THE THREE WAVES

We are discovering how our God and Father is united with and involved in our human existence in and through Jesus Christ, God’s Son our Lord and Saviour.

We saw last week that Jesus himself was a carpenter. Today, we find that Jesus called fishermen to be his disciples. He made them‘fishers of men’(Mark 1.17).

I started my ministry in Kyle of Lochalsh and Plockton. The narrow waters, called the‘Kyles’, between the mainland and the island of Skye could be fierce and rough.

Yet, from the harbour, a small fleet of fishing boats took the local men to their fishing grounds.

I once watched with admiration as one of the men brought his little boat into the harbour in treacherous weather, and such was his skill that we never heard the boat touch the side of the pier.

Jesus knew the calibre of the men to whom he addressed his call“Follow me” (Mark 1.17).

There are two realms in nature where we venture with care. As a hill climber, I knew the dangers of the mountains.

As a minister in a fishing community, I learned to respect the sea.

The homeward journey for these fishermen was always a fraught with danger.

Laden with its catch, their boat lay heavy in the water. Then they must avoid the three quick waves. When the first wave struck ,the bow their boat could rise above it. But the second wave, quick to follow, brought the bow deeper into the water.

The third and final quick wave often sent the fishing boat to the bottom.

In Luke’s gospel, Jesus’call to Peter and the other fishermen is very dramatic.

After a fruitless night fishing, Jesus helped them to get a catch. “We have toiled all night long for nothing, but at your bidding we will try again”(Luke 5.5).

Peter was overwhelmed:“Lord depart from me”(Luke 5. 8) . But why was Peter so upset? Was he surprised by the unexpected catch of fish? Or was he apprehensive at Jesus’call, “Launch out into the deep”? (Luke 5.4).

Peter knew full well the dangers lurking in deeper waters. Just like the three dangerous waves off the coastal waters of Scotland.

But is that precisely where Jesus is sending us?

We are his present-day fishers of men. We will not catch anything if we are content to drift in shallow waters.

We need to launch into the deep. In a recent article in the Church of Scotland’s Life and Work, Dr Chalmers, the former moderator, spoke of the radical changes required in the church. He spoke of the comfortable ways of worship that he enjoyed.

But he clearly indicated that these older methods would require to be discarded so that fresh methods of worship and witness could be introduced.

Using modern digital technology, our Christian message can be communicated to a wider and younger audience for whom digital communication is simply their way of life.

The challenge for older believers is simple, but profound.

Are we willing to allow these new methods of communication to gain prominence in our churches, with ever increasing age groups and ever decreasing numbers?

Peter and the other disciples were very familiar with the changing moods of the Sea of Galilee. But this storm was ferocious. Jesus had sent them across the water while he dismissed the crowd (Matthew 14.22).

As night fell, Jesus was alone in the hills and the disciples were facing a severe storm (Matthew 14, 23-24). Jesus came to them.

The modern mind simply cannot explain how this happened.

Peter impulsively shouted: “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you?” Jesus encouraged him, “Come” (Matthew 14.28-29).

There is a wonderful lesson here.

In the coming weeks, we may be threatened by the storms of life. Our courage tested and our faith tried.

As we face that challenge, let us have the fortitude to pray — Lord, if you will be with me in this storm, then bid me have the strength of soul to come to you.

Like Peter, we may sink a bit, but Jesus will pull us through.

‘God is our refuge and strength, a very presence help in times of trouble’(Psalm 46.1).