Readings for Sunday January 22, 2012 First Sunday after Epiphany Jeremiah 3:21-4:2 Psalm 130 Mark 1:14-20 I Corinthians 7:17-23

Readings for Sunday January 22, 2012 First Sunday after Epiphany Jeremiah 3:21-4:2 Psalm 130 Mark 1:14-20 I Corinthians 7:17-23

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1:16-20 (NIV)

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1:16-20 (NIV)

We tend to think of the phrase “fishers of men” as simply a clever turn of phrase.

Yet for a Jew this phrase would have had a much larger meaning.

You have made people like the fish in the sea, like the sea creatures that have no ruler. The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad.

Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food. Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy? Habakkuk 1:16-17 (NIV)

You have made people like the fish in the sea, like the sea creatures that have no ruler. The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad.

For the Jews the Sea was a place of chaos and disorder.

It was a place without the presence of God.

You have made people like the fish in the sea, like the sea creatures that have no ruler. The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad.

For the Jews the Sea was a place of chaos and disorder. It was a place without the presence of God. Thus to say that the nations lived as if in the sea was to say that the nations and their people were very vulnerable to evil.

Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food. Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy? Habakkuk 1:16-17 (NIV)

For the Jews the Sea was a place of chaos and disorder. It was a place without the presence of God. Thus to say that the nations lived as if in the sea was to say that the nations and their people were very vulnerable to evil. Evil rulers and people regularly exploited others.

“However, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but it will be said, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ For I will restore them to the land I gave their ancestors.

“But now I will send for many fishermen,” declares the LORD, “and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks. Jeremiah 16:14-16 (NIV)

God had primarily been known for his act as the one who delivered the Hebrews from Egypt.

God declares that now he will be known for bringing a people out of captivity.

God had primarily been known for his act as the one who delivered the Hebrews from Egypt. God declares that now he will be known for bringing a people out of captivity. He uses the analogy of fishermen to announce how he is going to do this.

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1:16-20 (NIV)

When Jesus calls them to fish for men, he calls them to join God’s mission.

That mission involves bringing the nations to God.

When Jesus calls them to fish for men, he calls them to join God’s mission. That mission involves bringing the nations to God. Fishing takes place in the sea.

Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. I Corinthians 7:17-23 (NIV)

God’s Calling

Peter, Andrew, James, and John are called to leave what they are doing.

God’s Calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John are called to leave what they are doing. Paul tells them to stay in the place they find themselves.

God’s Calling What unites these things is God’s mission.

God’s Calling What unites these things is God’s mission. God calls us to participate in his mission.

God’s Calling What unites these things is God’s mission. God calls us to participate in his mission. God has the right to place us where he wants us.

God’s Calling God calls us to trust.