The Fisherman and the Master, part 1

~Luke 5.1-11, my enhanced version

“Simon! Hey, I’m talking to you. Have you heard anything I just said?”

“Huh?” asked the big man. “No, Andrew. I guess not. Sorry.”

“Fine. The most exciting thing to happen around here in a lifetime, maybe in several lifetimes, is going on right now, right here where we are, and you don’t want to talk about it. Ok. You just keep your thoughts to yourself, Big Brother. I’ll talk to the rocks.”

But the younger man was wasting his breath. Simon had already turned his gaze back to cleaning nets there beside the bluegreen water slapping the side of their boat. He was torn with conflict, and a decision had to be made soon. Yes, today. Sure, Andrew was right. It was amazing to have a guy come to town who could do the astonishing things Jesus did. Jaw-dropping amazing! He thought of the water turned to wine, the money changers driven right out of the temple, the stir Jesus had caused in the Samaritan village. Any one of these events would have been enough to keep people talking for years, and they had happened one right after the other. He thought of his own mother-in-law, how sick she had been for days, how dark circles had grown under the eyes of his anxious wife as she cared for her mom. Then Jesus invited himself over. Wouldn’t take no for an answer. Walked right in, took the sick woman by the hand, and within moments it was gone—the fever, the anxiety, the sick smell in the room, the cloud over the house. All vanished with the presence of this man. And to top it off, an hour later dinner was on the table.

Of course Simon wanted to be part of that. And he had been specifically invited. Jesus had looked right at him, eye-to-eye, man-to-man and said, “Come. Follow me.” And he wasn’t saying that to everybody, only a handful so far. Jesus was somehow a chosen man of God himself, and he had chosen Simon to be part of the mission. “Yes, I should leave the constant struggle of these empty nets and follow him,” he thought. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I'll surely regret if I let slip by."

Yet, how could he even consider it? Follow me indeed. Easily said, but who’s going to take care of the family? Jesus hadn’t said anything about how following him would keep food on the table. Simon was not a flake. He understood his responsibilities. “I will show you how to fish for people.” What did that mean anyway?

Being with Jesus was a rush, but Simon lived in the real world. And for him and his buddies, the real world was nets, hooks, scales and fish guts. A look at any of their rough hands would reveal it. And when the catch was low, as, unfortunately, it had been lately, that meant more time in the boat, not abandoning ship to run after the local prophet, no matter how amazing the guy was. That, Simon decided, was the only decision a responsible man could make.

Just as he came to this conclusion there was a stir on shore. Around the bend from town came a crowd of people. And, no surprise, Jesus was in the center of the pack. Simon tried to strengthen his resolve. He would not go to them. Even though he and Andrew had been at it all night they still needed to get back on the water for any hope of some income this day. He tried hard to ignore the approaching throng and to focus on getting the debris out of his nets.

Jesus apparently aimed to settle near the shore to teach, but the press of people was too great. Everyone wanted to be close and they just about backed him into the lake. When he saw the brothers’ boat there, he got in, asking Simon to push it out into the water. What choice was there? Even though Simon had determined not to abandon his life, he couldn’t refuse the request.

Jesus taught from the boat all afternoon, his words burning into Simon’s tormented heart. “I am a fisherman,” he reminded himself. When darkness fell and hunger sent the people home, Jesus said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

“Master,” Simon replied wearily, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing.” He waited for Jesus to withdraw the request, but his fellow Galilean only returned his gaze, waiting. Sigh. “But if you say so, I’ll let the nets out again.”

As he and his brother maneuvered the boat back into open water, Simon’s thoughts mocked him. What did he expect to happen? He had decided he could not abandon the work which provided for his family, yet he was still compelled to obey. After a few hundred feet, he and Andrew dutifully let down the clean nets, exactly as they had done hundreds of times before, exactly as they had done the night before and through the cool hours of early morning. A fresh breeze stirred.

Suddenly the boat lurched leeward and began to tremble. What was happening? For a moment Simon imagined some great sea creature attacking from the dark waters. He leapt forward to see. It appeared the nets were full, full of wriggling fish! It took a few seconds to comprehend the sight. Simon was broken from his incredulity when he noticed stressed threads starting to unravel from the weight. Immediately the brothers jumped into action trying to support the nets as best they could and shouting desperately for help.

The boat of James and John pulled up beside and all five men struggled to get the catch on board. Both boats were soon filled to capacity, knee deep with fish, and still there were more. Finally the last net was secured and the heavy vessels labored toward land.

At this first moment of catching his breath the impact of what had just happened hit Simon. Jesus. Jesus was not just prophet and healer. He was something, someone, far more. He was provision. Simon had been calculating for days and finding Jesus coming up short. As further realization of his companion’s identity settled into Simon, he was overcome. He caught a breath-taking glimpse of who Jesus is and at the same moment of the darkness in his own heart by comparison. He fell to his knees. “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.”

Jesus knelt with his hand on Simon’s shoulder. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. Then he repeated the mysterious words from before: “From now on you’ll be fishing for people.” The Bible tells us next that “as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.”

Making a meal = love

~Luke 4.39 Standing at her bedside, he rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and prepared a meal for them. (New Living Translation)
~Matthew 8.15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him. (New American Standard)
~Mark 1.30-31 And having come into Peter's home, Jesus saw Peter's mother-in-law bedridden and burning with a fever. And He touched her hand and the fever left her. And she arose and went to serving Him a meal. (The New Testament: an Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest)

So little information here on this mother-in-law who was healed. All we know really is that the first thing in her mind when she is relieved of suffering with the fever is serving. From most Bible versions that translations into preparing food. "There's a guest. In fact, this guest is so remarkable that fever flees at his command. And he took the time for me. What can I do to bless this amazing person? Dinner!" Yes, preparing and serving food is so often how we show love, respect, affection.

So many fishermen

~Mark 1.16-20 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him. 19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Fish was obviously an elementary component of the first century diet. Of Jesus’ specifically called twelve disciples, a third of them made their living fishing. I’d think that to have a bigger base of influence he might have chosen his top guys from a more diverse labor pool. Is there some significance to this preponderance of fishermen on the team? Jesus does say these guys will now be fishing for people (another powerful metaphor), but is there something about their fishing expertise that would make them better equipped for this?

Sweet potato chips, Mmm

If you're looking for a yummy healthy snack, try this. A couple of weeks ago Audrey made some sweet potato chips. They were so good, I had to have more. You can find a lot of directions on the internet; here's the gist of it.

Scrub a couple of sweet potatoes (some recommend the red ones) and slice them into rounds as thinly as you can. Put in a bowl and add a couple tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Mix together so the slices get coated with the oil. Spread into a single layer on a cookie sheet and bake. Some recommend 20 minutes at 400*, others an hour at 200*. Try whichever fits into your schedule. Oh, and turning about halfway through is good.

Actually, half of mine, made in the same batch, came out more chewy than crunchy. But they are also really good. Other chips got crunchy as they cooled. Experiment! One pan I baked with just the oil. In the other I added some dill, garlic, and sesame seeds. Both are really good. The sweet potatoes themselves have so much flavor, they don't really need extra seasoning. Yummy and healthy--love it!

Famine and provision

~Luke 4.25-26 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.

Jesus' point here is that God doesn't play favorites, but what want to note is the statement that for over three years "the sky was shut," resulting, not surprisingly, in famine. This is a story of God's interaction with his people in the Old Testament (II Kings 17). I plan to continue my food study there when I finish the New. And I will look at this amazing record of provision then.

Steve's pizza

Steve made a really good whole wheat crust, highly vegatative pizza tonight. Mmmmm. Tofu probably would have been better than the sardines for the protein, but, I guess the sardines are more like what Jesus would have eaten. :-]

More on the well conversation

~John 4.34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."

It's great when I feel that I'm engaged in something that God is in, "his work," if you will. But I still want to eat!

~John 4.36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!

Two conversations at the well in Samaria

~John 4.1-38 I'm looking for what I can learn about food from this. Jesus asked for water when he was tired by the long walk from Judea to Galilee. He compared the spiritual life that he as to give to living water. By now I'm noticing how common these food and drink pictures are.

Sometimes I have no desire for a particular food someone is offering to me. Maybe I'm not hungry, or it doesn't look that good, or maybe I am hungry and it looks great, but it's all white flour, sugar and salt which I try to avoid. But usually I will eat at least a little of it anyway for the sake of the person offering. I appreciate that she wants to give me this perceived pleasure or comfort, and I want to offer something back: my thanks and satisfaction with the food. My kids seem to have none at all of this obligation to nicely and unquestioningly accept what their mom offers. Apparently Jesus felt no such need either. More than that, he kind of belittled his disciples' offer by saying he had other food they didn't know anything about--spiritual food. Steve Martin might say, "Well, ex-cuuuuse me!"

Then we have another analogy, the white fields.

Two Questions, nothing to do with food

Trivia Question: The most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16, was said by whom to whom?

Pondering Question: When Jesus said to Nicodemus that "truly no one can see the reign of God unless he is born from above," was he offering that as the reason Nic didn't understand? What would being "born from above" or born again mean to a first century Jew?

Wine 1

~John 2.10b “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

Wine has caused a lot of happiness, a lot of pain. Jesus apparently, maybe obviously, had no problem with its consumption. And yet my mom grew up in a church that taught any and all alcohol consumption was evil.

Jesus' fasting and the bread temptation

~Matthew 4.1-2 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted(or tested) by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Putting aside the discussion of Jesus being led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil, I want to think about the fasting. Jesus fasted for well over five weeks! And I doubt he had protein drinks as a supplement. We have no clear word of why Jesus fasted. Why would the Holy Spirit want him to stop the normal, natural daily intake of food? Does voluntary physical hunger have a spiritual benefit? It teaches dependence on God? It dials up our sensitivity to other realms of life? It humbles? Ah. Sacrifice releases power. I remember. Jesus was going to need plenty of power to accomplish his mission.

~Matthew 4.3-4 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’ (Deut 8.3).”

Of course people want to eat when they are hungry. Of course, Jesus was hungry after such a long fast. What would have been wrong with turning the stones to bread? Maybe nothing except that the idea came from Satan. The devil was trying to make eating a priority over getting God’s word. Peterson says, “Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: ‘It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth.’" But hadn’t Jesus just spent forty days in steady-stream communion with the father? Isn’t that what the whole wilderness/fasting experience was about?* Since he’d been without food for that entire time, his hunger seems a reasonable normal biological need, not just human appetite. So I’m left wondering why turning stones to bread would have been on the list of the big three temptations.

*But maybe Jesus wasn’t in communion with the Father for that time. Maybe it was what we might call an authentic God-where-are-you wilderness experience. We fast to get closer and more in tune with God. But maybe Jesus’ entire fasting period was actually an experience of not being so in tune. Whereas in Matthew this temptation is said to be at the end of the forty days; in both Mark and Luke it sounds like the temptation continued all during the forty days. It would make sense coming out of a long dry period that Jesus should look for restoration with God before merely eating. (This raises more questions. Worship first. But wasn't he able to worship in the dessert? I dunno.)

Mark (1.12-13) says nothing about the temptations themselves, but adds details that “Jesus was with the wild animals and angels attended to him.” Here’s a sentence full of interesting images and conjecture. If not feeding him, how would angels attend to a man gone so long without food?

Maybe the thing wrong with turning stones to bread is that God’s miracles are for needs that cannot be met in natural ways. Probably Jesus could have gone into town and made his own bread. Or more likely, he’d have gone into town and some friends or family would see him and say, ‘You look awful! Come on over and let me fix you something to eat.” So maybe turning the stones to bread would have been short circuiting some building of community that God wanted to do. I think of Anthony Campolo’s story: “No, we’re not going to pray for the money to meet this need. You and I are going to open our wallets right now and meet this need!” Maybe that’s why turning the stones to bread was not in God’s will and thus called a temptation.

The other thing I notice here is that the first, most basic thing our Lord thinks of when he is hungry is bread. Not locusts. Not wild honey, like his cousin John. Not a cheeseburger and apple pie like a modern man might envision. Just bread. It’s been called the staff of life—a staple or necessary food. He wanted bread and he was tempted by bread. Bread is good and desirable, but at the wrong time, place, amount, or kind, we can be tempted to sin by it.

~Luke 2.37 [The prophetic widow Anna] never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

More release of power by her fasting?

Food as metaphor

~Matthew 3.8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

We are to produce fruit, metaphorically, so God must consider fruit good. Fruit is good.

~Matthew 3.10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Fruit itself is good, but this verse makes a distinction of “good fruit.” So some fruit can apparently be bad.

~Matthew 3.12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Again we have a food metaphor. God’s followers are like wheat, good and desirable for preserving, but the inedible chaff is just in the way and will be destroyed

John the Baptist, locusts and wild honey

~Luke 1.15 (New International Version, ©2010) for [John] will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.

Jesus' first recorded miracle is turning water into wine, yet John is not to drink it. John was such an "out there" guy anyway, perhaps people could have pinned it on the wine if he'd been a drinker at all. Abstinence is a special calling for people set apart. Jesus is the bridegroom whose presence is to be celebrated.

~Matthew 3:4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. Also Mark 1.6

I picture John as a wild haired, back-to-nature guy. Apparently he didn’t do processed food. Locusts. Ok, so can we assume he’s not picky about his food? Locusts, the protein. And honey, the carbohydrate. Where are the veggies, John? Are there no dandelion greens the wilderness? I read that honey contains “small amounts of a wide array of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants.” Maybe Matthew is just trying to set up John as an extreme kind of guy and neglects to mention the more normal aspects of his diet. But at any rate, although I have no desire to eat bugs, it’s nice to know that honey was a favored food.

Why I'm Thinking about Food and Faith

I am interested in the Bible and interested in food. Since I’d like to know more about both and understand them better, I’m starting through a chronological Bible, New Testament first, looking for any and all references to food, drink, and eating. Yes, it's been done before. But I want to see for myself what I can learn.