CHRIST THROUGH US
Christ Works through the Unworthy
Last night was frustrating. Fruitless work. A waste of time. The sun coming up offers the promise of a better day ahead, but right now, after a long night and no fish, the nets seem more irritating than they usually do with the weeds and rocks and dead fish that need to be cleaned out of them. As they are washed off, even a single tear is especially annoying.
Then he asks for the boat. Simon Peter leaves the net-minding and gently pushes the boat from the shore. It glides back out on the water just far enough so that the Teacher could separate himself from the crowd and use the water as a sounding board so that he could share the word of God with the people who had been pushing their way to him.
This was not the first time Peter had met Jesus. He and his brother Andrew had been following John the Baptist around, waiting for the promised Messiah to show himself publicly. Maybe you remember John saying, “Look, the Lamb of God!” and those two leaving John to get to know Jesus. They were still working as fishermen while Jesus went throughout the area preaching and teaching, but they had come to see him as the world’s Savior.
This is why Peter was ready to let him borrow the boat. This is also why—even after no fish all night…and taking care of the nets…and letting Jesus use the boat…and just wanting to be done Peter was willing to take direction about fishing from the man with carpenter experience, but no fishing background. “Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter offered only the mildest protest and then agreed to do it: “Master, we worked hard all through the night and caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets.”
And you heard how that turned out a catch that nearly split the nets and the need for James and John to hustle their boat over to help! They were not prepared for that! “Go away from me, because I am a sinful man, Lord.” And then Jesus did the opposite of going away from Peter! He said, “Have no fear. From now on you will be catching people.” After they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
Tough day at work. Tired. Frustrated. Reluctant. Skeptical. Sinful. Can you relate to any of that?
This is the guy Jesus called to follow him and through whom he would reach SO many people with his love. You may know some other stuff about Peter from the Bible. At times… impetuous, mouth running off ahead of his brain, arrogant. He denied Jesus. He swore. He gave in to fear. His sinfulness would be on display going forward with Jesus and put down on papyrus for all of us to later read about. To this man Jesus said, Don’t be afraid. From now on, people are going to see me through you. The same was true of those fishing brothers who were also part of this experience, James and John. Some of you may remember that Jesus gave those two the nickname “Son’s of Thunder.” They weren’t perfect either.
We might be fascinated to think of Peter, James, and John and of the rest of the 12 Disciples. We hold them in high regard, respect what they did, read what they wrote even memorize it and teach it and share it with others. But the Bible sometimes shines a light on how imperfect, how sinful they were—just like us. Imperfect, yet we see Christ through them, don’t we? Literally billions of people have seen Christ through those fishermen and the others.
You know where I’m going with this, right? We don’t need to be face-to-face with the perfect Jesus and an unexplainable amount of fish threatening nets and boats to be self-conscious and fearful because of our sins, do we? And yet, Jesus also calls us to follow him and witness to others.
Christ Worked Through Us in the Past
The disciples were the first ones through whom people would see Christ. There have been many more after them. Over the course of the Wisconsin Synod’s 175 years, there have been so many men and women in our church body through whom people have seen Christ. What were those people like?
German immigrants, farmers, maybe some fisherman, shop owners, parents focused on raising godly families, factory workers, teachers. The first publisher of the Wisconsin Synod the one who printed the first synod hymnal owned the Boston Americans baseball team just a few years before they were renamed the Boston Red Sox. You may recognize the name of one of their pitchers Cy Young. They won the World Series the year he bought the team 1903.
In our church’s history there was a famous, proud leader from Arizona the White Mountain Apache Chief, Alchesay. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the U.S. Army and, more importantly, on April 30, 1922, he took 100 of his people to the door of the new church building up in Whiteriver, Arizona and he and they were baptized. You and I have many Apache brothers and sisters because of the missionaries through whom he and the tribe saw Christ. And since that time, many people have come to see Christ through the Apache people.
We could talk about the many Wisconsin Synod missionaries to Africa and the countless women—and men—who have served to provide continuous medical relief while sharing the gospel in Africa for almost a hundred years now.
The hands of history hold onto you on this end and stretch back 175 years to them. You are connected to these people by your participation in this church or one of our sister churches. But it is more than just a shared history or simple affiliation or membership. It is the actual faith in Christ as the world’s Savior that is the greatest connection we have with those in the past and with those who sit next to us here. That connection comes with the call that we share with them. Like they did in the past, we have been called to carry the gospel that is in our hearts to those around us now.
Christ Works Through Us Now
Like them, you and I know the love and forgiveness and promise of heaven that is ours because Christ came for us. That makes us perfectly equipped to share what we know to be true. We can help people see Christ.
This has always been the way. From the shores of the Sea of Galilee to wherever you live and work and play, Jesus calls his people to tell those around them about his love and his cross and forgiveness and heaven. You are his plan for getting this good news to people who need him. Just like the people you are linked to over a 175-year history have done, you are called by Jesus to share forgiveness and salvation by faith in him through your individual callings in life, your personal occupations and roles to share Christ every day with people who are alongside you in your home and where you work and your school and your circle of friends. Christ Through Us.
Just look at the “us” here: people who have jobs where they work with their hands, others who deal with numbers and finances, printers, leaders, some who serve the public regarding legal matters and law enforcement, students, pastors, those who keep homes together and operational, who volunteer in the community, who have a network of friends, those who clean and maintain workplaces, parents raising children, retirees, kids busy with school and activities, healthcare professionals, those who work in the store or open up the shop When you think about our vocations, our callings in life, can you see all of the opportunities?! Do you see the amount of ground we cover and the multitude of people we come into contact with who could see Christ Through Us if we will just share?!
It is worth saying that Jesus never intended that people see him through his disciples simply by the way they lived. Yes, he has in mind that living as a Christian will attract the attention of some, but Christ Through Us most certainly means that we actually speak and share what Jesus has done…and is doing…and will do when he comes again! People cannot know Jesus if they are not told about him And when we speak, some will come to faith when they hear about him. This is Christ Through Us.
There’s a lesson for us in this fishing miracle. Peter wasn’t overly enthusiastic about throwing the nets out. It was an unlikely hour for fishing at all, and there seemed to be no fish in the area at that time anyway. Have you ever felt that way about sharing Jesus with people? Like, you’re not overly optimistic that this person is going to be interested or accept your invitation to church or ever actually believe that Jesus is their Savior. Or you get tired from trying because nothing seems to be happening?
Welcome aboard.
You’re right there with Peter. In his moment of reluctance and skepticism, think about what he saw. He saw Jesus provide a miraculous catch of fish. Make sure you catch what that catch meant! Jesus said, “From now on you will be catching people.” Peter got to see the power of Christ fill the nets. Throughout his life, Peter would get to see the power of Christ work through him so that many people would be brought into the gospel’s net. He saw it with individuals, and he saw it in large groups—up to 3,000!
Christ Works Through Us in the Future
Do you trust that Jesus and his saving gospel can work through you too? You should. You can relate to Peter’s weakness because you’re imperfect too. You should also be able to relate to Christ’s power working through Peter’s witness despite his weakness.
It is an awe-inspiring, humbling thing to know that Jesus forgives us, isn’t it? That he loved us much that he died for us? That he chose to give us faith? It seems crazy because there is no reason he should have ever done that for sinful me or for you no reason except his love. The other thing that seems crazy is that he would call us to represent him to the people around us! We ought to consider it an honor and a privilege to represent our Savior, and we ought to be eager to help others to know the same grace that God has given us.
Don’t ever consider it a chore to follow Jesus’ command. Don’t stand in the boat reluctant to cast the net. Instead, feel honored that Christ chose you to follow him and to fish for him. And remember, you’re not in charge of whether the fish end up in the gospel’s net; he is. Like Galilean fishermen, you and I might be rather ordinary, but Christ’s power is extraordinary.
You’re doing this individually, but you’re not doing it alone. Jesus is working through you, and you have a whole church and church body full of people who have been doing this for a very long time. Thank God for that, as we all keep fishing so that people who need the Savior will see Christ Through Us. Amen.
Now the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.