Additional Resources
Commentary
It would appear that there were social divisions in the church at Corinth with a small ‘elite’ group having disproportionate influence. Their attitude towards those who they perceived to be inferior to them seemingly having a significant influence on the issues Paul addresses in his letters to them. A few highly placed individuals were probably doing much to shape the church and its influence and engagement with wider society due to their education and social standing. Addressing issues of wealth and status are a common thread through Paul’s writings to the Corinthians. Perhaps more importantly, the leaders in the church in Corinth seem to pride themselves in their superior spirituality. This causes Paul to remark, ‘I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly, mere infants in Christ’, 1 Cor 3 v 1 and, in the verses just before today’s reading, ‘If anyone things they are a prophet or spiritually gifted, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command…. …everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way’, 1 Cor 14 v 37, 40, a comment possibly addressed to a specific individual or small group with undue influence. The need for order highlighted as being critical as the opposite, disorder, is easily exploited by the strong and powerful, as we still see in our world today. It’s probably also why Paul then states that he is ‘the least of the Apostles’, if anything expressing a sense of inferiority, which would have been very counter cultural. Having established the ground rules as to how believers should behave and order themselves, including the appropriate use of spiritual gifts, Paul goes on to summarise and remind the Corinthians about the basis of their faith, that which they have received, and on which they now all stand firm.
But the first few verses of our reading are more than just reminder of what they believe, more than just a basic credal statement, although indeed that’s what they are. Paul makes two simple yet profound statements, on which hangs our faith. Both begin with the word, ‘that’. ‘That Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures’, and, ‘that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures’.
He then He then backs these up with two supplementary statements to give them veracity, context and clarity, both also beginning with the word ‘that’. ‘That Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures’, is immediately followed by the phrase, ‘and that he was buried’. The burial is an emphasis, even proof, of a real, tangible and physical death. Similarly, ‘and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures’ is immediately followed by, ‘and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.’ Just as burial is proof of a tangible and real death, the appearance of Christ is evidence and proof of a tangible and real resurrection.
Up to this point, Paul’s emphasis has predominantly been on the cross, but now, in these few verses, we have one of our earliest written examples of evidence of belief in the resurrection. Paul makes no reference to the empty tomb, or the women who were at the scene and witnessed the risen Christ, but the essence of our faith is laid bare in this early, simple, creedal statement. We believe that Christ died for our sins and, in resurrection on the third day, He rose from the dead. This is the essence of the Corinthian faith and our faith. And Paul goes on to say, it doesn’t matter who it’s heard from or even how we heard it, this resurrection centric message is the one which underpins our faith and the one to which we ‘hold firm’, whatever our background or learning, whatever our gifts - spiritual or otherwise, whatever our status or lack of it, whatever the circumstances or challenges.
Sometimes the writings of the Apostle Paul can be dense and complex as they adumbrate and explore different facets of our faith and doctrine. Since the 1970’s there has been a renewed focus and new perspectives on Paul’s understanding of major concepts such as justification by grace through faith, and how these relate to the seemingly more prescriptive Jewish law with which he was so familiar. This is another of the common threads running through Paul’s writings. Yet here in our reading from Corinthians, we have Paul at his simplest and clearest. ‘that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve….’ For many, that really is a new perspective and an opportunity for a fresh start as we move from that which we once knew to that which is now revealed in Christ. Sam Cappleman
Commentary
We are told that the Gospel reading today takes place at The Lake of Gennesaret, this is Luke's name for the Sea of Galilee, you will also hear about Simon, this is of course Simon Peter, who will become known as just Peter. The fishermen were cleaning their nets after a long night. They would have been tired and discouraged after a long, fruitless night. They were ready to call it a day. It was time to go home, to eat, and to get some sleep. The crowds on the other hand were pressing in on Jesus, he was the latest news and they crowded around like people today chase film stars, hoping for a significant word or a touch.
Jesus had an answer to the crowd control issues, he got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat" (v. 3). This is Simon's first appearance in this Gospel, and it is his first act of obedience. Given his fatigue and frustration, we could not expect Simon to be in the best mood. He was surely ready to go home—not back in his boat.
When I go fishing I don’t really mind if I don’t catch anything, getting away from it all in beautiful surroundings with birds and trees and all the joys of nature is sufficient benefit in its own right. For the disciples it must have been a very different matter, they were not fishing for fun, this was their livelihood and no fish meant no money, they would eventually go hungry if there was no catch. When Jesus told the disciples how to fish it is hard for us to understand just how fed up they must have been and discouraged.
Jesus' instructions to Peter were counter-intuitive. Peter was the fisherman. He knew better than Jesus the carpenter where to find fish. The fishermen had fished all night without results. The fish were not there, a fact of which they had ample proof. The fishermen were washing the nets, wrapping things up so that they could call it a day (v. 2)They were eager to go home. Peter's common sense told him that there was no reason to try again. He must have hated to ask the other men to get the newly cleaned nets dirty again. So Simon spoke out
‘Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’
He voiced his doubt to Jesus, but nevertheless he addressed Jesus as Master, a title used for Jesus only by the disciples (8:24, 45; 9:33; 49; 17:13). He then said, "Yet if you say so, I will lay down the nets" (v. 5). It was this obedience in the face of doubt that opened the door to an abundant miracle. The followers of Jesus are not necessarily expected to understand, but they are expected to obey. This is the kind of statement which Jesus must have wanted to hear. The disciples obey him not because it sounds like a good idea, or because they agree with him, they are obedient because it is Jesus who tells them.
How often are we prepared to do the same thing, to put out and do something which we might disagree with ourselves, just because we think that Jesus might want us to do it? This is real Christian faith in action and surely it is what has delivered abundant results for so many people who wanted to obey God throughout history. It is the same obedient commitment which empowered so many people through the Bible, people like Moses and David, Joseph and Paul. When I hear these words spoken by Simon, I remember the statement which Mary the mother of Jesus made at the first miracle in Cana. His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." John Chapter 2:5.
I am not surprised that Simon praised Jesus after the great catch of fish, but I am impressed by his willingness to put to sea with Jesus. Surely the greater miracle was not Jesus telling the disciples how to catch fish, it was Simon Peter obeying Jesus and putting out to sea?
So we have the message laid out for us, the pattern for Christian behaviour is about listening and obedience. The disciples hear the words of Jesus and they obey him,
"Go into the deep water and let your nets down for a catch." (verse 4). The lesson is clear, it is only by listening to the words of Jesus that they are able to achieve real success. Surely we are supposed to ask ourselves how many of our failures can be traced back to the need for us to take time to a need to hear God speak before we act on our own instruction.
Occasionally I have heard Christians draw the conclusion that real discipleship is about listening and reflection, understanding that it is God who does things and we must have a less active ministry. This does not mean that one little bit, it is no excuse for laziness. We might have to be brave in service, we might have to work really hard. Those disciples had to put back out to sea after a hard days work and start all over again. What it does mean is that before we start work we must do more than ask for God’s blessing on our labours, we must seek direction that God wants that work done in the first place. Only then do we apply ourselves to the task that he has set before us.
So it is that a great many sermons have been preached about the difference between working hard with only our own ideas to guide us and working with divine inspiration. The disciples found that obedience yielded results. Their catch was so enormous that it revealed that this carpenter-turned-rabbi was no ordinary person, as evidenced by Peter's comments, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" (v8) This is just the same reaction which Isaiah had when faced with the awesome nature of God. Both Isaiah and Peter feel the magnitude of their unworthiness when they come face to face with Holy. They do not enjoy the experience, they protest their unworthiness. It was the response of Moses at the burning bush.
"And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God" (Exod 3:6).
We have largely lost this sense of wonder and fear in God's presence. But, in our better moments, we kneel worshipfully in God's presence, acknowledging that we owe God thanks for every breath we take. A seraph cleanses Isaiah lips with a burning coal, and Jesus also has a cleansing word for Peter. ‘Then Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid’’ (v. 10b). These are the same words of the angel, who says,
‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God’ (1:30). Jesus will use these words twice again in this Gospel. "Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows" (12:7)
and "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (12:32). If we will admit it, we are afraid of many things, but Jesus brings us the assurance that we need not be afraid. "…from now on you will be catching people." (v. 10c). The fulfillment of this promise of Jesus will happen in earnest at Pentecost. Peter will preach a sermon, and three thousand people will be baptized in one day. That of course was only just the beginning.
Meditation
Isaiah’s words towards the end of the Old Testament reading today, “‘Then I said, ‘How long, O Lord?’”, could be a cry for today as we continue through the pandemic which all its challenges and implications which still echoing and reverberating after so many months. How long will the impact of the pandemic last? How long will be we subject to restrictions, even though they seem to be getting less restraining as we become more vaccinated. The words are comparable to the words of lament we often find in the Psalms, seemingly reflecting similar bleak times to those which Isaiah is describing. ‘O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple’; ‘How long, O Lord? Will you be angry for ever?’ we read in Ps 79 v 1, 5. Isaiah continues his theme of desolation and despair as he looks at the portents for Judah and Jerusalem, ‘Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is utterly desolate; until the Lord sends everyone far away, and vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land.’ That’s how long. Seemingly never ending. And yet, even in the midst of this bleakness and anguish, there is a ray of hope. Just as trees leave stumps when they are cut down, or when devastating forest fires seem only to leave charred remains behind, Isaiah tells us that the holy seed will remain and be ready to sprout from what is left at the appointed time. When we feel despondent or low and we cry out in our frustration or anger, ‘How long, how much longer…’, we’re reminded that God is always there, hope is always there, and from the stumps and ashes of desolation, green shoots of hope and love will begin to emerge.
Commentary
There is an obvious change in the way that we treat authority figures. Police, doctors, lawyers, politicians, are all treated differently than they were. No longer do we hold authority figures in respect and blindly accept what they tell us. Now we question and people have to earn the right to be listened to. We find it increasingly hard to trust what we are told by our leaders.
So when Peter was told by Jesus to row out into deep water and he would catch fish why did he obey Jesus? Why does the fisherman listen to the carpenter? Is there something about Jesus which means that he is actually worth trusting when we are surrounded by so many others who let us down?
Today, the words of Jesus really are something which we can trust in a world which seems so full of deceit.
Comment
Are we aware of our sin and failure? Do we have doubts and misgivings about our abilities and perhaps even the abilities of God? Such things are evidenced by the disciples too but they are obedient . A disciple of Jesus Christ is not necessarily a finished product, someone who has it all figured out and whose faith never falters. A disciple of Jesus Christ is someone who, in spite of their questions and their doubts, is drawn like a moth to the holy flame of the One who is called The Way, The Truth, The Light and the Life.
