Following Jesus: Not Safe But Saved

This story that we have in the gospel reading for today is one that makes me smile because I feel like I know exactly what Simon is thinking here in this moment. I have had days like this fishing. Days where I’ve been out for hours and hours and there’s just nothing. And we tried everything, going slower going faster, going so shallow we can see bottom, and then heading back to deeper waters hoping that will change something. Changing lures, putting on fresh bait, saying prayers, letting the other guy drive the boat hoping maybe he can find the fish, switching hats because you’re pretty sure you might be wearing the unlucky one. I always like to say I’m not superstitious, I’m just a little stitious. And after trying everything, thinking logically, thinking illogically, trying the spiritual, resorting to the downright ridiculous, you finally have to call it a day. 6 hours of nothing, I’m done. The wind is wrong, the waters cold, the sun’s too bright, whatever the reason is they’re not biting. And we head back to the dock empty handed. Skunked! And I picture this guy standing on the boat launch as we get back, and he points out to where I just was, and says, “Did you try over there?” Yah, yah I did. In fact I went over that spot 7 times at different speeds, with different lures, at different depths. I did the same thing over there, and there, and way out there, I have been here for six hours trying everything I possibly could. I’m not an expert fisherman but right now you could go ahead and call me today’s expert on over there, and in my expert opinion there are no fish over there.

And here’s Simon, an actual expert fisherman, a guy whose been doing this since he was strong enough to pull in a net, and he and his fishing partners, who own a successful fishing business, who literally do this for a living, have been out all night and caught nothing. “Master we’ve toiled all night and caught nothing.” The experts say, there’s no fish over there.

The experts say. How many times has that phrase been repeated over the last two years? It’s been a long couple of years of experts saying things and even the things that the experts have said have changed. 2020 experts say wearing a cloth mask is the best way to protect yourself and others against the coronavirus. End of 2021, CNN reports experts say that the cloth masks that we are using are little more than facial decoration at this point. 2020 experts say lockdowns are the best tool we have to slow the spread, flatten the curve, and save lives, two days ago Washington times “experts say lockdowns had little to no impact on covid deaths.” March 2020, experts say locking down our nursing homes is the only way to protect the most vulnerable among us. October 2020 abc news Experts say elderly people are dying from isolation and lonliness and suicide due to lockdowns in nursing homes. And before any of you get upset with me, none of this is seen as controversial information. This information is readily available and agreed upon regardless of politics. This is just what the experts say.

Experts say it’s a bad idea for you to be here right now. That one hasn’t changed. From the beginning of the pandemic until now the experts have said indoor gatherings with people not of your household are dangerous things. The experts all agree my friends it is dangerous for you to be here.

And I know that my sermon today is going to tread the line for a lot of us, I know that it’s going to make many of us uncomfortable but the time has come for us to answer the question, is what Jesus says more important than what the experts say? And I’m not bringing this up today because I have an axe to grind over the coronavirus. What we’re talking about is written all over our text. Jesus says, put out into deeper water and let down your nets. The experts say “Lord we have toiled all night and caught nothing. But at your word, I will let down the nets.” Though the experts say different, because you say so I will.” And they catch so many fish they almost sink two boats.

And then after that Jesus says to them “Come follow me.” Experts say that’s a bad idea. They are sitting there with two boats so full of fish that the boats are sinking. This fish could mean enough money to feed them for the next six months. This is their livelihood. This is how they make money. They have multiple boats, and employees, they have an above average income, experts say leaving that behind is a bad idea. But read the text, they left everything and followed him. If you keep reading, right after this passage they come across a leper. Experts say, stay away, it’s not safe. In fact, it’s illegal to touch a leper and if you did there’s a mandatory quarantine and a ritual of purification. Experts say Jesus puts his disciples in harms way.