The church group in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth dismissed him. They were not prepared to accept him as the anointed prophet of God. Who did he think he was presenting himself in such a way? He was Joseph’s son, no more, no less. If Jesus thought he was the Messiah, then he was a hot shot, a guy who had developed an over-the-top opinion of himself.
Last week we noted that Jesus had confronted their unbelief. By time he had finished talking, the congregation had moved from doubt to extreme anger. They drove Jesus out of town toward a cliff. Their intention was to terminate this hot shot who had challenged their unbelief.
Jesus leaves them in their anger and moves on. He didn’t come to fight people. He came to save.
He went on to other towns. The response was remarkably different. In Capernaum Jesus taught in the synagogue then, in the evening, ministered to the crowds of people who came to the home of Simon where he was staying. The people could not get enough of him. They wanted him to set up a tent in their town. Jesus had to assert his own priorities in order to move on to the surrounding towns and villages.
In this week’s reading [Luke 5: 1-11], Jesus is teaching a crowd of people at the Sea of Galilee. The people are pressing in on him. He needs space. He spots two boats and gets into the boat belonging to Simon. Jesus has him row out a few feet from shore and resumes teaching the crowd.
At the end of the teaching session, Jesus tells to Simon put out into deeper water and let down the nets for a catch. Simon thinks it is a waste of time. He and his partners have fished all night. There are no fish to catch. To fish any longer was an exercise in futility. Simon was the fisherman; Jesus was a carpenter, a teacher—an amazing teacher at that – but no fisherman. What did he know about fishing? Besides they have just finished cleaning the nets. It’s time to rest.
Simon’s respect for Jesus propels him to put his net in the water even if there were no positive results.
Think about the contrast between Simon and the people of Nazareth where Jesus grew up. The people of Nazareth dismissed Jesus as a hot shot. On the other hand, Simon said, “I don’t think Jesus knows anything about fishing. In fact, I am sure of it! But for his sake, because of my respect for him, I will do what he asks.”
Simon let the net over the side of the boat. His dutiful obedience is interrupted by the unexpected. The net begins to pull out of his hands. It gets heavier and heavier. He sees fish! So many, the net cannot handle them all. It starts to break. Simon calls his partners over to help, “I don’t know what is going on, but I am catching more fish than I can handle.” They all begin to scoop the fish out of the net into the two boats. The fish just keep coming. Before it is all over, the boats are so full of fish they are in danger of sinking.
Simon stops looking at the fish. The fish are no longer important. It is Jesus he sees. He is overwhelmed. Shock and awe are appropriate words to describe what takes place in that moment of time. The professional fisherman, the man who could tell fish story after fish story, was speechless. Simon knew that what had just happened went beyond a chance event. It was more than good luck. God was at work in a spectacular way. He knew that Jesus was connected to God in some way beyond what he could comprehend.
Standing in a stinky fishing boat fill with flopping fish, Peter truly experiences the shock and awe of God. A sense of the holiness of God takes over. Peter falls before Jesus and says, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
Peter spends no time trying to put a positive spin on his past life. He makes no excuses for his failures. There is no game playing, no self-righteousness. There is only humility and a sense of his failures and sinfulness in the presence of the Holy. Peter knows that, before God, he is nothing. His own sense of inadequacy causes him to fall before Jesus in deep humility. Even a bunch of squirming fish does not prevent Peter from falling face down before Jesus.
Peter’s powerful sense of the presence of God was like Isaiah the prophet. We read about Isaiah’s encounter of God in the temple in Isaiah 6. His immediate response recorded in verse 5 is, "Woe to me! . . . I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
How does God respond to the man or woman who is willing to acknowledge his/her own unworthiness before Him? God is amazingly gracious. He reaches down. He restores. He makes new. Later in life, maybe with his own experience in mind, Peter writes: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. [1Pe 5:6]”
God does not trample the person who falls before him. The people he resists are the excuse makers, the ones who see no need for repentance or change in their life, or who are too proud to take responsibility for their own failures.
James the brother of Jesus wrote, “That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble....Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. [James 4:6]”
Jesus words to Simon were reassuring. “Don’t be afraid.” Jesus communicates much to Simon in that moment of time. Notice what Jesus did not say. He didn’t say, “It is all right Simon, you are not nearly as bad as you think you are. Actually, Simon, you are pretty good guy and I could use you on my team.” Jesus didn’t say, “Simon, it is inappropriate for you to bow before me like that.” Through the words “don’t be afraid” Jesus is saying, “Now that you have caught a glimpse of who I am, don’t be afraid. I will not wipe you out. I will allow you to be with me.”
Jesus’ response to Peter can be compared to Isaiah’s experience after he says “Woe is me!” We read: “Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
Jesus came to atone for sin. Jesus was able to erase Simon’s guilt and shame through his death on the cross.
Simon and Isaiah both felt unworthy when confronted by the greatness of God. In mercy, both received forgiveness and reassurance. But there was more to come. Reassurance and forgiveness opened the door for the next step. The awe and shock experience of God is not an end in itself. Isaiah is challenged to go and be God’s spokesman. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” Isaiah and Simon were not allowed to rest in the experience of catching a glimpse of the holiness of God. Isaiah volunteered to go for God when he heard God’s desire to send someone to his people. Simon was challenged to change occupations and follow Jesus.
The response of Simon and his partners was simple. It was not complicated. In fact, it was logical. Who wants to fish when you can follow Jesus and become a person used by Jesus to reach men and women for him? “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”
The man, woman or child who truly catches a glimpse of Jesus like Simon did in the boat, realize that nothing and no one is more important than Jesus.
Maybe you are sitting there saying, “Okay, what does this mean for me?” At one level I do not have the answer. Jesus’ specific call on your life is between you and him. I, or others within the Christian community, can listen, we can ask questions, we might even advise. But the challenge is for you to listen, respond, and allow the God who so uniquely created you to use you for his honour and glory.
Let me suggest a contrasting response to Jesus to better understand the significance of Simon’s encounter with Jesus. It also can help you think through what it means to be a follower of Christ.
Simon is amazed at the number of fish he and his partners are catching. He looks at Jesus. He turns to the squirming pile of fish and rubs his hands together in glee. These fish represent money. Jesus is going to make us rich. This is wonderful. With Jesus at our side, we will be the most prosperous fishermen in the country.
“Jesus, we need you to stay in our boat and direct us on a daily basis. In fact, Jesus, here is what we will do. You lead us to the good fishing spots like you did today and we will give you ten percent of everything we make. We will get rich and you will have significant income for your kingdom.” Jesus agreed. So Simon and his partners kept on fishing. They became extremely wealthy but they were always careful to give Jesus ten percent of their wealth.
As you listen to a possible alternative response by Simon, you are probably saying to yourself, “Well, that is just crazy.” Reflect with me for a moment. In the first response, Jesus is Lord, Simon is humbled and completely submissive to Jesus.
The second response acknowledges Jesus as the source of many fish, success, and a healthy bank account. He is looked to for success. Because he is acknowledged as the source of success he is given 10% of the income. But the fish – or the money that can be gained – is the driving force. Jesus is not Lord. He becomes a means to an end.
Although the contrast scenario may seem absurd – is it really as absurd as it first sounds. Where is our focus? Is it on the fish--the things that Jesus can do for us-- or are we seeing Jesus for who he is and like Simon fall at his feet and declare him Lord.
The difference is immense. It is the difference between an “I” centred approach and a “Jesus” centred approach. Jesus wants to work through us to change the world. The church is key to God’s plan to redeem the world. You and I are an important part of his plan. But the church will not be what God desires if you and I want to use Jesus to catch more fish.
The church is the body of Christ and represents the hope of the world. Each one of us are called, gifted, and shaped by God to be the hands, feet, mouth and heart of Jesus in our world. Here at Kingston Standard we want everyone who is part of this congregation to be involved in doing the task of developing whole people in a broken world. That means being Jesus for the people around you wherever you find yourself.
Simon caught a glimpse of Jesus and was forever changed. Following Jesus became his passion. Through Simon, who we know as Peter, and the other disciples, the world was turned upside down. Jesus’ primary concern remains the same. He wants to work through us to bring his salvation to the people who are within our sphere of influence. Jesus is not to be doubted or used for our own purposes. He calls us to follow and to be his spokepersons in the world around us. In the words of the old Sunday School song, he wants to make us fishers of people—IF we will follow him!