1/25/26 Pastor John's Sermon
Matthew 4:18-22
As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea- for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As Jesus went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Good morning and grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Maybe the day began as usual. Checking the conditions of the sea. Peering into the sky to notice if there are any signs of storms brewing. Noticing the directions and intensity of the winds. Mending nets and searching for any leaks in the boat. A normal start of the day until they noticed a man walking along the shore and calling out to them. He didn’t look familiar. Was he looking on to catch on as another fisherman on one of the boats?
Simon and Andrew gazed at one another, wondering. Zebedee could be heard mumbling something to his sons. The singular man approached the boats. He didn't seem dressed for a day on the sea. Simon thought he heard the man say something, possibly directed at Simon and Andrew. Simon questioned Andrew, "Did he say something about following him somewhere? For what?" Andrew nodded with uncertainty.
"Yes," the man asserted. "I am calling you to follow me." "For what and where might I ask?" Simon replied. Andrew acknowledged, "Can't you see that we are about to launch our boat into the sea?" Simon continued, "Who are you and what do you want from us? We are nothing more than Galilean fishermen trying to make a daily living." Andrew added, "We must set off now. We have a long day ahead of us."
The man on the shore explained, "I am Jesus from Nazareth. I'm calling you to follow me."
By this time James and John are overhearing the conversation between Simon and Andrew and the man on the shore. Jesus now looks in their direction and states emphatically, "You follow me as well. I will teach you to fish for people."
"Fish for people?" The two sets of brothers look confused and perplexed. But Jesus was insistent, "Follow me. There is important work to be done in sharing God's vision for all to hear. Now. We must be going. Now!" Simon seemed to be in a fog. Looking to both Andrew and further off towards John he asked hesitantly, "Did he say something about a kingdom? A kingdom from heaven? What does that have to do with us?" Andrew and John shook their heads approvingly. Caught off guard, uncertainty can set in. The two sets of brothers stood still, seemingly paralyzed by this curious man's request. Fear. Astonishment. Disbelief at what was happening. And again they heard- a command not merely an invitation- "Follow me!"
And to everyone's amazement, Simon, Andrew, James and John stepped out of their boats and immediately started to follow behind Jesus. They were in earshot of Jesus who continued to speak. The teaching has begun and lives forever changed.
As followers of Jesus we too are called. Called to listen to Jesus. Called to follow the path he sets before us, a path filled with promise and hope. But also a path of responsibility and accountability. We are not Galiean fishermen who are called to walk away from
their nets and to engage in a ministry of sharing God's word of hope and promise to wherever their steps might take them and before whomever God might place in their midst.
But the good news of Jesus has come to us. We are deeply and intimately connected to God's love and peace in and through Jesus who promises to walk with us in our faith journey no matter where and how that journey may unfold. And so we might ask ourselves in the abiding presence of Jesus and his steadfast love and care, are we willing to step away from the "safety and security of our so-called fishing nets and our daily routines" and immediately follow Jesus into new opportunities and possibilities of spreading the gospel and into the realization that the kingdom of heaven has drawn near?
Let us take this moment to take a good and long look at the world in which we are now living. Where and how are we able to recognize Jesus' presence in today's world? Where and how are we attuned to Jesus' voice and teaching? To where and how are we being called now to follow Jesus? Who might Jesus put in our midst that is in desperate need to hear the gospel in both word and action? The questions persist because so often many have abandoned the path of following Jesus and sought safety and security from other means. We all know what they are and how they seduce us. But because Jesus lives, there continues to be hope and promise, a hope that begins and is sustaining in and through love that enables us to see that the kingdom of heaven has drawn near. Thanks be to God!
So what comes next? What can we expect today, tomorrow, and into God's future? Who will we meet up with as we follow Jesus? How are our destinies linked with Jesus and God's promises? What will our discipleship look like?
The only way that we can have some semblance of surety is to listen to Jesus and to be able to see the presence of Jesus in others and in the situations and circumstances that meet us in our walk with Jesus. What kind of fish stories will we be able to share?
Will it have the face of a long, lost friend who can't seem to emerge from the shadows of despair and depression? Will it walk side by side with a familiar face in the community who has received a disturbing health diagnosis, one who has previously turned down your invitations to come to church with you? Will it be addressed in the stranger at the local convenience store/gas station who speaks pleadingly in broken English with any passersby for help to feed her children, as she repeatedly makes the sign of the cross across her chest. You do know that Jesus likes a good fish story. Oh the hope that Jesus teaches. Oh the promise that Jesus brings light to. Oh the possibility of recognizing the kingdom of heaven as we walk with Jesus. In so doing, the whole world will benefit and God's peace becomes more than just a good idea. Amen.