Mark 1:14-20
So, after a quick detour last weekend to John’s Gospel, we’re back to Mark. Our focus last week – on John’s rendition of Jesus calling his first disciples. This week – on Mark’s version of the story.
The emotional backdrop is set in our opening verse. John the Baptist – Jesus’ friend and cousin, the one whose baptism initiated Jesus’ public ministry – has been arrested and imprisoned. With this, Jesus makes his way to Galilee proclaiming the good news of God that he has come to bring – “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe…”
As Jesus preaches this message of the coming reign of God, he approaches the Sea, where he finds Simon and Andrew casting their net, hoping for a catch. And just as he did with Philip in our text from last week, says to them – follow me – with the added detail – I will make you fish for people.
And, according to Mark, just like Philip, immediately they followed. Just shortly after, James and John, doing the same – leaving their nets behind for this new way of life – from fishermen to disciples, sent out to proclaim the Good News of the kingdom for themselves.
As someone who’s never fished a day in his life, there are plenty of pastors out there better suited to preach a sermon on fishing. For those who were here at St. James back in the days of Pastor Keyser and Pastor Foltz, you knew none better. With that being said, it seems important with today’s gospel to understand some of its’ context.
The Sea of Galilee, our setting for today’s gospel, is a freshwater lake, about seven miles wide and thirteen miles long, fed primarily by the Jordan River. Sitting roughly 209 meters below sea level, it is considered the lowest freshwater lake on Earth.
In the year 14 C.E., about 16 years before Jesus began calling his first disciples – before the events of today’s gospel took place, Caesar Augustus breathed his last and Tiberius became Emperor and ruler of the Roman world.
In hopes of gaining political favor, Herod Antipas – overseer of the region of Galilee, began building a capital city along the shores of the Sea, named after none other than the newly appointed, Emperor Tiberius. The primary function of the city – other than a means to get on the boss’ good side – to regulate the local fishing industry…
So, the royal palace was built – believed by most biblical archeologists to be the location of the Baptist’s imprisonment and eventual beheading – the capital city built around it. Suddenly, what once was this beautiful shoreline littered with small towns, made up of small-town people working for themselves in order to feed their families and serve their communities… restructured into a state-controlled powerhouse, whose sole purpose was to benefit the urban elite… even if it meant starving its’ laborers…
What was once open waters used for the benefit of all, now regulated by government issued fishing leases without which locals could no longer fish… Each catch – taxed… taxed a second time to be processed for sale… then taxed again on transport to the markets… Our fisherman – those like Andrew and Simon Peter – in addition to these taxes, forced to pay for royal leases, contracts, and tolls… leaving little profit left by the time they hung up their nets at the end of the week…
Once respected for their hard work, their commitment to family, and their contributions to the community, suddenly finding themselves at the bottom of the social scale… left just above the poverty line… As reflected on a fragment of ancient papyrus – “The fisher is more miserable than any other profession.”
So, this is where Jesus goes to begin his ministry… The place where his friend, the Baptizer, has been arrested, where he will soon be executed… a place in distress due to the recent upheaval of corrupt rulers…
And the ones Jesus chooses to call as his disciples? Fishers – the most miserable of all professions… those considered the lowest of the low… those the world has deemed as having nothing to offer… Casting their net into the sea, without so much as an interview or a reference call – “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.”
To look at today’s gospel without recognizing its’ social context, is to miss the point… Not just of today’s gospel reading, but of The Gospel – the kingdom of God come near…
For Andrew and Simon Peter, James and John, to abandon their nets and follow, was to risk letting go of what little security they had. At the same time, it was an opportunity for a new beginning. The Greek verb aphiemi – translated, “they left their nets” – used elsewhere to mean a release from debts, to forgive… To leave one’s net – an action of separation… of putting the things of the past behind, to create a fresh start… to be set free…
In the greater scheme of things, as the story continues, the disciples don’t do a whole lot right. The regularly miss the point of what following Jesus is all about… They argue with him and question him… They get in the way of his efforts and the plan he has come to fulfill… And in the end, they betray and deny him… they abandon him – leaving him to suffer and die all alone… Yet here, at the onset of their story, they drop everything they have and risk it all to follow him… They leave their nets – their muddied past, their inadequacies, the labels placed on them by the world – and follow him… accepting the invitation to be part of something greater…
On this third Sunday after Epiphany – I wonder, what are your nets? What are those things of your life, that you need to leave behind in order to be set free? Those events from your past that you can’t quite escape or let go of? That are keeping you from experiencing the fullness of the Good News – the new life that Jesus came to bring? That are holding you back from following Jesus more deeply? What are your nets?
What our fishermen will soon learn – dropping their nets, means picking up their cross… Jesus didn’t simply pull them away from where they were but has offered them something new – a life of love serving God and neighbor. Our invitation and calling today. To let go of whatever it is needing let go of… that we might carry a purpose far greater, bringing light and life wherever it is needed.
So, whatever burden you’re holding onto, release your grip. Whatever guilt is entangling you, be set free. Whatever insecurities or inadequacies have been placed upon you by the world… whatever self-doubts you have… know that God finds potential in all of it…
The invitation has been extended. The time is now. Your worth and your value no longer in your life’s nets, but in the one who has called and claimed you as his own.
Following Jeus is a letting go and a picking up… an ending and a beginning… So, love as you are loved – wholly and unconditionally… Forgive as you have already been forgiven – no fault or failure too great… And see in yourselves what God in Christ has seen in you – flawed and far from perfect, yet always… in all things… at all times… more than enough… exactly what is needed to do God’s kingdom revealing work…
As it was for our fishers along the shore, let it be with us. Following and fishing for people. The time is fulfilled. The Good News has come near. Repent and believe. Thanks be to God. Amen.
~Pastor Andrew Geib
Sermons at St. James Gettysburg 