Get away from me!
Series: Holy – Holy – Holy | Bible text: Luke 5:1–11
Often we humans are too busy to deal with religious matters. We keep a safe distance and hide behind what we already know and can do. But Jesus Christ wants to meet us and he does. He disturbs our busyness. But the knowledge of the holy evokes resistance in us. For we are anything but holy. Yet we recognise that we want the encounter with the holy. So we are in a tension like Peter was. On the one hand, longing at the feet of Jesus, on the other, in a defensive attitude «Go away from me!». But Jesus Christ accepts us nonetheless – this is precisely the glory of grace: that God says yes to us despite our unworthiness as human beings.
Today we want to look again at the encounter of the Holy One. This sermon has been on my mind for at least two months. On the one hand, I was very much looking forward to it, but on the other hand, it is also a very existential question for me. We want to take a closer look at Peter. Peter was the leading disciple of Jesus Christ. He experienced a lot and was very formative. His story is full of ups and downs. In the Bible we get a deep insight into his inner life and the path he took alongside Jesus. This path ultimately led him to his own death. But today we want to look at his vocation as a follower of Jesus.
Too busy to follow Jesus Christ
Peter grew up by the Sea of Galilee. He and his brother Andrew were fishermen by profession and made their living that way. Before Jesus appeared in public, John the Baptist appeared on the scene. He made people aware of the coming of Jesus Christ. There were a few people who followed John and sought his closeness. One day, when John was baptising in the Jordan, Jesus passed by. Two men, who had been travelling with John until then, now followed Jesus. «Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two men who had followed Jesus because they had heard what John said about him. Immediately he sought out his brother Simon and told him: «We have found the Messiah» (meaning: the Christ). Then Andrew took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him attentively and said: «You are Simon, the son of John – but you will be called Cephas» (meaning: Peter).» (John 1:40–42 NLB). So Peter had already come into contact with the Holy One, but it had not yet changed his life. Peter still remained at a safe distance.
And here begins the real story around which today’s sermon revolves. «One day when Jesus was preaching by the Sea of Galilee, many people crowded around him, all wanting to hear the Word of God. He noticed two empty boats on the shore. The fishermen had left them and were cleaning their nets.» (Luke 5:1–2 NLB). Jesus was a popular preacher. People flocked from everywhere to hear what he had to say. But the fishermen were unimpressed. They were tired from the exhausting night and just wanted to put everything back in order and then rest. They keep their distance. But the crowd is getting bigger and bigger. «Jesus got into one of the boats and asked the owner of the boat, Simon, to push off from the shore. Then he taught the crowd from the boat» (Luke 5:3 NLB). Peter allows himself to be included. He is at a distance, but open to being addressed and included by Jesus Christ. Peter does push the boat away from the shore, but I can well imagine that he did not necessarily do so with great joy. Surely he was tired. He had been out all night – and in vain. Not a single fish was caught. Possibly he has existential fears. But Jesus has long known about all this.
Jesus preaches from the boat first to all, but then follows a sermon specifically tailored to Peter. Jesus, who was a carpenter by trade, challenges Peter, a professional fisherman, to cast the nets again. They had finally finished cleaning and mending the nets and now someone who has no idea comes and asks him to cast the nets again. If they don’t catch anything again, which is the logical conclusion on the day, then it was all for nothing. « «Master», Simon replied, «we worked hard all last night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will try again».» (Luke 5:5 NLB). Probably reluctantly, perhaps also curiously, Simon once again casts the nets. What happens then? The nets are so full that they begin to tear. You have to imagine this situation. First the professionals are at work – but catch nothing. Then a layman comes along, who has only caught a few small fish, if any, privately, and points them out – and they make the catch of their lives. The catch is so big that they even have to call in another boat. They have caught so many fish that both boats are in danger of sinking. At first, Peter remained at a safe distance from Jesus, which gave him a sense of security. But the encounter with Jesus Christ changes everything.
Realisation leads to defence
The reaction to the closeness to Jesus Christ is not long in coming. «When Simon Peter realised what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, «Lord, do not concern yourself any further with me – I am too great a sinner to be with you» » (Luke 5:8 NLB). What happened here? The more Peter realised who he had before him, the more uncomfortable and unworthy he felt in the company of such a person. He felt that he was too much of a sinner. Sin means being separated from God. Another word is missing the mark. Peter realised at that moment that his inner being was too far away from the Holy One who was revealed to him in Jesus Christ at that moment. Peter lies at Jesus» feet, but at the same time also points him away. The Luther Bible translates from the Greek: «[…] Lord, go away from me! I am a sinful man». (Luke 5:8 LUT). This pointing Peter away shows that Peter had inwardly recognised that he was dealing with something quite different. «For he was in awe at the sight of the abundant catch, and so were the others». (Luke 5:9 NLB). Peter was awestruck.
Many people are at the same point as Peter. They recognise that the kingdom of God is dawning. They notice in people around them, maybe even here in the church, that they are changing. Perhaps some look jealously at what is happening in the lives of some people. But most are probably glad and relieved that the spotlight is not on them. For this would bring things to light. Things that would cause the same reaction as Peter. Namely, the realisation that a person has no place in the presence of God. Many long for an encounter with Jesus Christ, but preferably only from a distance. Jesus as a role model is more than acceptable today. His call to love one’s neighbour, his commitment to the marginalised, his love for the afflicted. But always only at a distance. The American theologian R.C. Sproul puts it this way. «People value moral perfection as long as it remains far enough away from them» (Robert C. Sproul). But the encounter with the Holy One does not take place from a distance. The prophet Isaiah, who lived a few hundred years before Peter, wrote the following about his encounter with God: «Then I said, «It will be terrible for me, for I am a man of unclean lips, in the midst of a people of unclean lips. I will perish, for I have seen the King, the LORD Almighty!» » (Isaiah 6:5 NLB).
What Peter realises at the moment of the miracle of the fish is his inability compared to the power of God. Everything Peter can bring to God as a human being falls away. He brings the experience of being an experienced fisherman and a loving son-in-law. In both of these areas he can do something. But when his mother-in-law is sick, Jesus Christ heals her (Luke 4:38–39). After they had caught nothing for a whole night, Jesus helps them to the greatest catch – and this in the daytime. Until now Peter had been taken with the man Jesus. But this fish miracle changes everything. Peter realises that Jesus Christ has power over everything – even over his two areas of expertise. Peter has absolutely nothing to offer. Instead, he recognises himself as the person one would prefer to hide. Namely as a sinner, a person who is separated from God. Peter cannot help but capitulate to Jesus. This point is crucial, especially in times of social media, where everything is always trimmed to a high gloss. It is about our dark side, which we are usually very good at keeping under wraps and if at all, only the people closest to us know. Often they get the most of it.
The glory of grace
Peter does say «Depart from me!» but his action shows that his heart felt something else. Peter lay down at the feet of Jesus Christ and speaks this sentence. It shows the tension of the realisation of his own inability and the desire of Peter’s heart. How does Jesus react? Does he say «Yes you are not worthy! Go away from me!» or does he say «What do you want from me Peter? Go away!» All these reactions would have been absolutely justified, but Jesus Christ reacts quite differently. His answer is not a rebuke, but a promise. «[…] Jesus said to Simon: «Don’t be afraid! From now on you will be fishing for people» ». (Luke 5:10 NLB). There is much in this reaction. Therein lies the painful but at the same time healing truth. God does not need us humans – but wants us. We humans need God – but do not want him. In his holiness, God does not need us, but he wants us. This tension of not deserving and yet wanting and worthy is shown quite figuratively in a promise to the people of Israel. «Thou poor worm Jacob, thou sorrowful heap of Israel, fear not, I will help thee, thereon thou hast my word. Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel». (Isaiah 41:14 NLB). This is exactly how we humans stand before God. We are poor worms, a sad lot, we would have every reason to be afraid. But the Holy One says «Fear not!». We are redeemed from this state of missing the mark.
The call of Jesus Christ demands everything from us. But only because he has also given everything for us. He has plans for us that we would never have dared to dream of. The response of Peter and the other fishermen was shown in their leaving behind everything they had and following Jesus Christ (Luke 5:11). We would have heard nothing from them if they had stayed with their boats. Much depends on the decision for the Holy One! The fishermen left their ancestral profession at the moment when things were going best.
We can quickly focus on the disciples» renunciation in this story. On the fact that they left everything behind to follow Jesus Christ. But this is not the main focus of this story. It is not about showing unconditional obedience, but the focus is on the glory of grace as the theologian Adolf Schlatter had said. Grace can only show itself in all its fullness when I have also reached the point where I recognise that I cannot stand before the holy and yet absolutely need the holy. This is precisely where the glory of grace lies: that God says yes to us despite our unworthiness as human beings.
Possible questions for the small group
Read the Bible text: Luke 5:1–11
- How busy are you? Where in the story would you place yourself? More on the fringes like Peter and busy with work or one of the people who listen to Jesus Christ and flock to him?
- What area of your life do you most want to hide? What are you most proud of? How close do you let Jesus Christ get to you?
- Can you grasp how much you do not deserve to meet Jesus Christ? But can you also grasp how much he wants you?
- Do you know the tension of «Get away from me!» and lie down at the feet of Jesus Christ?
- How do you recognise the glory of grace in your life?
