Luke 5: 1-11 (Common English Bible)

In the background of this gospel reading there is hostility between traditional Judaism and the Jewish followers of Jesus. The oppression of the Roman Empire adds to this hostility and conflicts within the early church and contributes to the writer Luke’s sense of chaos.

The deep water of chaos swirls around us today. Our culture has been driven so long by selfishness, we don’t seem to know how to function any other way. And when desires and needs collide, chaos happens.

People are more concerned over things that shouldn’t matter like the Super Bowl this Sunday, and ignore things that should matter. The hostility and chaos that concerned Luke, is the same hostility and chaos we experience today. If anything, it feels like it must be worse than it’s ever been. But most people have always found ways to be angry with one another.

But Jesus says, Head out to the deep water. Let us go where the chaos exists. In other words, get back out there where you have experienced failure. Get back out there where you don’t want to go. Go back out there where you’ve been working so hard you’re exhausted. Even though you’re tired, go where the chaos is.

We get tired because it seems like the present evil around us will never end. There are worries that plague us, worries about health-care and Social Security being cut, the terrible genocide done to the Palestinian people in Gaza and other places. Will this evil ever end we ask?

But Jesus tells us to go back to the deep water, the chaos and a place without hope. It may be the last thing we want to do. We’re exhausted from trying strategies and programs that don’t seem to work.

But Jesus steps into that boat. I believe he probably got his hands dirty while pulling up the nets. Jesus worked alongside Simon and his brother Andrew, and Jesus probably smelled like fish by the time they were done. But Jesus was no doubt waving his hands to signal success. And it was a success, their boat was overloaded with fish.

One can think this was a very dramatic move by Simon, who was skeptical of Jesus bringing forth any fish. And now Simon falls down at his feet and calls Jesus, “Lord.” Simon’s confession is his moment of grace, and for the rest of his life will become one of sanctification. 

The early Pietists, which was a movement of 17th century German Lutherens who practiced holiness, asked three questions about the Bible. What does it teach? What does it command? And does it promise?

First Jesus says, “Go out into the deep water and let down your nets.” Why is Jesus guiding people where to go? What chaos is Jesus inviting people to address? What blessings are people ready to receive when people fully trust Jesus out there in the deep water? Luke writes, “When they had done what Jesus commanded, they caught so many fish their nets were beginning to burst.” Are we ready for that kind of blessing?

The second command comes from Simon when he said, “Go away from me Lord.” Simon knew his own sins made him unworthy to be in the same boat with Jesus. How often is it when people view their sins as a barrier to God’s blessing? And how often are people willing to accept Christ’s forgiveness and grace for their mistakes?

Sometimes people might resist having the blessing God wants to bring us. Many people feel unworthy for God to use them. But maybe there is that fear of change they would experience not only in their lives but also through their society around them. Jesus went into the deep water not only to catch fish, but as a symbol of victory over any chaotic evil around us. And Jesus ignored Simon’s request to go away. Jesus does not go away if you really love him.

Jesus is inviting all of us to go into the chaos to attract others to follow his teachings. It takes great humility to ask for help, but Jesus will never turn you away. It takes humility to be the bait that pulls in those who are hungry for God.

The Christ asks people to go into the deeper water, the chaos of the world, and be God’s bait for love and justice. The Christ invites everyone to leave behind everything that Jesus condemned, and be ready for a new vision of the world that God expects. The fish are out there. They are hungry. And they’re waiting for someone to throw out that net.

AMEN