Fishing in mud puddles

February 10, 2019

This morning we find Jesus on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, preaching and teaching to a growing crowd…a crowd of people not too different from us.  These were people who were searching; maybe they needed acceptance, or love, or purpose in their lives.  They were Spiritually starved and withered from their diet of grim war news, political rhetoric, and scandal.  They heard this man from Nazareth has what they’re seeking, and they’ve come to feast.

As Jesus preached to these folks, hurting folks just like us, the crowd grew so large that he had to jump into Peter’s boat.  This was a bold move; Peter knew who Jesus was, but they weren’t friends, and jumping in a stranger’s boat is just something you don’t do.  Not then, not now.  But, that’s what Jesus did.

When the sermon ended and the crowd dispersed, Jesus said to Peter “head on into the deeper water, and let’s go fishing”.  Deeper water.  Jesus called Peter into the deeper water.  Have you ever been called into the deeper water?  You get a promotion at work, and the job is a lot more difficult, and you aren’t sure you can handle it.  That’s deeper water.  You’re in a relationship, and things are getting serious, and maybe headed toward marriage.  That’s deeper water.  Bringing home a new baby from the hospital.  That’s deeper water.  In this life, every time we experience change, that’s deeper water.  It’s risky, and scary…and typically when the excuses begin to fly.

Peter tells Jesus he’s been up all night, he hasn’t caught a thing, the deeper water is colder, it has bigger waves, it’s far from the security of the shore….

But that’s where the fish are!

Every parent or grandparent has an embarrassing story about their kids or grandkids; when you’re a teenager it drives you crazy, but then as an adult, you start to appreciate the memories.

My grandma still tells a story about me and my granddaddy.  My granddaddy loved to fish…and he did it every chance he got.  One Friday when I was about 5, I went to spend the night with my grandparents, because the next morning, granddaddy and I were going to hit the lake and go fishing.  So when I got to my grandparents’ house, my granddaddy was still at work.  And the day seemingly drug on…so slowly.  It had just rained, and at the end of my grandparents’ gravel driveway there were 2 large ruts, that had filled with water.  Well, I couldn’t wait any longer.  I grabbed my Scooby Doo fishing pole and my little lawn chair and out to these “lakes” I went…and it didn’t matter where, or how I threw my line in, I got nothing.  Not even a nibble! 

While Peter wasn’t fishing in a mud puddle, he still wasn’t catching any fish in this shallow, familiar, comfortable water, but his mind was full of reasons not to go to this deeper water.  Jesus, as we see, can be quite the persuasive guy.  Peter follows Jesus to a place where the fish were plentiful, and there in the deep water, they caught more fish than they had ever caught before. 

It was in this miracle that Peter realized he was in the presence of someone special.  This was no ordinary man.  This was indeed God in the flesh.  Peter, upon this realization, is filled with shame and embarrassment, proclaiming with tears in his eyes:  “Lord, get away from me, for I am a sinful man”.  And in-between the lines, Jesus said to Peter, “You’re right – you are a sinful man, and you’re just the sort of person I want on my side”. 

The story concludes with the most wonderful promise from Jesus to follow him and become fishers of men. 

 Have you ever wondered how people find their way to church?  A few years ago, a study was conducted and the results surprised me.

3% come because they just walked in.  Maybe something about the building drew them in, or the funny saying on the sign, or whatever reason. 

2% of people come, driven by a specific purpose.  Someone has died, someone is getting married, or they are interested in having a child baptized. 

6% come because of the pastor.  While I know that number is MUCH higher here, I was actually kind of shocked it was that much. 

5% come because of children’s programs like VBS or Sunday School. 

1% are the result of some crusade (such as the late Billy Graham) or door-to-door canvassing . 

An overwhelming 83% come to church because someone invited them.  Because someone they know and trust said “why don’t you come to church with me on Sunday?”.  And they come.  Think of why you’re sitting in your pew right now…are you here because someone invited you?  I grew up in church, and got away from church, and eventually came back because someone invited me. 

By now, hopefully you’re thinking about the people you encounter day in and day out.  If you’re anything like me, you’re running through the list and you’re seeing that most of the people you know are churched.  You see, the more active we become in church, the deeper our faith becomes, and the fewer unchurched friends we have.  We sing in the choir, we are involved in Sunday School, we serve as Trustees or members of the Admin Board, and pretty soon all of our friends are church friends, and it becomes comfortable in the shallow water.  It’s predictable there. 

But, that’s not where the fish are. 

Now I’m in no way suggesting that you spend your Sunday mornings at the local watering hole!  What I am suggesting is we open our eyes to the deeper water that surrounds us.  Who are the neighbors whose blinds are closed when we are on our way to church, and they’re still closed on our way back from church?  Those are fish.  Who is the coworker that struggles to make sense of the crazy things that have happened in their life?  Those are fish.  Who is our friend at school who lives in a home where mom and dad fight constantly and they don’t have anyone supporting them?  Those are fish.  Who’s the people you see in Walmart, and with a kind smile and soft “hello” seemingly light up…but you keep on walking by?  Those are fish. 

I know these are “generalizations, but we’re surrounded by people who are seeking.  So many…too many times, we are too scared or intimidated, or some other emotion that holds us back from sharing our faith with them.  That’s water that’s way too deep.  And I’ve got a secret for you:  it’s too deep for me too, and still scares me.  As I was car shopping this past week, I was asked what my “job” is, and I was really surprised that I almost braced myself when I answered, “pastor”, because I just knew all of the sudden everyone would tense up. 

Deep water is deep water, no matter who is rowing the boat.

So why are we as the church fishing for people where there are no people? Why do we continue throwing our lines into the mud puddles, like the 5 year old me did in my grandparent’s driveway?