Second, we note in these opening sentences, that Jesus was aware of the environment around Him. He saw the boats and the tired idle fishermen mending their nets. He perceived they could render a service to His cause. He took advantage of the opportunity and used the means around Him to accomplish His central goal of proclaiming God's Word. He asks Simon Peter to assist Him by taking Him out a bit in the boat. From here Jesus addressed the crowd more effectively.

Our ministry in the church must remain committed to the central goal of proclaiming God's Word without compromise to our generation. We must also analyze our environment and use those appropriate means to make us effective in accomplishing our central goal. Our means must not become our end, nor does our end justify just any means.

II. the Challenge of Jesus Christ (vv. 4-5)

When Jesus finished teaching, He directed a challenge to Simon Peter. The challenge is to step out beyond all that his experience had taught him. To take the boat out into deep waters to fish made no sense to Peter's natural thinking. This challenge stretched him beyond what he could see or understand. Would he trust the word of Jesus over and above that which he considered reality?

Accepting Christ's' challenge and move in "trust" was accentuated in that Peter reported they had worked hard all night but for all their efforts, they were fruitless. Nevertheless, Peter accepts the challenge on the sole basis of the word of Jesus. By making this initial step of faith Peter would graduate to a greater challenge, Kingdom-style fishing. Faith is required for that kind of fishing.

III. The Call of Jesus Christ (vv. 6-11)

Trusting in faith upon the words of Jesus they step out, drop nets, and begin to pull in the catch. Here a miraculous sign is given to confirm Christ's Word. So many fish requires the other boat and even then they nearly sink with such a catch.

Peter recognizes this Christ who calls nature to order and it obeys! Peter also recognizes his sinfulness. Such is always the case when we see the glory of God. In fear, Peter realizes this is not his usual context and he cannot measure up to this spiritual power.

Jesus responds to this fear, this attitude of ineptness with another challenge of faith. Fearfulness need not hinder acceptance of His challenge to do "Kingdom fishing." It is simply a matter of faith. Moving beyond all that they knew in life to that point, they stepped in faith to follow Christ. Leaving behind their old agenda and their oldstrategies they walked into the unknown. Fishing with Jesus meant discerning and seeking a new central objective and new strategies to reach it. However, Peter makes that first step, it is our first step too. We must trust Christ and follow His pattern. (Joseph Byrd).

Epiphany 6 (C)

Sunday, February 15, 1998

No More Pie in the Sky

Luke 6:17-26

Whenever a friend or co-worker approaches you with a real dilemma, do you have a tendency mindlessly to quote Romans 8:28? Before you know it, you find yourself saying something like, "Don't worry, just trust in Jesus and it will all be okay in the end."