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Mark 1:14-20

Emmanuel Addo, Javon Dow and Eva Hendrix-Shovlin have made a commitment of their time to serve this congregation as ruling elders for the next three years.  It is not a light commitment.  This morning each of them will promise to use their gifts and abilities to serve Jesus Christ through their leadership and their example.  Becoming a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church is an honor and it is a proclamation of trust in and respect for your congregation.  Emmanuel, Javon and Eva:  you may have thought that you became a ruling elder because of a phone call from someone on our nominating committee, but in actuality, it was the Holy Spirit making a claim on your life. I wonder if becoming a ruling elder is anything like the reorientation to life that the first disciples experienced?

            These guys were fishermen.  We can likely assume that their fathers and grandfathers and great-grandfathers were fishermen.  Fishing was the family business.  They would have had pride in their work, in the service they provided for their community.  And fishing kept food on the table!  Fishing was not just enjoying the quiet of being out on the lake communing with nature. Fishing as a livelihood was caring for their boats and mending their nets, repairing tools, and cleaning off algae.  It included the careful work of preparation and follow up as well as the physical labor of throwing out nets into the water and hauling fish into shore.

            Two pairs of fishermen brothers are the first disciples to be called to follow Jesus:  Simon, who was later called Peter, and Andrew; James and John. There had not been much fanfare yet about this Jesus guy.  The crowds had not started following him around to seek healing or to listen to his life-altering teaching.  The brothers were not agreeing to follow him because they had already heard of his ministry.  So, what was it then? What attracted them to say, “Yes, I will follow you, Jesus”?

            Jesus had just finished a time of temptation in the wilderness.  Could he have had an aura about him of deep understanding of the human condition that grew out of his experience?  Was it something in his voice or his demeanor?  Or was it simply God’s Holy Spirit which moved these four men to drop their livelihoods, say goodbye to their families and totally re-orient their life’s work and purpose?  According to Mark, it was a quick decision.  It was not that they said to Jesus: “Wow, thanks for the offer.  Let me pray about it and talk with my family and get back to you.”  It was a quick decision that had long term consequences.  That is often the way it is.  We make decisions in an instant, as a response to some invitation or to some action on the part of others, and we either are glad we responded the way we did or we are not. I wonder how many of the people in the mob that stormed the capitol building this week will look back and be satisfied with that decision?  I am sure some will.  But I also imagine that some will say to themselves, “What was I thinking?” 

            These brothers might have wondered the same thing as their relationship with Jesus developed over time and their commitment to discipleship deepened.  What were we thinking?  Many times, they were clueless, not really understanding Jesus’ point, and they were definitely not fully aware of the direction they were all headed—to Jerusalem and to the angry voices of a mob demanding Jesus’ death based on false claims of sedition.  Mark has given us a clue right here at the beginning—John has already been killed for his message of change, for speaking the truth to Herod about his adulterous marriage.  We are informed from the get-go that this is dangerous work, that proclaiming this good news about the kingdom of God can create animosity and even violence.  John was beheaded for his message.  Jesus is beginning a ministry that will turn some against him.  And he is asking these four brothers to jump on the bandwagon, to join him, and to become fishers of people. 

            One scholar points out that a better translation of Jesus’ invitation to the fishermen is: “I’ll show you how to become fishers of people,” instead of “I’ll show you how to fish for people.”  You see, in Jesus’ mind, disciples are fishers of people, with the responsibility of drawing others in toward Jesus one step at a time.  Disciples will be watching Jesus, listening to Jesus, learning from Jesus.  This will place them on the track toward becoming fishers of people.  It is a process, not an immediate ability.  It is not one more thing to add to their calendars.  It is long term, life-shaping work.  It will take some time for them to absorb this life-altering message.  Each one will likely respond to it depending on their own personality, out of their own perspective of themselves and of their surrounding community.  It is important not to lump them all into the same basket, just as it is important not to lump all of us in the same basket.  Each of us is on our own, different, path toward becoming fishers of people—for indeed we are disciples who watch Jesus, listen to Jesus and learn from Jesus.  It will take time for these fishermen to be transformed into those who are able to fish for people, to share this good news with their own words and their own actions.  So too it is a process for us.

            Jesus says that it is now time to repent and believe the good news.  Repentance means an about face, a re-orientation of life goals and purposes.  It means changing our vocabulary, our attitudes, our actions, our priorities, and our time commitments.  It means when your congregation asks you to share your gifts as an elder or a musician or a teacher or a treasurer or a member of a ministry team, you seriously consider serving Christ and your church family in that way.   It means you ask yourself and you ask God, “Is this the time in my life to share my gifts in this way?”  It means making a commitment of your time and energy.  It means working alongside others in our church family, learning from one another and supporting one another. 

            The fishermen step up to the challenge.  Simon, Andrew, James and John make the commitment.  They leave everything behind and follow Jesus.  We are inspired by their commitment.  And often we commiserate with Zebedee, the father of James and John.  It seems they have left him in the lurch, abandoning the family business, making it necessary for Zebedee to replace two fishermen on his team.  Or could we think of Zebedee as reacting with pride, recognizing that he raised his sons to follow their hearts, to decide for themselves based on the opportunities that come their way, and to use their gifts for God?  Maybe he watched them go off with Jesus with a smile on his face, saying to those within earshot: “There go my sons, I trust them to know that this is the right thing to do.”

            As our new elders answer the questions of ordination this morning, I encourage you to listen closely.  To which of the questions can you answer yes? To which of the questions do you want to work toward being able to say yes? When I was going over the questions with our new elders during their training, I was convicted about not ensuring that our church leaders are familiar enough with our Book of Confessions.  I have decided to take a portion of at least one of our Confessions to use as our Continuing Education at each session meeting this year.  We all can learn better ways to be guided by the words of our forebears in the faith as we seek to become fishers of people. 

            Making a commitment to follow Jesus, to become a fisher of people, will look different for different people.  The parts that are the same are willingness, a sense of joy in serving, and being claimed by the Holy Spirit to share your gifts and your time.   May it be so. 

  Matthew 2:1–23 January 3, 2021    

Years ago, I was struck by the warning to those of us who were preparing to spend time with our Presbyterian partners in Guatemala.  We were cautioned NOT to travel with our hands full of gifts.  When visitors from any well-resourced community visit a poorly resourced community anywhere, it is always tempting to bring gifts.  Gifts of food, money, tools, computer equipment, ink cartridges and on and on.  Arriving with our hands full creates problems right away.  

First, when our hands are full, we really have no way to reach out and receive the warm greeting of a handshake or a hug from our hosts.  We miss out on developing a mutual relationship between brothers and sisters in Christ when we are too focused on sharing our material gifts of superior quality and quantity.

Second, when our hands are full, we can embarrass our hosts who can not reciprocate.

Third, when our hands are full, we create a relationship of dependence and encourage the expectation that we will be a continual fount of supplies.  No, we were told, it is much wiser and much healthier to travel with empty hands, to be able to joyfully greet and hug your hosts (pre or post COVID, of course), to walk hand in hand with your hosts so they can show off their community, and to freely build or strengthen your relationship with one another.

The wise men (and women, perhaps) who came to Bethlehem in search of the king were studiers of the sky.  They were Gentiles, non-Jews, outsiders.  Today we might call their type pagan astrologers.  They knew the star they saw was inviting them to come and meet the king of all kings.  Neither the distance nor the difficulty of the trip deterred them.  Cost was no object.  They packed up the kinds of valuable treasures available to them—gold, frankincense, and myrrh– and followed the star to the place where Jesus was.  Their hands were full but take note of their actions upon arrival.  BEFORE they offered their treasures, they knelt and paid him homage.  They worshiped him.  They recognized this king for who he was and went to their knees in awe, gratitude, and praise.  Only then did they open their treasures and offer the gifts they had brought as symbols of their devotion and awe.

You see, worship had been their whole purpose in coming to Bethlehem.  Something about this king drew them from afar to worship the new king of the Jews, and they knew it was not Herod of Jerusalem.  They told Herod that they had seen the star of the king of the Jews at its rising, and that their purpose was to come and pay him homage.  We have already been reminded this Christmas season how the presence of this child was divinely revealed through angels to shepherds.  Now a star has revealed to outsiders the presence of this child.  Herod felt threatened.  Of course he does not want anyone else to receive homage other than himself.  He wants no other contenders for the seat of power.  And it is Herod, Herod himself, who identifies this divinely revealed child as the Messiah the Jews had been waiting for.  It is this Messiah who will be a ruler, one to shepherd God’s people.  It is usually unnerving to a person in power to find out that their control and authority is eroding due to the arrival of a new leader.  We have been watching that unfold in our news in the last weeks, haven’t we?  Herod makes it appear like he also wants to pay homage to this new king, but anyone in earshot would have known he was lying through his teeth.  As soon as he finds out when the star first appeared, Herod is already devising a wicked, bloody plan to kill any children under two in all of Bethlehem just because they might be his potential replacement some day. 

It becomes abundantly clear that no one in this story is indifferent to the arrival of this child.  Every player is changed in some way due to his arrival.  The people of Jerusalem show just how in step they are with the Roman government as they express fear at the birth announcement because Herod expresses fear.  The chief priests and the scribes, Herod’s own “wise men”, know that the prophet Micah has spoken about a ruler coming out of Bethlehem, a ruler who would shepherd God’s people Israel.  Could they have been just a little bit excited to hear that God’s long-awaited promise found in the prophet’s words might actually be fulfilled? Herod’s response to this child is to crush and destroy due to his fear and his fragile ego.  The angel’s response is to protect and guide Joseph to lead his growing family away from danger into Egypt until they can safely return home.  Joseph’s response is to listen and obey the instructions of the angel.  Remember that he had a dream before Jesus was born as well, and he followed through on that one, creating a family with Mary even though she was already with child.  And the wise men’s response is to be overwhelmed with joy and to worship the king. 

The wise men were warned in a dream to go home by another route, avoiding Herod completely.  Could it be that once they are exposed to this king, to the Christ himself, once they have praised him with their whole selves, kneeling and giving thanks to God, that there is no way to cover the same road again?  From this point on the road will be fresh and new, life will now be seen with different eyes and experienced with different hearts.   

These pagan astrologers have had a conversion experience.  We can only imagine the story they would tell when they did reach their homes!  They found the treasure they were seeking, and that treasure was a child.  Not just any child, but a divinely revealed child worthy of worship and praise.  They had followed a star and now there was a new light of joy in their hearts and understanding in their minds.

I am sure you have seen the Christmas cards or the yard signs that say “Wise men still seek him”.  First of all, I really wish they would say “Wise people still seek him”.  The message I take away from that statement is that those who seek to be in relationship with Jesus are the wise ones, and I am sure that those who use the statement are including themselves among the wise.  This way of thinking limits those who are included as followers of Jesus, and pretty much leaves the rest of the world out in the cold.  It seems to me that the presence of this child is not an exclusive invitation, but a broad invitation to all of us, whether or not we know what or who we are seeking.  Instead of looking for the wise ones, I believe that Jesus is looking for the ones who have minds, hearts and hands open, ready to be in relationship, ready to connect, ready to worship and give thanks. 

As we begin a new year, one that simply HAS to be better than the one just ended, can we come to God with empty hands?  Can we come to God with empty hands, ready to move the boulders of discrimination or prejudice?  Can we come to God with empty hands so we ca reach for the hand of Christ as we make our way around the barricades of troubles or grief which we encounter on the path of life?  Can we come to God with empty hands, ready for an embrace from One who loves without hesitation, no matter who we are or what we have done?  Can we come to God with empty hands, ready to take a piece of bread and a sip of wine as we remember this child who grew up to be a Savior for all the world?  I believe we can.  2021, here we come!