Where Fish, 25 March 2012
Big Idea: We must go to where the fish are rather than waiting for them to jump into the boat.
Passage, Mark 2:13-17:
Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Location
They say that the key to real estate is...location, location, location. Any fisherman (or woman) knows that there are good and not so good places to fish. If you’re fishing in a boat and catch nothing, you’re likely to move to another part of the lake or ocean in hopes of finding fish.
I have seen fish jump out of the water, but I have never seen fish jump into a fishing boat! Half of the fun of fishing is going out to where the fish are, right?
We talk a great deal around here about Jesus’ final words, often called the Great Commission. In Matthew 28:18-20 He said
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Did you notice that word “go?”
That might be the most challenging part of fishing.
Jesus Went
Our passage this morning shows Jesus in action. He is not content to merely hang out with his friends or spend HIs time shopping at the Jerusalem Mall. He goes out to the people.
Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. (Mark 2:13)
We could take a great deal of time to examine this passage, but suffice it to say that Jesus went to a hated tax collector and invited him into His life. This was so...radical!
Discipleship
Back in the day, the Jewish Model of Discipleship began with children around age 6 in schooling called Beth Shefer where they spent five years memorizing the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. They knew how to “hide God’s Word in their hearts.” How many of you have memorized the first five books of the Bible?
You would think that an 11 or 12 year-old with five books memorized would certainly be prepared for lifelong service to God, but most kids stopped there and returned to the family trade, be it fishing, blacksmith, construction, etc.
A few of the best students continued their education in schooling known as Beth Midrash. There they memorized the rest of the Tanakh (Old Testament). In addition to memorizing the actual text, they learned the different Rabbinic interpretations on the text. This is while they were 10-15 years old!
Most graduates of the program would return home, but the very, very best went to a third school called Beth Talmid. The Rabbi did not look to merely transfer knowledge to his student, but actually transfer his life. The goal was for the student to become the teacher. The young man would travel with the rabbi from age 15 to age 30. The student became a shadow of the rabbi, walking so close with him that they would literally be covered in the dust of the rabbi.
Needless to say, those that survived the 25 year learning process could become rabbis, the highest honor in the culture (like a movie or rock star today!). Discipleship was not simply knowledge transfer, but life transfer. It happened while doing life with the rabbi.
Matthew
Do you see how radical it was for Jesus to choose an ordinary, outcast tax collector like Matthew to follow Him? He did not memorize the Scriptures. He was not on anyone’s most likely to succeed list. Nevertheless, Jesus invites him into His inner circle.
This is how God works!
Consider this: Jacob was a cheater... Peter had a temper... David had an affair...Noah got drunk... Jonah ran from God...Paul was a murderer... Gideon was insecure...Mary was a worrier...Thomas was a doubter...Elijah was moody...Moses stuttered... Zaccheus was short...and Abraham was old...
In fact, Luke records this incident in the book of Acts: “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13, NLT)
Where Do You Fish?
Maybe you’ve been looking for the perfect person to introduce to Jesus. You know, that really nice, friendly person with good morals and values that everyone likes. You think, they’re so great, but with Jesus, they’d be even better!
That’s not what Jesus did. He approached THAT guy!
Maybe rather than avoiding ordinary people, you avoid others because YOU are so ordinary. Perhaps you think that you’re JUST a stay at home mom, a high school student, an average guy. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things for the Kingdom of God when they follow Jesus!
Getting There
How many of you enjoy vacations? How many of you enjoy long drives or flights to get to your destination?
I often find myself in a place that I enjoy, yet there were obstacles to overcome in order to be there. For example, I love to see the Detroit Tigers, but I have never been a season ticket holder. Why not?
Some of these may seem lame, but the point is I always enjoy the games once I’m seated, but it can require great effort to arrive there.
The same is literally true with fishing, both for fish and for men. It doesn’t happen while you’re on the couch watching TV (or worse, watching a fishing show on TV!). You must go.
Comfort
Let’s face it, some people make us uncomfortable. We might not like their attitude, language, personality, or even their smell! It feels safer to surround yourself with Christians that have similar values and beliefs. Jesus never said to stay in the temple. He didn’t intend for the Church to be a country club for members, but rather a mission outpost. His entire purpose on earth was to “seek and save that which was lost.” One of the three parables He told in Luke 15 tells us that He left the 99 that He had to go after the one lost sheep.
Our text today says
While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:15-17)
Where did He go? He went where the people lived. Today He would probably spend most of His time in coffee shops, night clubs, parks, bus stops, and malls. He went to where people were at. I know of no Scripture that describes Him at home playing video games or even reading a book. In fact, at one point He describes Himself as homeless, spending his time amongst people. His culture was obviously different from ours, but I wonder how many of us would’ve criticized Him.
A hospital is for the sick! The Church was created to reach the sick and transform them into wounded healers that can reach others.
Statistics tell us that the longer someone is a follower of Jesus, the fewer non-Christian friends they have. Some of you have virtually no interaction with the very people we are on the planet to reach! Again, this is not about pressure or force or getting points for yelling and hating people, but it is about preaching the Gospel through your words and deeds, presenting an alternative story that says there is something much greater to live for than money, fame, and power.
A Confession
This part of the message is especially challenging for me. My family, neighborhood, and job is filled with Christians. I have to make a conscious effort to build relationships with non-Christians, and I’ve been working on it. My moonlighting DJ business has given me opportunities to have conversations with spiritual seekers. I spend several hours each week in a coffee shop that serves as my remote office where I’ve been intentionally getting to know the staff and, on occasion, talk with other patrons. I’m hardly a model fisherman, but I’m striving to be.
The Heart of the Matter
I believe the real reason we aren’t more involved in fishing for men is not that we don’t know how (though we’ll talk about that next week) or even that we don’t have the time, it’s that we don’t care. We really don’t love our friends, neighbors, and co-workers enough. Sure, there’s fear of rejection and our own egos and images, but at the core if we really loved others like Jesus does, we’d take more risks, engage in more conversations, and at the very least spend more time praying for the spiritual lives of others.
Conclusion
Where do you spend your time? Who do you spend it with? What pre-Christians can you invite to your graduation party? BBQ?
Presence is everything. Be present in the lives of pre-Christians. Chat with them on Facebook. Grab a cup of coffee with them. Be close to them.
“God became a man and entered the world through a birth canal just like the rest of us. He chose to come to us on our turf, rather then expecting us to rise to His. Jesus preached everywhere that the kingdom of God has come near. He came to seek and to save the lost, and He now invites us to join Him.” –Neil Cole
In the words of the great theologian, Winnie the Pooh,
"You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes." -‐Winnie the Pooh
Credits
Much of this message was created by E.A.C.H., everyone a chance to hear, www.eachtoday.com
You can listen to the podcast here.
Passage, Mark 2:13-17:
Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Location
They say that the key to real estate is...location, location, location. Any fisherman (or woman) knows that there are good and not so good places to fish. If you’re fishing in a boat and catch nothing, you’re likely to move to another part of the lake or ocean in hopes of finding fish.
I have seen fish jump out of the water, but I have never seen fish jump into a fishing boat! Half of the fun of fishing is going out to where the fish are, right?
We talk a great deal around here about Jesus’ final words, often called the Great Commission. In Matthew 28:18-20 He said
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Did you notice that word “go?”
That might be the most challenging part of fishing.
Jesus Went
Our passage this morning shows Jesus in action. He is not content to merely hang out with his friends or spend HIs time shopping at the Jerusalem Mall. He goes out to the people.
Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. (Mark 2:13)
We could take a great deal of time to examine this passage, but suffice it to say that Jesus went to a hated tax collector and invited him into His life. This was so...radical!
Discipleship
Back in the day, the Jewish Model of Discipleship began with children around age 6 in schooling called Beth Shefer where they spent five years memorizing the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. They knew how to “hide God’s Word in their hearts.” How many of you have memorized the first five books of the Bible?
You would think that an 11 or 12 year-old with five books memorized would certainly be prepared for lifelong service to God, but most kids stopped there and returned to the family trade, be it fishing, blacksmith, construction, etc.
A few of the best students continued their education in schooling known as Beth Midrash. There they memorized the rest of the Tanakh (Old Testament). In addition to memorizing the actual text, they learned the different Rabbinic interpretations on the text. This is while they were 10-15 years old!
Most graduates of the program would return home, but the very, very best went to a third school called Beth Talmid. The Rabbi did not look to merely transfer knowledge to his student, but actually transfer his life. The goal was for the student to become the teacher. The young man would travel with the rabbi from age 15 to age 30. The student became a shadow of the rabbi, walking so close with him that they would literally be covered in the dust of the rabbi.
Needless to say, those that survived the 25 year learning process could become rabbis, the highest honor in the culture (like a movie or rock star today!). Discipleship was not simply knowledge transfer, but life transfer. It happened while doing life with the rabbi.
Matthew
Do you see how radical it was for Jesus to choose an ordinary, outcast tax collector like Matthew to follow Him? He did not memorize the Scriptures. He was not on anyone’s most likely to succeed list. Nevertheless, Jesus invites him into His inner circle.
This is how God works!
Consider this: Jacob was a cheater... Peter had a temper... David had an affair...Noah got drunk... Jonah ran from God...Paul was a murderer... Gideon was insecure...Mary was a worrier...Thomas was a doubter...Elijah was moody...Moses stuttered... Zaccheus was short...and Abraham was old...
In fact, Luke records this incident in the book of Acts: “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13, NLT)
Where Do You Fish?
Maybe you’ve been looking for the perfect person to introduce to Jesus. You know, that really nice, friendly person with good morals and values that everyone likes. You think, they’re so great, but with Jesus, they’d be even better!
That’s not what Jesus did. He approached THAT guy!
Maybe rather than avoiding ordinary people, you avoid others because YOU are so ordinary. Perhaps you think that you’re JUST a stay at home mom, a high school student, an average guy. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things for the Kingdom of God when they follow Jesus!
Getting There
How many of you enjoy vacations? How many of you enjoy long drives or flights to get to your destination?
I often find myself in a place that I enjoy, yet there were obstacles to overcome in order to be there. For example, I love to see the Detroit Tigers, but I have never been a season ticket holder. Why not?
- cost of tickets
- travel time
- travel expense
- finding companions
- possibility of bad weather
- finding a parking place
- parking expense
- walk to stadium
- walk inside stadium to my seat
Some of these may seem lame, but the point is I always enjoy the games once I’m seated, but it can require great effort to arrive there.
The same is literally true with fishing, both for fish and for men. It doesn’t happen while you’re on the couch watching TV (or worse, watching a fishing show on TV!). You must go.
Comfort
Let’s face it, some people make us uncomfortable. We might not like their attitude, language, personality, or even their smell! It feels safer to surround yourself with Christians that have similar values and beliefs. Jesus never said to stay in the temple. He didn’t intend for the Church to be a country club for members, but rather a mission outpost. His entire purpose on earth was to “seek and save that which was lost.” One of the three parables He told in Luke 15 tells us that He left the 99 that He had to go after the one lost sheep.
Our text today says
While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:15-17)
Where did He go? He went where the people lived. Today He would probably spend most of His time in coffee shops, night clubs, parks, bus stops, and malls. He went to where people were at. I know of no Scripture that describes Him at home playing video games or even reading a book. In fact, at one point He describes Himself as homeless, spending his time amongst people. His culture was obviously different from ours, but I wonder how many of us would’ve criticized Him.
A hospital is for the sick! The Church was created to reach the sick and transform them into wounded healers that can reach others.
Statistics tell us that the longer someone is a follower of Jesus, the fewer non-Christian friends they have. Some of you have virtually no interaction with the very people we are on the planet to reach! Again, this is not about pressure or force or getting points for yelling and hating people, but it is about preaching the Gospel through your words and deeds, presenting an alternative story that says there is something much greater to live for than money, fame, and power.
A Confession
This part of the message is especially challenging for me. My family, neighborhood, and job is filled with Christians. I have to make a conscious effort to build relationships with non-Christians, and I’ve been working on it. My moonlighting DJ business has given me opportunities to have conversations with spiritual seekers. I spend several hours each week in a coffee shop that serves as my remote office where I’ve been intentionally getting to know the staff and, on occasion, talk with other patrons. I’m hardly a model fisherman, but I’m striving to be.
The Heart of the Matter
I believe the real reason we aren’t more involved in fishing for men is not that we don’t know how (though we’ll talk about that next week) or even that we don’t have the time, it’s that we don’t care. We really don’t love our friends, neighbors, and co-workers enough. Sure, there’s fear of rejection and our own egos and images, but at the core if we really loved others like Jesus does, we’d take more risks, engage in more conversations, and at the very least spend more time praying for the spiritual lives of others.
Conclusion
Where do you spend your time? Who do you spend it with? What pre-Christians can you invite to your graduation party? BBQ?
Presence is everything. Be present in the lives of pre-Christians. Chat with them on Facebook. Grab a cup of coffee with them. Be close to them.
“God became a man and entered the world through a birth canal just like the rest of us. He chose to come to us on our turf, rather then expecting us to rise to His. Jesus preached everywhere that the kingdom of God has come near. He came to seek and to save the lost, and He now invites us to join Him.” –Neil Cole
In the words of the great theologian, Winnie the Pooh,
"You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes." -‐Winnie the Pooh
Credits
Much of this message was created by E.A.C.H., everyone a chance to hear, www.eachtoday.com
You can listen to the podcast here.