Imagine for just a moment that you are there that day, by the lake, with Jesus. There is a crowd gathered on the shore listening to Jesus teach. And then there are the people in the boats, who go out with Jesus in order to do some more fishing. Which group are you in? Are you merely a listener and observer, standing on the shore? Or, are you an active participant, going out with Jesus in order to catch some fish?

Just in case you were wondering, this is not just a theoretical question. Each one of us probably does have a preference as to which group we would be in. However, if we truly desire to follow Jesus Christ and to put our faith in him, then there is only one group that we can be in. For, following Jesus requires an active response. Following Jesus means that we, too, "will be catching people" (Lk. 5:10). This is simply part of what it means to be members of the body of Christ, for the body of Christ is living and active and growing, and always ready to put down the nets again in order to welcome more people into the kingdom of God.

Now, of course, all of this presumes that we have actually met Jesus and have seen his power and have been moved to respond to his grace and love for us. It is pretty difficult to commit ourselves to following Jesus if we haven't encountered him first. In Simon Peter's case, it happens in this order in the Gospel of Luke: First, Jesus comes to Capernaum and heals a whole bunch of people, including Simon's mother-in-law (Lk. 4:31-41). The next thing that happens is today's gospel reading, in which Simon hears more of Jesus' teaching and also witnesses the miraculous catch of fish (Lk. 5:1-7). Immediately, Simon realizes that he is in the presence of a holy man. He falls down at Jesus' knees in an act of worship and, feeling totally unworthy, asks Jesus to go away from him. Then Simon confesses that he is a sinful man. But Simon's sinfulness isn't about to scare Jesus away. Instead, Jesus says to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people" (Lk. 5:10). And Simon's final response to Jesus is to leave everything behind and follow him.

Although we are obviously not Simon Peter, his experience in today's gospel does illustrate for us an appropriate response to Jesus' ministry. Our encounter with Jesus might happen in a number of different ways: through the Scriptures, through Word and Sacrament, through those who model the love of Christ in their lives, ... However we might encounter Jesus, the appropriate response is the same. First of all, we worship, in amazement at what he has done, and in acknowledgment of our own unworthiness and sinfulness. Then, having heard Jesus' words of forgiveness and acceptance, we are released from our former lives, in order to follow Jesus.

As we do so, though, it is well to take note of what happens when we step out in faith and actually risk getting into the boat with Jesus and going out into deeper water. When we do so, it's not just a pleasure ride. Once the nets start filling up with fish, it will be more work than we can handle all by ourselves. There will be such an abundance that we'll have to call others in to help - not just to get the fish into the boat, but to look after them once they're there. To follow Jesus and to trust in him means abundance, and hard work, and eternal life, and leaving our old selves behind.

This is true both for us as individuals, and for us as a congregation. In fact, today's gospel also has a lot to say to us about what it means to be part of God's church. For years, a boat has been one of the most commonly used images to represent the church. "Going fishing" involves bringing more people into the church. This is not an optional activity for us as Christians. Rather it is what we are called to do.

Now, lest there be some misunderstanding here, this does not mean that we drag people into the church against their will or somehow trick them into coming. Rather, perhaps it would be more accurate to talk about captivating people with the love of Jesus and with God's life-giving grace. If verse 10 in today's gospel was translated literally, it would say, "from the now, you shall be catching alive people" (Stoffregen - http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/luke5x1.htm ). One suggestion for an alternate translation is this: "You will be restoring people to life and strength" (ibid.). The idea is to captivate people in such a way that it is life-giving rather than "life-taking," for Jesus has come to bring abundant life (Jn. 10:10)!

However, people will not be captivated or given much life without some willingness to work on our part. Those of you who fish will probably know that it doesn't work too well to simply sit in the boat waiting for the fish to jump in. You could sit there for years and not catch very many fish that way! Yet, aren't there churches that seem to operate that way? "Oh - people know where we are. They'll come if they want to." Perhaps - but it might help some to invite them and to communicate the love of Christ in all that we say and do (which means at all times and in all places!).

Earlier I asked you to picture yourself as part of the scene in today's gospel and distinguished between two groups: the crowd on the shore, and the people in the boats. Rick Warren, in a book called The Purpose Driven Church, identifies five different groups of people in relation to the church. First of all there is the community. Those are the people who are "unchurched" so to speak. The second group is the crowd. Those are the people who regularly attend church. The third group is the congregation. Those are the people who are members of the church. The fourth group is the "committed." These are the people who are members and have been maturing in their faith. Finally, there is a fifth group: the core. These are the people who are lay ministers - who minister to others both within the congregation and outside of it as volunteers. The hope is that people would continue to learn and to grow so that there is always movement between the groups: From the community to the congregation. From the crowd to the committed. From the congregation to the core. A congregation that is truly growing does not just add people to the crowd, but is also increasing the number of committed and core members.

Now, the only thing that I don't like about this description of the groups of people related to the church is that it makes it sound like there are different levels of Christians. Harry Wendt, the author of The Divine Drama, makes it clear that there is no such thing as different levels of salvation. One person cannot be more "saved" than another person. However, there are differences in the way that people respond to God's salvation. Perhaps we could say that, the greater the response, the greater the abundance of life that we experience.

In today's gospel, Peter was the one who went all out and risked going out into deeper waters with Jesus. The abundance that he experienced was obvious in the miraculous catch of fish. Peter's next risk was to confess to Jesus his sinfulness and unworthiness. Yet, Peter found only an abundance of love and forgiveness on Jesus' part. Finally, Peter risked leaving everything that he had ever known behind in order to follow Jesus. Later in the gospel of Luke, Peter receives a promise (as do the other disciples). Jesus says,

So... Is it worth it? Is it worth it to leave everything behind in order to follow Jesus? I suspect that if we were to ask Peter that question, the answer would be an unequivocal "Yes!". I suspect that Peter would say "Yes" in spite of the trials that he would face, like ridicule, and imprisonment, and torture, and even death. He would say that it was all worth it because of the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and of being filled with the abundant life and love that comes from the Holy Spirit. He would say that it is infinitely and eternally worth it to be able to experience resurrection and eternal life in the presence of God.

May we, too, experience this abundant life and love, living in the hope of resurrection and eternal life, as we seek to follow Jesus in faith, hope and love. Amen.

Epiphany 5(C) Luke 5:1-11  February 8, 2004 St. Luke's Zion Lutheran Church

? 2004 Lynn Hutchison All Rights Reserved