Let’s listen to the story in our gospel reading again. As you hear the story, imagine the scene. Perhaps close your eyes and picture the events unfold.
17 Jesus began to preach. “Turn away from your sins!” he said. “The kingdom of heaven is near.” 18 One day Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. There he saw two brothers. They were Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake. They were fishermen. 19 “Come. Follow me,” Jesus said. “I will make you fishers of people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers. They were James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee. As they were preparing their nets, Jesus called out to them. 22 Right away they left the boat and their father and followed Jesus. (Matthew 4:17–22).
As you imagined the story, what questions arose for you?
As I meditated on the story, there were two questions that stood out. Firstly, who is this Jesus fellow that Peter, Andrew, James, and John would drop simply drop their nets?! Secondly, what is Jesus actually doing here? What does his call mean? Let’s unpack these questions.
(1) Who is Jesus?
Who is this Jesus fellow that the four men would just drop their nets and leave everything to follow him? I mean, if someone came up to me and called out, “Come, follow me!” I don’t think that would be my response?
(a) Jesus is a compelling teacher worth following.
Immediately after calling his disciples, Jesus will sit on a mountain and teach what is arguably one of — if not the most — famous speeches ever given. This famous block of teaching is often called the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ (Matthew 5–7). ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit …’ (Matthew 5:3) he begins. As we’re going to hear over the coming weeks, Jesus’ teaching turns expected norms upside down (or perhaps right way round). Jesus is a compelling teacher worth following.
(b) Jesus is the promised Messiah and the Son of God.
However, Jesus is more than just a teacher. Jesus is the promised Messiah and the Son of God. The Gospel of Matthew opens with a long genealogy (Matthew 1:1–17), which connects Jesus to Abraham and the story of God’s people. One of Matthew’s favourite sayings is ‘so it was fulfilled.’ Jesus is the fulfilment of Scripture. He is the ancestor of Abraham and David, the one who was promised to save God’s people. After the birth story, which is also fulfilment, Jesus is baptised (Matthew 3:13–17). We heard this story a few weeks ago. God’s voice from heaven says, “This is my son whom I love. I am well pleased with him.” Then, like the people of God who were tested in the wilderness, Jesus is tempted in the desert. But unlike Israel who failed the test, Jesus triumphs, banishing Satan saying, “Away from me!” (Matthew 4:10). And now the promised one, God’s Son, calls out to these fishermen, “Come, follow me!” And when a compelling teacher calls out for you to drop everything, when the promised Messiah and the Son of God says to follow, you do!
(2) What does Jesus do?
What is Jesus actually doing in this story?
(a) Jesus calls his disciples.
This might sound obvious, but in Jesus’ day, a rabbi (a Jewish teacher) never called his disciples. Disciples would always choose their teacher. But Jesus doesn’t do normal. He calls his disciples. Think about this for a moment. These four fishermen — Peter, Andrew, James, and John — didn’t do anything to catch Jesus’ attention. They can’t do anything to warrant or deserve being called. They just go about their daily business.
Likewise, Jesus calls you as his disciple. You don’t choose him, but he chooses you. You don’t have to do anything to catch his attention — Jesus is already watching you. You can’t do anything to warrant or deserve being called — Jesus calls out to you. Can you hear his call?
(b) Jesus calls every day, regular people.
If I were assembling a team to organise a worldwide movement I would want the best of the best. The best PR person. The top HR consultant. Highly educated academics for a think tank. Someone to arrange all the logistics. A trustworthy treasurer to handle the money. If anyone can command and attract the best of the best you would think it’s the Son of God! Yet instead Jesus calls every day, regular people. A bunch of fisherman. An outcast tax collector (Levi aka Matthew). Ex-prostitutes. Beggars. The poor. Etc.
Jesus calls every day, regular people. Jesus calls you and me. Now there’s two ways to look at this. The first way is not so flattering: we are a team of misfits! And this is true isn’t it? As a church we have disagreements and quarrels; we experience the strain of misfit working alongside misfit. But we could also view the church as a team being developed. You know sometimes a sporting team recruits a bunch of rookies who need some work. The team doesn’t win many matches as these young players are being developed. But slowly, over time, the individuals and the team matures, they learn how to work with each other, and the coach challenges them and pushes them harder, expecting more and seeing greater results.
(c) Jesus promises to make fishers of people.
The third thing Jesus does in our story is he gives a promise. He says, “I will make you fishers of people” (Matthew 4:19). Jesus doesn’t want to leave us the way we are. As disciples he wants us to grow and change. He wants he is team here [at Alma Park/Walla] to develop. But how? How does Jesus make us into fishers of people? Jesus does this when we sit at his feet, listening and learning from him, maturing in faith.
Here’s a photo of the fence outside my house. This fence is like our discipleship. Notice the upright posts — posts at regular intervals provide strength and support. This is our regular Sunday worship. Then there are the bars (or wires) across the top and bottom. This is our morning and evening prayers. “Good morning Lord, thank you for protecting me during the night, keep me this day too” and “Good night Lord, thank you for sustaining me today, forgive me, and protect me through the night.” The mesh is all the other instances when God interacts with us through the day. A fence without posts won’t stand, and without wires or mesh the garden isn’t protected and can’t flourish. This is how Jesus makes us into fishers of people: regular worship, morning and evening prayers, daily life. (Based on ‘The fence around the garden’ at the LCA Commission on Worship webpage).
(3) How will you respond?
Jesus calls for you to follow him and promises to make you his disciple. “Come, follow me!” he calls. How will you respond? What does it mean that Jesus calls you?
(a) Live as a missionary (a fisher of people).
This call means that you — yes you! — are a missionary. You are a disciple. You are on Team Jesus. You have, you are, you will fish for people. Is Jesus calling you to “drop your nets” and quit your job? Maybe, but probably not. There is a distinction between pro/amateur, paid/unpaid. A pastor for example could be considered like a golf pro, who gets paid to play golf. And lay people (such as yourselves) are still golfers, you still play golf, but you also have means to support your playing. You don’t have to move to the other side of the world to be a missionary. You are all missionaries in your every day, regular life. Missionaries in your home, in your place of work (including school), in your community.
(b) Let Jesus make you into a fisher of people.
Jesus calls you to be his disciple. He calls you to sit at his feet to listen, watch, learn, and do. This is a lifelong calling. In order for Jesus to shape you as his disciples, for you to grow and develop, you need the protection of the fence to allow the garden to flourish: regular worship, morning and evening prayers, and daily life. An awareness of what God is doing in and through our lives. Perhaps at the end of each day you can ask, “Where did I see or hear God today?”
(c) Go out and fish!
Jesus wants his disciples to go out and fish. He wants you to live lives that show love toward God and neighbour. Go and help someone. Include an outcast. Tell someone what Jesus has done for you. Last year I challenged you to pay attention to one person or family, ideally an unchurched person or family. How are you going? Keep praying for them. Invite them over for a meal. Check in with them.
Sometimes in order to fish we need to prepare. We need to get the fishing rods ready, purchase bait, etc. James and John were preparing (mending) their nets when Jesus called. Likewise we need times when we prepare for mission. This year (2020) is going to be a year of preparation for us here at Walla Lutheran Parish. We’re going to intentionally spend some time preparing to fish for people. We have a number of Bible studies, books and resources, planned for this year. These will help us prepare and continue to share the good news that Jesus calls you. He calls you to be his disciple, to learn and be a missionary where he has placed you. And he promises to equip you as you meet him in regular worship, prayer, and daily life.
So let us pray. Lord Jesus, thank you for calling us to be your disciples. Help us to hear your call. You are a compelling teacher worth following. We have so much to learn. You are the promised Messiah, the very Son of God. Make us into your disciples. Make us into fishers of people. Equip us this day and this year as we desire and seek to proclaim your good news in word and deed. Fill us now with your Holy Spirit. Change and mature us. Amen.
