Something Fishy

                One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 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. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

            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.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 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.

            When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 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.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1-11) 

            This passage is called "the calling of the disciples." Often, we're given the impression that one day, out of the blue, Jesus showed up on the beach, preached a sermon, performed a miracle and invited four men who had never seen Him before to abandon their careers - and they did. But yesterday, I shared with you that John the Baptist had identified Jesus as the Messiah, Andrew had met Jesus and brought Peter to meet Jesus.

      In John 1:43-51, we're told that the day after Peter met Jesus, Jesus called Philip and Nathaniel to follow him. In John 2:1-11, it says that "the third day" Jesus and His disciples were at the wedding in Cana where Jesus performed His first miracle (2:11). There are other events described that may have happened before the sermon on the seashore or the calling of the four, but at least 4 days separated Jesus' introduction to Peter from Peter's leaving his nets.

            There are two examples in this passage that are classic Peter to me. The first is that when Jesus told them to let down their nets, Peter said, " Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."  Peter, the fisherman, knows the sea. He knows fish. It's the wrong time of day, they haven't had any luck. They're tired. I hear some doubt, a little backtalk, and reluctant obedience - with perhaps a little "I'll humor Him, but He'll learn," thrown in.

           And then they caught fish, and he said, "“Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" Was he more sinful after the fish were caught than before or just more aware of his sin? Also, in case you forgot, they were in a boat overloaded with fish, at a considerable distance from shore. Just where did Peter think Jesus was supposed to go to get away from him? (Walking on the water happened later.)

          Like Peter, we're sometimes tempted to tell Jesus, "You don't understand." Sometimes when we go along with what the Bible tells us to do, we do so "just knowing" it won't work. Like Peter, we sometimes get to see ourselves a little more clearly when we obey. The miraculous catch of fish no doubt proved useful to the four families, but it wasn't about the fish. It was about who Jesus is, and who the disciples were. That is what obedience is still about.

            And if our reactions aren't quite according to some religious handbook somewhere, well, that is apparently OK, too. Obedience is required. Perfection is not. When they got to shore, Jesus didn't say, "James, John, Andrew, follow me and I'll make you fishers of men. Peter, you're too sinful. You keep mending your nets."