Discovering Discipleship

I preached this morning for 11 mins (+ preamble & prayer) at St Nicolas', Pevensey on the BCP gospel reading, Luke 5:1-11, with a sentence on the other two readings, saying that they could be taken to be Calls to Discipleship, though that is not the most exciting comment in the world since from one point of view the whole Bible is about discipleship.

It was an interesting service: 11am Sung Eucharist, largely according to the Prayer Book. There were robes, lights, a procession, Gospel from centre of church, incense, bells and so on. Eastward position.

My headings (which also appeared on a green handout, for Trinity) were:

Discipleship Discovered: Following Jesus

Luke 5:1-11

Discipleship is a response to the unique power and authority of Jesus (v8) revealed in his teaching (vv1-3) and miracles (vv6-7, 9)

Being a disciple involves taking Jesus at his word, doing what Jesus says because he says so, even if it seems stupid (vv4-5)

Jesus is powerful even when our best expertise is powerless, able when we are incapable, strong when we are weak (vv4-7)

Sinners (like Peter and us) rightly fear Jesus the Lord (v8)

But Jesus’ friends have no need to be afraid (v10)

Jesus calls his unworthy disciples to call other disciples after Him (v10)

Follow Him, whatever you have to leave behind (v11)

Word and Sacrament (Lk 5:1-11)

Is it fanciful to see Word and Sacrament here in this call of the disciples?

The word is no problem, that's explicit in the text: Jesus taught them the word of God.

If sacraments are visible words, enacted signs, significant actions of Jesus in which he involves his people, where they receive from him by his grace and power, is not the miraculous catch of fish sacramental? It is interpreted by the Word: as you caught these fish (by my grace and power, despite your inability) so you will catch men?

Presumably as the climax of this new covenant they had made with Jesus they ate (some of the fish) with Jesus, though I guess they might have straight away left everything behind (v11)?

Convinced? Or is that such a weak view of what's sacramental that its not worth bothering with?

How many will we catch?

I guess there’s always a danger that we see what we’re looking for, even if its not there! But I still reckon that post-millenial kind of texts crop up pretty often. Of course it doesn’t prove it, but in so far as the passage I’m preaching on this Sunday has anything to say about millenialisms, it seems pretty optimistic about the effectiveness of gospel ministry.

If the disciples thought at all about how many men they would “catch” in their new fishing ministry, Luke 5vv10 and 6 might lead them to expect amazingly large numbers of converts. Simon could reasonably expect that as he recognised his sin and inability but believed and obeyed Jesus’ word, he’d have an amazingly fruitful ministry. So it has turned out.

Ceremonies that point to Christ

No doubt there’s more to say here, but I’ve been helped by the way Revd Dr Paul Blackham of All Souls’, Langham Place, analyses the 3 ceremonies Luke mentions in chapter 2 that might shed light on the coming Messiah:

Circumcision (v21). In Genesis 17 the giving of circumcision as the bloody sign of the covenant and its implementation sandwiches the renewing of the promise of the seed through Isaac. It is perhaps in part a way of looking forward to the birth of the Messiah.

Redemption of the Firstborn (v23). In the Passover all the people deserve judgement but the first born male stands in for or represents the nation, bearing the wrathful punishment of God, unless a lamb dies in the place of the firstborn. Exodus 13 commands that firstborn males always have to be redeemed, just as if the people of God were still in captivity in Egypt. The firstborn Son is still to come to die as a substitute in the place of the people, bearing the wrath of God, releasing God’s people from slavery.

The ceremonial purification of Mary after childbirth (vv22, 24, cf. Leviticus 12). The pain of childbearing comes from God’s curse against sin in Genesis 3. It is through the birth of a child that the curse will be removed. Jesus will, of course, bring cleansing to his people and access to God.

Blackham’s sermon, The Child Who Divides (sermon code D040/03, 29th Dec 2002) is available on the All Souls’ website.

Comfort for Israel the widow

The widow Anna who speaks to those who were "looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:25) about the child Jesus becomes a more significant figure when we realise that Israel, the people of God, is often pictured as the LORD's bride in the Bible. In Lamentations 1, Jerusalem is a widow in need of comfort. The final "consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25; cf. Isaiah 40), the ultimate end of exile, comes in the Lord Jesus Christ and in the wedding of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9).