I get older and dirtier
8. I can’t spare the time
9. The bathroom is never warm enough in winter and cool enough in summer
10. People who make soap are only after your money

Need we go on? We are not short of reasons and excuses. I don’t know about you but just picture yourself. Would you say ‘thank you very much Jesus for this fantastic catch, see ya later! Surely no. Such encounters demand a different response. Simon fell on his knees in submission. His response was an acknowledgement that Jesus was indeed different and even could be called Lord, not master anymore. That is the authentic response that Jesus seeks from us all. You don’t need to look far to find reason to make this response. Being here and alive this morning is a good point to begin. The love of Jesus crosses between the separating cultural, social and religious boundaries to bring good news to anyone who will listen.

They pulled their boats on the shore, left everything and followed him.

Now that was something. These guys left behind the very items that their lives depended on. They turned their backs on their professions.
Jesus however understands and reassures them – don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people! In other words, look up guys, something more exciting awaits you. As someone once put it – you will no longer catch dead fish in order to sell in the market-place, but will catch people giving them liberty.
I wonder what happened to the fish!

Responding to the good news of Jesus demands that we embrace a new worldview, wear different lenses, and even have a different attitude to material acquisitions. It means that we find our fundamental sense of belonging in being in a relationship with Jesus. This shift redefines one’s relationship with everything – including material things. It is plain radical but most exciting!

So friends regardless of our past, regardless of whatever we are going through at the moment, in spite of our little faith and trust, our doubt. I invite us to rededicate ourselves, and make a break with the past as we embrace a new beginning that Jesus avails to all who say ‘yes’ to him.

I invite us all to say with Simon
Lord...because you say so I will let down the nets...