Sermon
for Luke 5:1-11 - The
Calling of the First Disciples
Eager For The Journey -
Epiphany 5
Many years ago the great explorer, Sir Francis
Drake, was attempting to recruit a number of young men for an upcoming
exploration. He gathered them around and told the group that if they came with
him they would see some of the most marvelous things their eyes could ever
behold. Sandy white beaches, juicy fruits, foreign peoples, priceless treasures,
and gorgeous landscapes. And he told them that this wild adventure could be
theirs if they came with him. Not one of them enlisted for the journey. The next
day a different group came out. Drake told them that if they came with him they
would encounter storms that would terrify them into tears. Tiger winds would
hammer them and blow them off course for months. Water would frequently be
scarce. At times they will be so thirsty that their very souls would cry out for
simply one drop of water. In short, danger would always be their constant
companion. Drake concluded by declaring that if they could handle these things,
the joys of exploration would exceed their wildest dreams. Every single one of
them in the group joined Sir Francis Drake that day, some did not even go home
to say goodbye to their families, they just boarded the boat eager for the
journey.
What made the difference in these two groups? Why did the first group turn down
the mission and the second jump at the chance? Was the second group different
and more adventurous than the first? The answer is: No. It is not the men who
had changed; it was the message. The first spoke of rewards; the second spoke of
challenges. The first offered comfort; the second promised suffering. The first
tempted them with things; the second seduced them with an experience unlike any
other.
I like to think that Sir Francis Drake discovered what Jesus knew all to well.
And that is this: The paths that are offered to us must promise to shape us,
build our character, change our world view, if they are to have any appeal to us
at all. If we are presented with a challenge that will change, we will be eager
for the journey.
What is it about Jesus' message that made the disciples eager for the journey?
1. Jesus offered them a change.
2. The mission promised to be a challenge.
3. And their lives would never be the same.
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