Grace Lutheran Church 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, January 23, 2005

The Rev. Evan Gaerther
Third Sunday after the Epiphany
“Called on Journey”
January 23, 2005
Matthew 4:12-22

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." (Jn. 1:5) These words are from the opening of John’s Gospel and when Matthew begins Jesus public ministry he quotes the prophet Isaiah saying, “And for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death on them a light has dawned.” (Mt. 4:17)

Jesus is that light that has come into the world to bring a new day dawning. These words in a way remind me of how when I walk into a room and flip the light switch on. The room is filled with light when I flip that switch and it is nice to have that instant satisfaction. Flip the switch and the light is on.

But bringing the light of Christ into my life or into the life of another is not as easy as flipping a switch. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could say to your children, “You are a perfect disciple of Christ.” And it became so…that instant. Or how about if you saw someone on the street who was without hope and looked all alone and all you needed to say was, “Believe in Christ and everything will be perfect in your life.”

That has never worked for me.

Nor is it intended to. You are not doing something wrong when you tell someone about Jesus and she doesn’t immediately become a perfect, wholly, completely sanctified Christian. When you share the good news of the kingdom of God with someone you are inviting her on a journey.

When Jesus began his ministry he began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

But this message was not a light switch that immediately turned people into perfect followers of God. For example, while walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother. They were casting a net into the sea, which made sense since they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Immediately they left their nets and followed him. So maybe it seems like a light switch was flipped and Simon and Andrew were immediately the perfect disciples. The truth is they did follow when Jesus called, but Jesus looked forward to the journey when he called them to follow him. Jesus told them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

With this invitation Jesus began the process of calling his disciples on a journey that would take them to the cross and the empty tomb. Along the way he taught in parables. He healed many that were sick. He brought hope were there was none. Jesus led them on this journey and each step of the way showed them the sights.

Imagine the disciples in the back of a station wagon on a cross country trip from Galilee to Jerusalem. They keep asking, "Are we there yet?" James and John ask, "Can we sit in the front seat?" They asked when Jesus came into his kingdom could they sit at his right and left.

While in that station wagon they know that the trip is supposed to be worth it and that in the end it would all make sense but there were difficult moments. Those moments when we hear the cries from the back seat, "Are we lost?"

For instance, when they were in the boat crossing the Sea of Galilee and Jesus was asleep in the front of the boat. The waves were so big that they boat was soon going to sink. They went forward and asked Jesus, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" Jesus turned around and said, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Jesus then got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. (Mt. 8:23-27)

The journey that Jesus invited Simon and Andrew on was that he would make them fishers of men. And this journey was not always one that made sense to them. Indeed for you and me and all those that we share this invitation with, it is not always clear where the Lord is taking us. So we pray, "Where are we going Lord, we trust you are the pilot, but where are we going?"

So go back to that station wagon with me. We too are sitting in the back seat with the disciples and Jesus is up front driving. He pulls over and sees Matthew, sitting in a tax booth; and he says to him, "Follow me." Look at that Matthew got up and followed him. (Mt. 9:9) Things are getting crowded. "Jesus do you know who is joining you? Jesus! You may not have noticed but they are sinners and tax collectors?"

The journey from Galilee and to Jerusalem is getting crowded. Who is he bringing on this trip anyways? The disciples of John the Baptist sure had that question and asked Jesus, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?"

Jesus responded, "The wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they?" (Mt. 9:15) The backseat of the station wagon may be a little confusing, but Jesus reminds us that no matter where, what, or how things are going, when you are riding with Jesus it is a time of celebration. The wedding guests celebrate when the bridegroom is with them.

While it may be a time of celebration it was not necessarily going to be a smooth ride. Jesus told his disciples, "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (Mt. 10:16).

But he did not send them out on this journey alone and without care. He told them, "So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Mt. 10:31)

While we are on this journey with Jesus driving there are times that we would like some hints that we are headed the right direction. The Pharisees and the Sadducees came, and to test Jesus asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah."

Jesus' concern was not that he wouldn't give a sign, but that they were looking and asking for a sign to test him. He desires our faith and trust and he will deliver. He certainly gives us the ultimate sign from heaven that we are headed in the right direction. Look out from the backseat of the station wagon and you will see the cross. Those of you on the edge of the pew, rest your arm on the pew like you are looking out a window. Look out of the window. What do you see? I see a cross that illumines my way.

There are moments like the disciples that we are not sure what to make of this act of love and sacrifice. For the disciples it looked like defeat, weakness, disappointment, the ultimate wrong turn on this journey. How is this king of kings bringing the everlasting kingdom? The king is on the cross. Indeed this journey has turned out horribly wrong.

But when locked up in fear the women came running from the tomb with these words, "He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you into Galilee; there you will see him." (Mt. 28:7)

The journey that Jesus invited his disciples on when he said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men," was lost when he was on the cross. It was in vain, an empty cause. But now the women bring that new light that has dawned on the darkness.

They go to Galilee, to the mountain that Jesus directed them to. When they saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted. After going what seemed like for a long time in the wrong direction it was difficult to look around and have faith that yes Jesus is here, we are going the right direction. But there he was and he said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always to the very end of the age." (Mt. 28:18-20)

The invitation for the journey to follow Jesus was finally explained. We are given understanding and purpose. How were Simon and Andrew and the rest of Jesus' followers ever going to be anything more than fishermen and become fishers of the souls of men?

It was through the cross and the resurrection that Jesus supplied the net. When Jesus found them along the shore they were casting a net into the water to catch fish. Now with these last words of Jesus he has given to them the power to cast his net out into the world to catch men and women and children. It is as we share the good news of Jesus Christ that we cast out the net and bring people along on this journey to the cross and the empty tomb.

The journey of following Jesus is certainly not a light switch that can be flipped on and suddenly everything is perfect. But nevertheless by faith we trust that Jesus is the new light that has dawned on our darkness. In our journey of faith from the backseat of the station wagon we see Jesus driving up front. Sure we have our questions, "Are we there yet? Are we lost? Billy is on my side of the seat? Can I turn the station, I don't like this music? What did that sign say? Where are we going?"

We have these questions while on this journey of faith, realizing that we are not alone. Jesus promised his disciples, even as he was sending them out, saying, "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Mt. 28:20) You and I will not always have the answers, but we do know where we can bring our questions. Jesus said, "Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Jesus has promised to lead us on this journey. He is leading you and me. He is our pilot on this journey of faith.

Grace Lutheran Church

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