Caught in Jesus' Net ~ Matthew 4:12-23 ~ Third Sunday after Epiphany

I thought I’d found everything I wanted in a career…

Three months out of college, with no job offers on the table, I answered a “now hiring” ad for an advertising firm.  The job had it all—great benefits and earnings potential, frequent travel, and the exciting world of marketing and advertising.  I sent in my resume, and immediately received a call to interview.  Everything went great—and I was thrilled.  I was even more thrilled to be called back on a second interview—to “meet with a major client” to shadow someone “out in the field” (as they said).

Me and another young man my age got into a car with another young man, when we discovered that “out in the field” was a residential neighborhood—and we’d be selling coupon books door-to-door for the “major client.” 

After two hours knocking on dozens of doors in the summer heat, my “future mentor” sold just two coupon books.

Later, he puts a contract before me—explaining that my salary would be 100% commission, all travel would be at my expense, and the cost of benefits would be deducted from my sales commissions: eight cents on the dollar for every coupon book sold.

I was sick to my stomach that that I was being offered a complete sham of a job—and even more sick that they baited me and almost hooked me into their profitable little scheme. 

As terrible a job as that was, the life of a fisher in Jesus’ day was exceedingly worse.  You could argue that it was a better fate to be a fish caught in a net, than to be caught in the terrible world of commercial fishing.  Fishing was grueling, dangerous, and a hard day’s work brought no guarantees of success.  And even though fish were one of the most basic staples of food in those days, the fisher saw very little in the way of wages for their work.  They didn’t own the boats or the nets they used.  These were leashed at steep cost from wealthy merchants.  Furthermore, the Roman Emperor owned the seas and the fish within them—so the fisher had to pay the Emperor for the fish they caught, as well as for the rights to fish in the Emperor’s seas.  This was a terrible way to make a living.  But it was a living—the only one Simon-Peter and Andrew, James and John had ever known…

Then Jesus comes along, and everything changes…  “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”  Immediately, they “leave their nets, and follow him.”

But they leave behind far more behind than just a wretched vocation…  With reckless abandon, they cast off their only known means of making a living.  James and John leave behind their father.  Following Jesus puts them at greater risk than fishing for fish—just consider what happens to John the Baptist…  Fishing for people will prove be exceedingly more difficult than fishing for fish.  Still, “they leave their nets, and follow him.”

That’s the power of Jesus.  Simon-Peter and Andrew had their nets, but Jesus had his—the Holy Spirit.  God’s power is not too little to capture even the lowliest, most unqualified of persons and transform them into laborers for the Kingdom of God.  And even though Jesus chastises them countless times for acting like complete wimps, they build the church that still stands after two thousand years.

And whether you realize it or not, you’re caught in that same net—and not because you chose it, but because God chose you.  You’re caught in the net of God’s Kingdom.  It’s a done deal.  You have no choice in the matter. 

This is good news—because most of us are caught up in so many other nets…  In these nets we are dragged through life, run down, stressed out, constantly worrying about what tomorrow will bring.  In these nets, we are de-formed.

But in Christ’s net, we are transformed.  Jesus takes all of your life’s matters into his hands.  No longer are you living for yourself; no longer do the burdens and tragedies of life dominate your existence.  Jesus’ love and his faithfulness become the consuming passions and the dominant themes of your life. 

Jesus leads to where new life is born.  You leave behind life you as you lived it before.  You lose yourself in the Kingdom of God.  You are transformed.

And you, too, fish for people.  Jesus led his first disciples to serve the least, the lost, and lowliest of their world—and that fact hasn’t changed.  So many people are caught up in evil nets.  They’re basic needs are not met.  They can’t help themselves.  Society forgets about them, and tells them they don’t matter.  They know neither the love of their fellow human being nor the love of their creator.  It is among these persons that Jesus fishes for people.  These are the ones Jesus will catch; these are the ones he will transform.  The church of tomorrow is out there, waiting.  We cannot possibly know Christ to the fullest if we fail to go out into the world to fish for people.  Go fish—and you will see the dawning of God’s Kingdom.  Go fish and you will see the world transformed.

Do you need a little transformation in your life right now?  Follow Jesus.  Let him lead you into sacred moments of prayer and devotion.  Let him take your sins and your burdens.  Let him give you the strength to do the right things you know you should do but you always put off.  Then follow him to the least and the lost.  Watch God transform someone else’s life.  Watch God transform your life—and your church.  And watch the world be transformed—because God intends to do just that.

All this will happen and more as you’re caught up in the net of God’s kingdom—if you follow Jesus…