Luke reminds us that our call as followers of Jesus is not about saving souls. It is not about membership numbers. Our call, our mission, our identity, our ministry as Jesus’ disciples is about building relationships with others, about being so moved by the holy that we can do nothing else but share the good news. It is about experiencing, about knowing, about proclaiming that love and light will always have the last word, not only for ourselves for all of God’s people.
February 9, 2025
Messages from the Gospel of Luke
“Leaving Everyting Behind and Following Jesus”
Luke 5: 1-11
Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl
Luke 5: 1-11
One day Jesus was standing beside Lake Gennesaret when the crowd pressed in around him to hear God’s word. Jesus saw two boats sitting by the lake. The fishermen had gone ashore and were washing their nets. Jesus boarded one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, then asked him to row out a little distance from the shore. Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he finished speaking to the crowds, he said to Simon, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets.”
So they dropped the nets and their catch was so huge that their nets were splitting. They signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They filled both boats so full that they were about to sink. When Simon Peter saw the catch, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Leave me, Lord, for I’m a sinner!” Peter and those with him were overcome with amazement because of the number of fish they caught. James and John, Zebedee’s sons, were Simon’s partners and they were amazed too. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people.” As soon as they brought the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.
Leaving Everything Behind and Following Jesus Luke 5: 1-11
There’s an interesting conversation happening within the wider Church…a conversation which lines up what is happening in our world with the liturgical calendar. This conversation lines up all that is happening in our world…all the wars, all the fires, all the floods, all brokenness, hurt and hate with the season of Epiphany, the season in which we as people of faith dive deeper into our understanding of our call as Jesus’ disciples, a season which invites us to experience who Jesus is as the Son of God, a season which remind us of Jesus’ mission and ministry. For the last few weeks, in the midst of all the conversations happening in our nation and in our world, conversations which continually show us that systems of power and might do not line with the Gospel message, in the midst of all these conversations, for last two weeks, we have read from the Gospel of Luke of Jesus proclaiming his call to proclaim the Good News, and for the last two weeks, we have read from the Gospel of Luke exactly how that call was received by the powers that be.
And now in the midst of these conversations about identity, about mission and ministry, we read the story of Jesus calling the first disciples. At first glance, it really isn’t an impressive story. Jesus is there preaching and teaching and the soon to be disciples are there as well. We are told that they are on the shoreline, washing their nets and probably not paying too much attention to Jesus and the crowd. Their heads are probably down. They are probably minding their own business, finishing up their work so they can move onto something else.
And then everything changes. Suddenly the disciples are leaving everything behind and following Jesus. We are not told that it was because they were so moved by Jesus’ preaching or teaching that they just HAD to become Jesus’ disciples. Rather, we are told that they experienced something so compelling, something so life changing, something so amazing that it transformed them, that it gave them the courage and the strength to leave everything behind and follow Jesus. We are told that this change comes about after Jesus tells them to row out a bit farther, to row out into the deep waters, to row out beyond their usual routine spot. We are told that Simon offers a somewhat halfhearted protest but in the end, does as Jesus requests
And for would-be disciples, that complying, that going out into the deeper waters, that breaking of their routine is what made all the difference.
Just look at Simon Peter’s reaction. It is only after he experiences the miracle, after the impossible is made possible, it is only after he experiences the abundance of God’s grace, that there is nothing which will stop him from leaving everything behind and following Jesus.
Or let me say it this way…Luke is reminding us that our call as disciples of Christ, as followers of Jesus is not about saving souls. It is not about membership numbers. Our embrace of our call, of our mission, of our identity, of our ministry as Jesus’ disciples is about building relationships with others. It is about being so moved by the holy in our midst that we can do nothing else but share the good news. It is experiencing, it is about knowing, it is about proclaiming that love and light will always have the last word, not only for ourselves for all of God’s people.
Our call as disciples of Christ, as followers of Jesus is about leaving everything behind and following him with all our heart, with all our mind, with all of strength, with all of our being.
By sharing this story right after the story of Jesus preaching of Jesus teaching of Jesus embracing his identity, his missions and his ministry, by sharing this story of call, Luke wants his community and us to understand today that [to be disciples,] is not a [way] to hook people and drag them in. Rather it is about casting the net of God’s love all around-open to all the world-and then wait with patience for the Spirit’s work.”
When Jesus tells Simon to go out again, to go fishing again, he wants his community and us as readers to understand that what is important is our response as Jesus’ disciples. Jesus came and changed lives through his teaching and preaching. He shared God’s word with us as children of God.
And in turn we are called to do the same…because we know, we know that when God’s Word is shared and heard, it is not an invitation to be consumed. Rather it is an invitation to new life, new life experienced through God’s grace and God’s love. Because the Beloved Community of God does not need passive robots simply going through the motion, heads down, minding our own business, ignoring what all is going on around us. Rather, the Beloved Community of God needs people who are living the life of the good news in all its fullness.
You see, God’s peace, God’s love, God’s grace call us to be in relationship with one another. They call us to cultivate community with one another. Being a disciple of Jesus means putting down our nets and following Jesus. It means seeing people as created in the image of God. It means responding to this world’s pain and hurts with compassion. Being a disciple of Jesus means opening our hearts, opening our minds, opening our very beings to what God is up to in our midst.
I do not pretend to have all the answers when it comes to discipleship. Nor will I stand up here and tell you that discipleship is easy. What I will do is stand up here and share the words of a theologian, a pastor who put his life on the line, leaving the security of his parish, spending time in jail and ultimately giving his life because of this incredible life giving, life transforming invitation to leave everything behind and follow Jesus. These words are simply this: “Discipleship is not an offer we make to Christ. It is only the call which creates the situation. It is only the call of Jesus which makes it a situation where faith is possible.”
May these words take root in our heart and may we find the strength and the courage to leave everything behind and follow Jesus. May it be so Amen.
See also: Theology Tuesday for Sunday, February 9, 2025 – Leaving Everything Behind and Following Jesus Luke 5: 1-11.
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