Down By The Sea
by Stuart Malkin 6 July 2022
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Selected verses from Luke 2 - Jesus calls the first disciples.
Jesus saw two boats pulled up on the beach, the fishermen had left them and were washing the nets. Jesus got into one of the boats, it belonged to Simon, and asked him to push off a little from the shore. Jesus sat in the boat and taught the crowd. When he finished speaking to the crowd he said to Simon “Push the boat further to the deep water and you and your partners let down your nets for a catch “
“Master” Simon answered, “we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but if you say so I will let down the nets” They let them down and caught such a large number of fish that the nets were about to break Jesus said to Simon,” Don’t be afraid from now on you will be catching people”.
Simon, Andrew (the brother of Simon) James and John all left their boats and followed Jesus.
Now, for the many in normal times, is when bags are packed ready to explore places new or returning to places loved. Ann and I have not been away for many years, but memories thankfully remain and the sea is something that lingers in our memories. Is it because living, as we do, far from the beating waves? Is it the smell of the sea that is so refreshing or the activities of those work and rely on the sea for their living?
Anyone who has read any of Ann Cleeves’ books that in many cases are based in the north east or the extremes of the Scottish isles as you listen to her descriptions of the land, hills and even each street you can hear in her ears the battering water that surrounds the action going on. (If you have seen Vera on tv this is the author)
Jesus obviously loved the sea as much happened just before his ministry, at his baptism and then as he calls his disciples. A group of men had been out at sea all night and caught nothing, so the job was to prepare their nets for the next night. Wherever he went, even in his active three years Jesus drew listeners and these men of the sea would be on the periphery so could not help listening even be it with one ear.
Then there was immediate response and Simon calls Jesus MASTER.
The reading shows us the trust that Jesus had for these simple but strong men of the sea, but it all showed the trust Simon particularly had in Jesus for his action was immediate as he and his colleagues pushed a boat into deeper water. Was this what they were going to experience by following Jesus, getting themselves into deep water with all they met?
For young and old alike wanting exciting times not just for today but for the rest of their lives being like these first disciples taking the first step of trust can lead into deep water but knowing Jesus will always take the hand of survival.
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Prayer
Father God as we walk along your road, may we always know that we can always trust you for the future, be it now or the times to come beyond life here on earth.
Amen