In the Deep Water of 2020
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase…
‘in deep water’?
It usually means you are in a bad situation;
something dangerous,
being overwhelmed,
or in a vulnerable position.
This year of 2020; you and I have felt these emotions.
We have certainly been in the deep water.
Fear of being in deep water is quite common:
your boat can sink,
you may drown,
and you never know what is lurking in the deep.
A year ago, we had no idea what was lurking
in the deep waters of 2020.
Throughout the Bible, the scriptures remind us
the dangers of the sea:
the Red Sea parts for Moses and the Israelites and
then covers the Egyptians;
Jonah is cast into the sea and swallowed by a whale;
Isaiah 43 reassures us of God’s presence
when we pass through the waters;
and in Matthew’s Gospel,
when Jesus walks upon the water,
Peter leaps into to the sea to meet him.
Fishermen have a fear and respect for the waters where they fish;
they know the power of the sea.
Here are a few facts about fishing in Biblical times:
Those who made their living by fishing did not work alone;
they had fishing co-operatives
that allowed multiple families to work together
and thus, share the risks and the burdens of the sea.
There were at least 2 boats working together and these were big boats!
How big?
According to the Archeological Study Bible:
When a boat from Jesus’ time was discovered on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee,
it was measured as 26.5 feet long and 7.5 feet wide.
It was a strong boat too,made of cedar and oak,
and could hold up to a ton, around 15 people or 5 crew and a catch of fish.
The boat was their security against the power of the sea.
Where do you and I find security against the ongoing waves we face today?
When community needs to social distance?
When peaceful protests for justice turn to anger and violence?
When fear overshadows our daily lives?
God.
God is present with us.
God has a call for each of us.
Jesus’ call to the fishermen to become disciples has meaning for you and me today.
These fishermen, Simon Peter, James, John and the others, knew the sea was something to respect,
it could take your life or provide you a living.
That was what was happening when Jesus came to them.
It was the usual daily routine;
they had been out all-night fishing, however, they returned with nothing.
Jesus gives them the instruction…
“Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
This simple command was to do something ordinary;
Jesus was not commanding the fish to jump in the boat or the sea to bring forth the fish,
simply
“…let down your nets...”
They had fished all night, with nothing to show for it.
What about the command from Jesus made Simon Peter give it one more try?
Was he humoring him? Thinking what can it hurt?
Had he been inspired by what he had heard Jesus teaching?
Or was it something deep inside Peter, a belief,
a true faith that he knew it was what must be done.
Do you and I have that same belief as Peter, knowing that if we give it one more try, good will come…
even after we have failed or been disappointed,
one more try may be all that is needed.
Peter obeyed.
“…they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.”
It was not just a catch of fish,
it was an abundant catch,
super-abundance!
Scarcity had become abundance through
an extraordinary act of grace.
Yet, there is more to the story than this example of abundance provided to the fishermen by God’s grace through Jesus.
This is a call story.
Jesus calling the disciples:
“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”
I like the reassuring words Jesus begins with
Do not be afraid.
Jesus is about to ask them to do something extra-ordinary, something new.
What new things have come our way?
A new way of worship, fellowship, staying connected to God and neighbor.
Could the events of 2020 that have overwhelmed us,actually be the path to abundance?
Super-abundance?
Might these events be the push you and I and the church needs to go from ordinary routine
to something new and extra-ordinary?
For the fishermen, catching fish is what they know how to do,catching people?
What might that even mean?
In the Old Testament fishing was a metaphor for gathering people for judgment.
In the New Testament, fishing has a different meaning…
gathering women and men for the Kingdom of God; not gathering for judgment,
catching people is rescuing them from death.
Like many call stories throughout the Bible,
Jesus approaching the disciples follows a familiar pattern:
~there is a moment of divine epiphany,
God’s grace revealed through the abundance of the catch;
~a response of unworthiness,
Simon Peter responds with humility …fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying,
“Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”
~reassurance is given…
Do not be afraid.
~then a commission is given…
you will be catching people.
~and finally, obedience…
When they had brought their boats to shore,they left everything and followed him.
You and I have our times of doubt; many times, we get stuck at the feeling of unworthiness.
What we need to remember is the re-assurance,
Do not be afraid.
We know God can part the sea,
catch us when we are cast overboard,
calm the storm,
and guide us above the waters.
God has a call on each and every one of our lives;
from the simple and ordinary to the extra-ordinary.
What you and I need to embrace is the knowledge
that God is with us as we follow the commission we are given.
The disciples had the courage, the faith, to leave everything behind and follow Jesus.
Those words ‘left everything’ brings up a question or two of concern for me…
they had brought in a super-abundant catch of fish…
did they leave it behind and go?
This great abundant blessing could not be meant to go to waste or rot on the shore;
The fish too are God’s creation and they too have a purpose in God’s plan beyond exhibiting abundance.
What I understand,
these fishermen could leave everything behind because of the abundance of the catch;
Yes, we are told Simon Peter, James and John go and follow Jesus,
but remember they are not lone fishermen, they are part of a family co-operative.
The families they leave behind will be taken care of; such an abundant catch will provide for them.
God’s grace.
The fishermen themselves are ‘caught’ by Jesus.
He has not only caught them, he has reeled them in!
Back to the idea of the deep water…
perhaps, when you and I are in daily life situations,
when we feel overwhelmed, in over our heads, and ‘in deep water’,
we can look at the situation differently.
You and I look to the future with hope,
with faith,
with the knowledge that God is with us!
What is lurking underneath may lead to abundance;
you and I may be discouraged,
yet, we can find the faith to give it one more try.
As disciples of Jesus we have been caught, reeled in by God!
Each ‘fish’ caught by the disciples will become a witness,
a fisherman to catch more people and the cycle will go on and on.
There is a hymn called Will You Come and Follow Me
Christ asking a simple question with lyrics that include…
‘Will you go where you don’t know?’
‘Will you leave yourself behind?’
‘Will you quell the fear inside?’
You and I have answered yes Lord!
In the deep water?
Cast your net…discover abundance…
embrace humility…be courageous…
have faith…follow…witness…GO Fishing!
