All That Jazz

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets (Luke 5:1-2).

My usual role is to write the Monday Connect Devotional.  Each Monday, I’ll try to give a bit of a bird’s-eye overview of the passage, and then let the rest of the talented CD team dig into different aspects of the passage in their usual distinctively creative and winsome ways.

We’re in Luke’s Gospel, third of the four ways in which the New Testament presents the story of Jesus.  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all present the Jesus story; each does so in a unique way.  We could view them as a jazz quartet: Matthew (string bass), Mark (percussion), Luke (trumpet … or sax, if you prefer), John (keyboards … multiple keyboards … synthesizer …)  All four together are playing the same song, with each providing his distinctive, Holy Spirit-inspired riffs and improvisations.  

All four gospels tell us that, as he began his ministry, Jesus called disciples, summoned people to “Follow me!”  Matthew, Mark and John cover this “calling of the first disciples” in summary fashion, in just a few verses.  

Luke gives a whole story, including all kinds of details that the others don’t mention.  Think of this week’s passage as Luke standing up for a Spirit-led solo.

Here’s what’s unique to how Luke plays the “Jesus calls his first disciples” tune: Jesus using Simon’s (Peter’s) boat as a “preaching platform”; Jesus telling Peter to go back out and let down their nets in the deep water for a catch of fish; Peter’s at-first reluctant obedience, followed by a massive, miraculous haul of fish; a very personal exchange between Peter and Jesus, culminating in Jesus’ call to Peter.  Matthew and Mark have it, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  Luke’s riff: “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”

Peter has been undone by Jesus’ love for him.  As a kind of ‘rental’ for the use of Peter’s boat, Jesus ‘repays’ him with more fish than they’ve caught in a week, all in a single haul!  Peter recognizes that there is much, much more to Jesus than being a good teacher or a miracle-worker. “Go away from me, Lord,” Peter says, “I am a sinful man.”  

True enough, but note Jesus’ reply: “Don’t be afraid; from now on, you will catch men.”  That is the Good News in a nutshell!  Once you’ve been caught by The Fisher of Men, you get to become one yourself.  Once you’ve been captured by the music, you can’t help learning to play along.

A “crowd” of people listened to Jesus that day, but only a few became followers of Jesus.  Where are you finding yourself in the story as you listen to it this week?

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