The Fifth Sunday after Trinity - July 4, 2010

The Church Season of Pentecost
The Fifth Sunday after Trinity, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (July 4, 2010)

“Lord, I am a Sinful Man”

Readings: 
    Psalm 16
    1 Kings 18:11-21
    1 Cor 1:18-25
    Luke 5:1-11

Sermon Form    Deductive

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 5th chapter of St. Luke, especially the following verse:

Luke 5:1-11 (NIV)

1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he [Jesus] said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

It is worth repeating, Simon Peter said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”(v. 8)  Ironic isn’t it?  Simon Peter was with Christ from the beginning of His public ministry, yet it seems that Peter was still not ready to believe.  Well at least that is how some might view Peter’s actions.  Some might say Peter was not spiritual enough, that he had not yet reached the age of reason, that he had not yet seen enough, or had not yet learned enough to believe.  But that kind of thinking is backward and quite wrong.  And Jesus proves it is wrong too, and Jesus shows Peter in a way which Peter could understand.  Jesus showed Peter that no action of his own would bring him success on that day.  At the same time Jesus was teaching a lesson of salvation too.  So Jesus stands in a boat and directs another boat to go to deep water and fish.  In fact, Jesus told them to fish where the fishing was no good, to fish the spot that was fished out.  Jesus told Peter to come to the place where Jesus would lead him rather than the place where Peter’s reason would lead him.  And so, at first Peter balk, but then he relents and does as he is told.  Peter put out into deep water, because Jesus told him to do so.  And the results?  Well, Peter does not get to say I told you so, because his boat is overwhelmed with success, and Peter admits that he is just,

 “A Sinful Man”

Peter had heard the Word of God from Jesus, the Word of God.  So, when Peter had let down his nets and they soon were filled to capacity, even to overflowing.  The nets were so full that they were straining and breaking from the weight of all the fish.  At Christ’s direction, Peter and the other disciples had moved out into deeper water and they had a miracle catch of food that would nourish their bodies for just a day.  Unknowingly Peter, and the other disciples there that day, had become the subject of a teachable moment.  What does that mean?  Jesus was using an object lesson is a lesson in which a teacher uses actions familiar to all the students to help them understand the deeper meaning of a more important lesson.  So on the shores of the Lake of Gennesaret, which is to us known as the Sea of Galilee, became the perfect setting for a deeper lesson set in a miracle.

Christ ordered the disciples out into deep water for that lesson.  And when the great catch of fish occurred Peter was astonished.  Yet Peter did not revel in the magnitude of that catch.  Nor did he gather the fishing team together to do a victory dance, or try to multiply this one day success into a sales pitch for their fishing groups. There is no puffing out of the chest as a result of worldly accomplishments and victories.  Rather, Peter does what we do to this very day, he falls on his knees in reverence the miracle which has been performed before him. And upon his knees he makes that confession, saying “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”(v. 8)

Peter had seen the great catch and he made an instantaneous response.  A deep response with clear and reverential body language, and with clear language in the words he spoke.  He kneeled before Jesus and admitted that he was a poor miserable sinner.  It is acknowledgment of sin in words similar to those which we still confess to this very day.  Words like that of the Psalm written by King David, “Where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Ps. 121:1-2)  He acknowledged that he was a slave to sin.

On this day of American Independence, we proclaim our freedom, we celebrate our freedom, we are proud of our freedom.  And certainly we have the right to do that, many people have given their lives so that we can still live in a place called the United States of America.  We have a Bill of Rights, our freedom is the envy of the world.  As a nation we are very blessed and if someone would scoff at that remark, then you have never been to a third world country to see just how much we have.  Yet, to some, it would seem that all that we have done is toiled in vain throughout many a dark night and that our nets are still coming up empty.  And thoughts of emptiness, self-pity, doom and gloom make us think that we have toiled in vain.  Why can’t we work our way out of all this?  Our pain is real if only somehow we could gain our freedom from this crazy world.

From all these thoughts and actions we are called to repent.  For those shallow thoughts are really thoughts of self salvation.  But by hearing the Good News, that is the Word of Christ, these thoughts give way to the deeper lessons.  Lesson like the one that applied to Simon Peter and the disciples and still apply to us this very day.  For though we would like to think it so, “success does not come through our own effort, skill, or diligence “(Luther’s Church Postils 2:2:151) People are not freed by their own actions from the various things that attack us in this world.  It is by the Word of God alone.  We the People, are drawn to Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit, in the proclamation of God’s Holy Word.  Scripture even tells us so for, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”(Rom. 10:17)

Yesterday, today, or tomorrow, you may hear the loud beautiful explosions of fireworks celebrating our Independence.  Enjoy the occasion, many Americans have earned you that right.  But also know that even greater still, Jesus Christ earned for you eternal salvation by His death upon the cross.   And there Christ brings you freedom from what ever weighs heavy on your minds.  You have heard the Word of God, you have received Christ’s blessing in baptism, and when you receive Holy Communion. 

God is here with you in this place, and He reminds you that your sins are forgiven.  Your eternal freedom is assured, it’s all been accomplished for you, by Jesus Christ who died for you on the cross.  Jesus not only gives you freedom for your days on this earth, He gives you everlasting freedom.  And that freedom is an eternal free gift for you, Amen.

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