Epiphany Calling

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:10b-11 ESV) The Light of Epiphany plunges the deep and draws out of the darkness a catch that ultimately frees all to follow. Today at International Lutheran Church we continue our encounter with the “light” of Jesus’ Epiphany and how that light draws us in and captures us alive!

Last year, Chenhsi and I had the opportunity to go with the cub scouts and their families on a winter ice fishing expedition at the HwaCheon Ice Fishing Festival outside of Seoul. While it was cold, it reminded me of my feeble attempts to ice fish in Iowa on the lake in front of my parents’ 2^nd home. The two biggest differences that I noticed right away were that first the holes were already precut in the ice. No chipping or dangerous digging into the ice. And the second and probably most exciting difference was that everyone was catching something! Only later did I learn that even if you didn’t catch a fish there was still a grilled one ready for you to eat when you got too cold and decided to go inside the tent. Still for me the best part of the whole adventure was getting a chance to talk to the families and kids who had gone along.

Why a story about fishing? Because this is the moment when we see that the light of Jesus’ Epiphany calls us, “captures” us, and brings us into a new relationship with Him, creating for us not only a new identity, but a new profession! The mixture of metaphors or allegorical elements should not distract or confuse us. Jesus’ popularity is growing because of the things He is doing, but also the things He is saying. Jesus is teaching the people the “word of God” Luke says! They are hearing not just a prophet but the LORD Himself share with them the truths of His love and care for us all. No wonder the crowds were starting to come. In fact, Luke says that Jesus used the lake as a kind of sound projection and the boat as a way for Him to speak to these growing crowds. Simon and his buddies didn’t mind. They were busy washing their nets and were certainly willing to let Jesus take advantage of their unused equipment. What happened next is the catch. But maybe not what we would think. Actually, this kind of “capture” literally frees the captive.

Jesus’ request to Simon was simple enough. “Let’s go fishing!” And even though Simon noted the unlikely result, he had certainly seen and heard enough that Jesus’ word was to be considered. What Simon, and honestly myself included, don’t often capture is the depth to which Jesus’ word goes. Somehow it can get past all the obstacles and hidden parts of our own hearts to grab ahold of us. But I should be careful not to allegorize the reality of the many fish that were caught that day. Indeed, there were so many fish, in fact, that Simon and Andrew had to signal to James and John by motioning with their heads that they needed help as their hands were busy. Luke says that there were two boats full of fish even to the point where they were about to sink. There was nothing ordinary about this at all! This is why Simon would say “Away from me.” He was scared to think about what this meant. Jesus is no master – He is LORD – God in the flesh! Just as Isaiah was undone, along with Moses and Jacob – to see God can only mean to have all our sin and brokenness exposed in the light of His Epiphany.

Yet, Jesus came for this reason and was sent to Simon out on a lake that He would catch not fish, but a man – Simon - and not just one but his brother and his friends and partners. Jesus says only “Don’t be afraid!” Why? Because we have a new identity in Him. We are no longer sinners, but saints. We are made holy in His holiness. Our new identity also makes us part of His fishing expedition to catch all people to this new life. They got up and left all, because in Jesus they had found something more precious than anything else they had ever experienced. They were recipients of His grace and freedom. Jesus would not just venture to the middle of a lake to perform a miracle of a great catch of fish, but he would be let down into the depths of our sin on the cross that God would capture us from the grip of Satan and bring us into His marvelous light.

And now this morning this call is fulfilled in our lives. His word is penetrating the dark and deep of my soul and yours that we would not be caught to death but caught to life in Him. He is inviting one and all to “come and see.” Taste and touch. Feel the wind in your face and the swell of His love for you. You and I are now wrapped in His “nets.” Your life and mine have been captured and transformed in Baptism through His Living Word. He has made us His “dragnet” unto life. Our faith is not just a personal deposit for ourselves but a call to all to follow and fellowship in Him.

Just as Luke was caught up in the story of Jesus’ call to the first disciples, Jesus’ words captivate not only the crowds, not only Simon and his partners, not only even Luke, but you and me to a life of “capturing” all to a new life of following our Savior Jesus.

Pastor Carl