Jesus invited the fishermen to relearn how to fish. Here is a carpenter trying to teach fishermen how to fish. Perhaps the skill of carpentry is transferable to other trades, like fishing. Peter Drucker in the book called “Management Challenges for the 21st Century[1]” discussed how "knowledge workers" have skills and knowledge that are invaluable to an organization and may be transferable to other lines of work through retraining. Carpentry! Fishing! Now I’m not much for fishing, so if you want some fishing information or fishing supplies, go to Cabella’s
I took my two young children there this past Monday afternoon. It’s over by the Sears Center in Hoffman Estates and I was told they have a big fish tank. We saw these humungous cat fish that were huge, that is no fish tale. Now the place is full of fishing and hunting gear; two stories worth of these supplies. Every kind of lure, fishing pole; boat and tackle box you could ever want. What did I get to expand my fishing gear? I ended up getting this great hat! If I’m going to go fishing anytime soon, I want to look good, even though it’s not a fishing hat, it more of a cowboy hat. I saw my brother on Sunday and he had my dad’s cowboy hat from after he died in 1985. My dad didn’t even know that his dad was from Colorado and that they were ranchers and farmers. What can a rancher or farmer teach you today about fishing? Not sure, but if the hat fits, where it!
You see I have only one fishing hook in my possession (show the hook). It has been in my desk for quite a few years. I was given this fishing hook in 1998 when I was installed here as the pastor from Bishop Wollersheim. Many of you know that the Bishop is an avid fishermen and this hook still sits in my desk as a reminder to keep fishing in this place in new ways, whatever it takes to catch and release people into life and ministry. This one simple hook has one simple message for us to relearn. We are all called to relearn fishing today!
Even though Jesus wasn’t a fisherman, he would teach these disciples many things in three years! Jesus was walking along the lake of Galilee to begin his ministry. Now Galilee means ring, circuit of circle. The Matthew passage said “Galilee of the Gentiles, or heathen circle. Now the Lake of Galilee is 13 miles north and south and 8 miles east and west; there were nine cities around this lake with plenty of fishermen. I was there in 1985 and it is a beautiful region with high international traffic flow. Galilee is surrounded by outsiders[2] like the Phoenicians on the west and Syrians on the North and East and Samaritans to the south.
These fishermen who are called by Jesus will be given a fishing lesson by a carpenter. This will be a chance for them to RE-LEARN what it means to fish for people. There is nothing like re-learning a familiar skill or to learn how to apply the knowledge we have perhaps to a different situation. Jesus will spend three years with these disciples teaching them about fishing, especially after they were caught and released when Jesus was crucified and resurrected.
Jesus called fishermen: common people; not poor but hard working men who had a knowledge that was transferable; disciplined; committed and very little religious training. They had never gone to seminary. Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people. How will they fish? Well the do dragnet fishing, like the way James and John are fishing with their dad. There was also net cast fishing like the way Peter and Andrew were fishing. Only Jesus was doing line fishing.
What do we need to relearn? We live in our own Galilee, a circle of heathens that live all around us and that includes us. On the Link to Lead website, it shows that 33% of our area is completely unchurched, and another 30% very little church experience. We have much to re-learn when it comes to catching people for Christ. What are some of the characteristics we will have to relearn if we are going to be fishing for people? (Wait for responses) “Patience” someone said; “go early in the morning” another said, especially to be present for people in order to be the calming presence during a new situation. We can also learn perseverance; courage; discerning; right bait and a willingness to leave the shore and venture out into the waters.
We will also have to cast the net in a different location! Many times a fisherman will want to fish in the same spot. Like disciples who will leave the comfort of Galilee and eventually go to Jerusalem, we are called to go to new places. Like the disciples who will be cast farther then ever after the death and resurrection of Christ, we will be sent to people we have never met before. Like the disciples, Jesus will catch and release them after they have discovered a deeper fellowship; we are called to deeper waters of fellowship. We remember the saying, “You catch them and God cleanse them.”
Now I went fishing this week with Bob out on Crystal Lake. Bob is a great fisherman. I’ve never gone ice fishing before and we dropped in our lines in the water and Bob caught dozens of fish while I hadn’t even got a bite. I asked Bob, "What’s your secret?" Bob answered, "Mmu motta meep da mmrms mmrm." I said what? He answered, "Mmu motta meep da mmrms mmrm." Again I asked, "What?" Bob spit into his hand and said, "You gotta keep the worms warm!" I’m kidding, I didn’t go fishing with him, but he is sure a good fisherman. You see we have to keep the warmth of community growing stronger if we are going to “lure” people into faith. We must ask the fire of the Holy Spirit to warm our faith through the word and worship.
Prayer: Gracious God, we have learned much in following the ways of Jesus. You call out to us to re-learn what it means to follow and your spirit is here to warm us through the word, in this meal, and in our relationships with one another. Teach us how to fish so that others would know that you have not cast them away from your presence. Lure us all back to you as you give us a bite of your mercy, in Jesus name we pray, Amen.
[1] Peter F. Drucker, ©2001, Collins Publishing
[2] Commentary by Barclay
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