Jesus Sought Me

Rev. Debbie Cato
Psalm 25:1-10 and Luke 5:1-11
Fairfield Community Church
February 18, 2024 

Creator God, You hear everything. You hear the rush of the wind through the trees. You hear a baby’s first cry. You hear the crickets chirping, our silent prayers, and laughter around dinner tables. You hear it all!

We don’t need that same capacity, but we do need to hear your Word, O God.  So today we pray that you would give us the ability to truly listen. Give us the ability to listen with our hearts, and may the truths revealed in your scripture today change us.  With hearts full of gratitude we pray,  amen.

 

Jesus Sought Me

 

This Lent, we are focusing on the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most famous disciples. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter, we often see ourselves. By following Peter’s journey, we watch the story of Jesus unfold through the eyes of a very normal human trying to figure it all out—just like us.[1]

In this sermon series, we want to affirm that faith is a constant journey of steadfast pursuit; one that ebbs and flows. We want to affirm that wandering is exploration, not necessarily distance from God. We want to affirm the ways Peter keeps going; he drops his nets, he walks on water, he runs to the empty tomb, he swims to the shore to meet the risen Christ. But, Jesus also calls him Satan and Peter denies knowing Jesus – three times. Yet, Peter keeps searching and yearning and loving, even after missteps or mistakes. Ultimately, in Peter’s story, we are reminded that God loves imperfect people—in fact, time and again, that’s precisely who God claims and calls.[2]

Like many of us, Peter has a wandering heart. His journey is not polished, or linear, or perfect, but he is always tethered to the love of God. When you look closely at Peter’s story, you find Jesus at each step along the way—offering him abundance, catching him when he begins to sink, challenging him when he stands in the way, washing his feet, predicting his betrayal, and offering him agapē love. This Lent, we’re joining Peter in figuring out our own faith. We’re not idolizing or vilifying him; instead, we’re hoping to wander alongside him, open to what we might learn about Jesus (and ourselves) by stepping in Peter’s shoes.[3]

Peter was not the apostle’s given name; Jesus gave it to him.  Peter is a Greek name meaning “rock”.  His Aramaic name was Simon (long o) which would have meant “hearing” or “obedient.”  Occasionally, his name is transliterated into Greek as Symeon.  The fact that he has both an Aramaic and Greek name is significant; it tells us he was both bilingual and lived in an environment that was heavily influenced by the Greeks.[4]

Jesus gave Simon the new name “Peter” in keeping with a character trait desired for him; “a man of rock”.  In Hebrew tradition name changes were important, especially when God is the one who gives the new name.  God changed Abram to Abraham which means “ancestor of a multitude.”  He changed Jacob’s name to Israel which means “God strives.”[5]  A Man of Rock is someone who is solid; someone you can depend on. Bedrock provides a solid foundation on which to build.  Although Peter struggles at times, in the end, he lives up to the meaning of his new name that Jesus gives him.[6]

Simon Peter and his brother Andrew were partners in a domestic fishing business with a man named Zebedee and his two sons, James and John.  Simon owned one of the boats, perhaps one he had inherited from his father.  They employed hired hands or day laborers who assisted with rowing, handling sails, managing and drying the large dragnets as well as sorting fish.

Unlike using a pole, line, and hooks like we do today, the fishermen in Jesus’ day caught fish primarily by using nets. There were casting nets that were weighted. They would be thrown over the side of a boat. After it would sink a little, the net would then be gathered together with ropes, with hopes to trap fish in the net as it was gathered. There were also drag nets. These were also weighted, but they were spread out between two boats. This type of fishing required patience with hopes of the fish getting caught within the nets as it is slowly pulled in. Like Peter and James and John did, fishing usually took place at night.[7]

Our scripture today is when Jesus calls the first disciples.  But let’s remember that this is not Peter’s first interaction with Jesus.  In Luke 4:38-39, Jesus goes into Simon’s house and heals his mother-in-law who was suffering from a high fever.  Immediately she got up and began to serve them – I assume she fixed them a meal. She performs the duties of a hostess.

As the narrative in today’s passage unfolds, Peter and his crew were fishing all night long. After a long night of fishing, they didn’t catch anything.  They must have been tired and discouraged.  When Jesus arrives that morning and tells Peter to “cast into deeper water,” Peter must have thought Jesus was crazy. Yet out of honor, respect, and obedience, Peter goes to deeper water and catches so many fish that their nets began to break.

When Peter saw how abundant his catch was, especially after a night of catching nothing at all, he is overwhelmed.  Scripture tells us that “when Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. (Luke 5:8-10)  ”

Why do you think Peter resists the abundant catch of fish?  Does he feel unworthy to receive a gift he has not worked hard for? Is he afraid there could be repercussions from the Roman government, and that this abundant catch may lead to higher taxes and fines for his business? As a Galilean fisherman who likely lived scarcely, does seeing this abundance feel jarring and unfamiliar? Does he consider himself “unfaithful” and therefore he resists being in Jesus’ presence?[8]

Remember, this was the second miracle Peter observed.  The first was the healing of his mother-in-law and now this abundant catch of fish.  Peter recognizes Jesus as Lord.  “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” I am sinful; I don’t deserve God’s grace.  Sound familiar?

This is a dramatic turning point for Peter. He leaves his home, his business, and his way of life to follow Jesus into a new calling. He had no way of knowing what following Jesus meant.  He had no way of knowing what his life would look like; the highs and the lows.  But he goes.  He follows Jesus.

This is the beginning of Peter’s faith story.  It’s a story that will ebb and flow – just like ours.  He will believe with tremendous fervor.  He will put his foot in his mouth and mess up and fail with equal passion.  He's just like me.  I suspect he’s just like you. 

What is the beginning of your faith story? What are the first things you were taught about God? When was the first time you felt God’s presence? How do you feel when God pours His grace over you? Do you feel any urge to resist it?

Jeus will meet us when we are discouraged and bless us in ways we never imagined just like he overwhelmed Peter with the abundant catch of fish.  He calls us just like he called Peter.  And James and John.  Peter messed up, that’s true.  But, Jesus never gave up on Peter.  He named him the Rock and Peter went on to be one of the greatest apostles.  He never gives up on us either!  There is nothing we can do that will stop His love for us.  Thanks be to God that His love is not based on our actions. 

May we persevere in our faith journey like Peter did.  And as we figure out our faith with Peter this Lenten season, may we all grow closer to God.  Amen.

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[1] Sanctified Art.  Sermon Planning Guide.  Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity
[2] Sanctified Art.  Sermon Planning Guide.  Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity
[3] Sanctified Art.  Sermon Planning Guide.  Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity
[4] Helyer Larry R.  “The Life and Witness of Peter.”  InterVarsity Press.  2012.  P. 19.
[5] Helyer Larry R.  “The Life and Witness of Peter.”  InterVarsity Press.  2012.  P. 20-21.
[6] Helyer Larry R.  “The Life and Witness of Peter.”  InterVarsity Press.  2012.  P. 20-21.
[7] https://biblicalisraeltours.com/2016/08/called-to-be-fishermen/
[8] Sanctified Art.  Sermon Planning Guide.  Guiding Qs. Dr. Terence Lester.