Pastor's Corner

Note: This is Part 2 of a sermon from July 4, 2021 and is slightly adapted from the original.

Second, Jesus has a higher labor and livelihood of His own that He calls us to share in.

This is shown to us by Jesus’ interruption of Simon’s work to teach the Word of God, and by His calling of Simon (and James and John) to “catch men.” The Gospel says, “On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on [Jesus] to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat” (Luke 5:1-3, ESV). The Gospel also says, “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 5:10-11, ESV).

The crowd is pressing in on Jesus to hear the word of God. This is because Jesus, by this time, has already been preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God and been miraculously healing people. Jesus has divine, good news to preach, and by that preaching He brings people into the work and riches of God’s Kingdom. Furthermore, He shows the superiority of this preaching to the fishing of Simon Peter (and thus to all labor, really) by interrupting Simon’s cleaning of his nets at the end of his workday and by using his boat to preach. Likewise, when Jesus calls Peter, James, and John, He is calling them to a particular labor in His kingdom, the purpose of which is to “catch men.” The Greek word here for “catch” may even be translated as, “catch to life.” Life (and all good things pertaining to life) is the livelihood of God’s Kingdom that Jesus would give us. In short, Jesus has a higher labor and livelihood of His own that He calls us to share in.

What, then, does this mean for you?

This means that Christ, by His labor, has already provided for you a livelihood and an inheritance that cannot fail. Jesus, your God and Savior, has taken on your flesh and infirmities, not to destroy you but to bless you. His life was one of painful sorrow and labor. The goal of His work was to deliver mankind from death and its futility; the goal of His work was to pay for your sins, not to exact payment for them from you. So you can be sure He does not want His labor to be in vain. He took on the pain of futility—He took on work that felt pointless—so that by His grace even your failures, when done in faith, may be hidden successes. The horror of His crucifixion is now your healing and consolation. His resurrection from the dead is now your certainty of His success. The eternal glory of heaven awaits you, and bleeds into your lives even now.

This means there is more to life than your labors and your livelihood. If your labors and livelihood are successful, do not let them distract you from the greater labor and livelihood of God’s Kingdom. If your labors and livelihood are unsuccessful, do not let that bring you to impatience and despair when the work and riches of God’s Kingdom are still available to you. Do not become obsessed and feverish about working harder, as though your work is your God and Savior. Whether Christ stymies your labor or prospers it, all things work together for good for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8). Take heart, and trust in the grace and work of Christ.

This also means that you should work eagerly in God’s Kingdom. Christ wishes to bless others through you, with the same blessing He blesses you with. You do not need to know how Christ works successfully through you in order for your labors to be successful. Christ’s calling is what matters; Christ’s approval is what matters. The appearance or feeling of success does not. He is worthy of your devotion and faithfulness. Let His cross and resurrection inspire you. Put His Kingdom above, and before, all other labors or undertakings.

In summary, today’s Gospel (Luke 5:1-11) is the miraculous catch of fish and the calling of Peter, James, and John as “fishers of men.” It’s not a sermon or a parable but a history, so it does not teach us directly by words of instruction but indirectly by words of example. It has much to teach us, but the main idea, I daresay, is this: Jesus is Lord over all labor and livelihood, with a higher labor and livelihood of His own that He calls us to share in.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen!

— Rev. Pierce Chadburn, Pastor

Zion-Emmanuel Lutheran Church