The
Fifth Sunday after Trinity.
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G
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The
Collect.
RANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that
the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that
thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
1 And it came to pass, that, as the
people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of
Gennesaret, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the
fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And
he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he
would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people
out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto
Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your
nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him,
Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at
thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done,
they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And
they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they
should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that
they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at
Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For
he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes
which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons
of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11 And
when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. (Luke
5:1-11)
Jesus is once again by the shores of Galilee
(Gennesaret). As usual, people of all stripes are pressing around Him, either
for the sake of healing and hearing, or for a glimpse at a popular figure. Many
today are no different from this latter crowd. They enjoy the `popularity' of
Christ and being `called' Christian. Have you ever asked yourself what it
is about Christ that most appeals to your own heart? Is it itching ears you
have to hear a new word, or is it the Word of Truth that you truly seek?
We observe in today's Gospel text the third
call of Peter, James, Andrew and John – this time to Apostleship. There were
two previous calls of increasing import – John 1:35-42 & Matt 4:18-22. This
third is the chief call. It is much like our level of ministry in Holy Orders.
2 And saw two ships
standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing
their nets. The ships of fishermen usually dock in the morning after a
long and weary night of fishing. Night is the best time to fish for fish, and
it is the best time to fish for men. Those who walk in darkness have great
need of Light, and this Light we present to them so that "The people
who sat in darkness have seen a great Light" and that Light is
Christ! Fish are easily caught at night due to the dangers of limited
vision. Those who walk in darkness as well fall prey to the snares of the
devil.
The two ships are notable. The one into
which Jesus steps are much like the Jewish nation to which He came first. The
second is like unto the Gentile nations. In the end, both who follow Him are
filled to capacity with great blessing.
3 And he entered into one of the
ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from
the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
The multitudes are great and press closely on
Christ. He can hardly move an elbow for the press. He enters Simon's ship and
asked him to cast out some short distance from the shore. This vantage point
will separate Him from the crowd and its worldly concerns of His popular
appeal. They represent the world, and He sits apart from the world and preaches
to those who stand in it. It is often necessary for a minister to separate
himself from the petty politics of the parish and get a deep-seated stand on
the Word of God that he may preach with power and conviction, unmoved by public
opinion.
Jesus, unlike many modern "Jumping Jacks
of the Pulpit", often sat down to preach and teach. He spoke in even and
calm accents. He sat as one having authority and not needing to scream to
awaken heaven and hell to His Person.
Jesus now gives a command that would seem
ridiculous to a seasoned fisherman of little or no faith: 4 Now when
he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch
out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. It
might seem at first strange that so common a teacher as Jesus could command the
immediate obedience of rough men of the sea, but Jesus was no common teacher,
and His disciples would be, no more, rough men of the sea. Christ, through the
disciples' knowledge of Him gleaned from past observation, commanded respect,
obedience, and action. He has full authority over the lives of those who
consider themselves His disciples – that includes you and me.
The bright morning sun would preclude a
reasonable possibility of catching fish; yet, these fishermen knew that
whatever Christ commanded was reasonable even if a miracle were required to
bring about the result.
Of course, obedience to Christ will always
result in munificent reward.
Do not simply "launch out", but
also "let down you nets," and not simply "let down your
nets", but let them down for a draught of fish! Even if God's commands may
seem unreasonable to us, we obey to the letter and wait for the miracle.
We might prefer to fish for bait fish along
the near shore, but Christ commands us to launch out far into the deep – that
is where the large catches are made – Africa, India, Asia, America, the darkly
lit streets of New York!
So what response do we expect from a faithful
disciple?
5 And Simon
answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken
nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. The labors
of the hands of men profit nothing apart from the hand of the Lord working in,
and through, him. Working all the long night will avail no riches in heaven
unless it is in obedience to God's Word.
Even though the disciple has labored all
night, at the opportune time for fishing, and achieved nothing at all, yet, the
Lord's commands are not empty of meaning. Peter acknowledges that he has failed
in his own strength to catch any fish, but, "at Thy Word"
Peter will let down the net. We can fish for men all we like under our own
power, but we will change no hearts, nor save any souls. It is the Holy Ghost
working in the hearts to draw them to the NET that counts.
6 And when they had this done, they
inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. Even when we
begin with faith, we are overcome in amazement at the surprising power of God
to bring victory from hopelessness. It is unlikely that these men had
ever caught so many fish that their nets began to break, but at the most
inopportune time of day for fishing, this is the very thing that happened.
Obedience to God ALWAYS pays dividends.
The laborer may look at his pitiful seven
loaves of bread and wonder how can this ever provide sufficiency to feed a
family, or a household with guests, but he then remembers the One who fed on
one occasion four thousand, and on another, seven thousand, with such little
provision of bread. That increase, which God gives, though seemingly small,
will always be sufficient to meet the needs.
7 And they beckoned
unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and
help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
Instead of constantly struggling for the greatest mansion of a building, or for
pride and prestige, the churches should be working for the greater need – the
salvation of souls and propagation of the Gospel. Instead of playing petty
politics with sex and sin, they should be manning the rescue boats for the
saving of souls. And they must labor together and not at odds with each
other or the Word of God in doing so. The number of boats will never be
sufficient to land the haul of souls caught in the net of the Gospel if we are
obedient to God.
8 When Simon Peter
saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful
man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with
him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken.
Are you astonished at the work of Christ in
your own life and that of others? If not, perhaps you need to be more diligent
in prayer and study. Do you believe that Simon Peter really desired
Christ to depart from him? Not at all! He could not suppress his humility and
gratitude that such a Majestic Lord would bend ear to him. Though Peter had
come to expect the unexpected, he was nevertheless surprised at the Grace and
Power of God evidenced by Jesus.
We note, first, the awakening of conscience
in Peter. When he observed the righteousness and glory of Christ in comparison
to his own poverty stricken soul, he was ashamed of his own sins. Have you
been?
Following the awareness of our sins comes the
cry of fear and contrition! How can Christ receive poor Peter in view of his
past sins? How can Christ receive you and me in view of our past sins? But He
does!
10 And so was also
James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus
said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou
shalt catch men. If Christ
abides with you, FEAR NOT! Yes, you have been heavy laden with sins, but He
will remove that unbecoming yoke from your shoulders and place His own yoke
upon you that does not bear down, but rather lifts up. Your earthly nets may
break with sin, but Christ will make you fishers of men and that NET will never
give out for abundance. In the two previous Gospel accounts of fishing, Christ
had told them that He would make them fishers of men. Now, they are told that
they SHALL catch men.
11 And when they had
brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. The
disciples had abandoned all to follow Christ on previous occasions: And
they straightway left their nets, and followed him. (Matt 4:20) And
following the Crucifixion, they did so again: Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing.
They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a
ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. (John 21:3) Following this event when Christ
again commanded them to drop their nets, Peter and the others never returned to
their secular professions. They left the life of fishers of sea creatures, and
took up the full mantle of fishers of men according to Christ's command to them
– and to us! Are you?
