{"id":3877,"date":"2025-02-09T14:00:10","date_gmt":"2025-02-09T22:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hopelcs.ca\/church\/?p=3877"},"modified":"2025-02-14T14:49:58","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T22:49:58","slug":"the-cost-luke-51-11-february-9th-2025-5th-sunday-after-epiphany-hope-lutheran-church-rev-lucas-andre-albrecht","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hopelcs.ca\/church\/the-cost-luke-51-11-february-9th-2025-5th-sunday-after-epiphany-hope-lutheran-church-rev-lucas-andre-albrecht\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cThe cost\u201d, Luke 5:1-11\/ February 9th, 2025 \/ 5th Sunday after Epiphany\/ Hope Lutheran Church, Rev. Lucas Andre Albrecht"},"content":{"rendered":"

Text: Luke 5:1-11
\nTheme: \u201cThe Cost\u201d[1]<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

___________________________<\/h1>\n

Intr<\/strong> \u2013 Reading Luke 5, have you ever considered the cost\u2014the sheer amount\u2014that the disciples left behind, right there in front of them, in two boats overflowing with fish?<\/p>\n

While preparing for this sermon, I decided to research what the life of fishermen was like back in Jesus’ time.[2]<\/a> And, if you’re anything like me, sometimes you go down a rabbit hole on the internet\u2014clicking one link, then another, and before you know it, an hour has passed, and you’re wondering, “Wait, where was I?” That was me doing this research. But I found something fascinating that I want to share with you. I hope you find it as compelling as I did.<\/p>\n

William and Rochelle Hauser conducted research trying to estimate the amount of fish those two boats could have carried. Their work was based on a reconstructed model of the so-called “Jesus Boat,” a fishing boat discovered by the Sea of Galilee that dates back about 2,000 years\u2014right around the time Jesus and His disciples lived. [3]<\/a><\/p>\n

Their research involved complex mathematical calculations\u2014most of which I didn\u2019t even try to decipher\u2014but the bottom line is this: they estimated that the capacity of such a boat, fully loaded, would be about 33,000 pounds. Considering the biblical account that the two boats were nearly sinking under the weight of the fish, they estimated that, after subtracting the weight of the people on board, each boat would have been carrying approximately 31,000 pounds of fish. That means the total haul for both boats would have been around 62,000 pounds\u2014or about 87,000 libras<\/em>, an ancient measurement of the time.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s put that into economic terms. In their study, the Hausers attempted to determine the value of this catch in terms of labor wages. They estimated that one denarius<\/em>\u2014a standard day’s wage\u2014was roughly equivalent to about 100 Canadian dollars today. Their conservative estimate of the value of the fish catch? About 699,000 denarii communes<\/em>\u2014which, in today\u2019s terms, would be roughly 69 million Canadian dollars<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Maybe that seems too high, so let\u2019s scale it down. If we take only 50% of that amount, that\u2019s still 35 million. Cut it to 10%, and it\u2019s still 6.9 million. Even at just 5%, it\u2019s 3.5 million dollars. Now, imagine someone handing you a check for 3.5 million dollars. Would you walk away from it?<\/p>\n

This makes the disciples\u2019 decision incredibly real. What was at stake for them? Jesus had just provided them with an overwhelming miracle\u2014a tangible sign that He was the Messiah. But standing before them was not just a miraculous catch of fish; it was a crossroads, a moment of decision.<\/p>\n

Peter, overwhelmed, falls before Jesus and says, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Peter had seen miracles before, but this one hit home because fishing was his livelihood. He had toiled all night and caught nothing. Yet now, at Jesus\u2019 word, his nets were bursting. As an experienced fisherman, he knew\u2014without a doubt\u2014that only the Messiah Himself could have done this.<\/p>\n

That was the material<\/em> cost that Peter and his associates paid to follow Jesus. They left behind the perspective of economic independence.[5]<\/a> But the Gospel today leads us to the deeper, more important level of the cost of discipleship. The text tells us that “immediately they left everything behind”\u2014the fish, the boats, the nets. They stepped away from a life they understood into a new journey with Jesus\u2014one where they had an idea of where they were going, but no guarantees of security or stability. They left behind not only their possessions but also the certainty of a known trade, to follow a man whom the religious leaders of the time deemed untrustworthy\u2014a carpenter from Nazareth, not the Messiah they were expecting.<\/p>\n

As Christians, we need to go deeper than just the material cost of discipleship.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. To know Jesus<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The first answer is simple: to know Jesus. The disciples left behind material wealth, but they gained something infinitely more valuable\u2014a personal relationship with their Savior. When you follow Christ, you commit to knowing Him more. Otherwise, things get really hard.<\/p>\n

    Think about it: after the sermon, we\u2019ll confess the Apostles\u2019 Creed. If someone asked you to explain every item in it\u2014what it means to believe in Jesus, in the Holy Spirit, in the holy Christian church\u2014how prepared would you feel? What if someone asked, \u201cWhat does Jesus teach about forgiveness? About anxiety, worry, or facing difficulties?\u201d Those questions might make us feel small.<\/p>\n

    I\u2019m not saying that we need to know everything<\/em>\u2014this is about continually growing, learning a bit more, connecting a little deeper, returning to the Scriptures. That\u2019s what we want to do: know the Bible, know Jesus, and deepen our relationship with Him. This isn\u2019t just any relationship\u2014it\u2019s a deep, faith-filled connection, so that we know we are walking with Him and that He is guiding us. No matter what temporary pleasures the world offers to distract us, we stay with the ultimate prize: to be with Jesus forever. The cost of discipleship includes taking the time to know Him.<\/p>\n

    This is what happened to Peter. How could he stand before Jesus\u2014even after witnessing a miracle\u2014and say, \u201cYou are the holy one, but stay away from me, for I am a sinful man?\u201d Because he knew the Scriptures<\/em>; he understood that the Messiah was before him and that this wasn\u2019t some other kind of Messiah. By knowing the Word, Peter could confess, \u201cYou are the Messiah; I want to follow you.\u201d The other disciples, through what had been spoken about Him and from their prior encounters, knew Him too. That was the moment they definitely left everything behind to follow. The cost of discipleship involves getting to know Jesus\u2014and that\u2019s a privilege we must never take for granted.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. To trust Jesus<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Trusting God sometimes means not knowing the path ahead but knowing that He knows every step<\/strong>. Peter told Jesus, \u201cI toiled all night and caught nothing, but on your word, I will do it.\u201d He placed unconditional trust in the Messiah\u2019s word. That\u2019s what we want to do as we walk with Jesus\u2014trust in His Word, His guidance, and His direction, even when we fail. Trusting isn\u2019t so much about how tightly we hold God\u2019s hand, but about how His grace holds us when we\u2019re weak.<\/strong> Sometimes we are weak, worried, depressed, uncertain, or anxious, and our grip on God\u2019s hand may seem feeble. But remember, He is the one holding your hand first.<\/p>\n

      He is the one promising to fulfill His promises so that we, as disciples, learn to trust not in man or earthly power but in the Holy One of Israel. We must place our unconditional trust in the truth that whatever He tells us is God\u2019s Word\u2014even when our path changes and temptations arise. We trust that He knows every step, just as it was a huge leap of faith for the disciples to leave behind a known life and step into the unknown.<\/p>\n

      \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Faith active in love<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        We trust in this man\u2014this guy who many might see as just a random person walking around\u2014but we know He is the Messiah, our Savior, who calls us to act in faith. Our church\u2019s motto is \u201cActive in Love, Growing in Christ.\u201d We talk about growing in Christ\u2014growing in knowing Him, in trusting Him\u2014but we also want to be active in love. Our faith should be evident in our actions toward our neighbor, guided by God\u2019s Word and not by our own hearts, which can sometimes be lost or insecure. That\u2019s why we want our hearts in Jesus: so that as we follow our own hearts, we are really following Him. Our faith becomes active\u2014in prayer, in caring, in connecting, and in all the many ways we can act.<\/p>\n

        I once heard a psychologist talk about her \u201cfive-second rule.\u201d Sometimes we know what we have to do, but we just don\u2019t feel like it. She said there\u2019s a window\u2014a mere five seconds\u2014where she forces herself into action. For example, when she wakes up, she makes sure to get out of bed within five seconds before random thoughts can delay her. Her point is that sometimes you don\u2019t feel<\/em> like doing the right thing, but you know it\u2019s right, so you act<\/em>.<\/p>\n

        This is not the Word of God, but an opinion from a person. But I think we can learn a little from this take. Perhaps our prayer should be, \u201cLord, give me the strength to do what You call me to do, even when I don\u2019t feel like it.\u201d Sharing the Gospel, living out our faith, or simply bearing witness as Christians can be challenging\u2014whether it\u2019s in our family, at work, or wherever we go. And I am not even talking about things that discomfort you too much, like going around the Church knocking on people\u2019s doors and saying, \u201cJesus loves you, come to my church\u201d (you can, though, if you want to), or starting an online podcast about truths from the Gospel. It can be small and simple. But when we overcome sin and our feelings, our actions can become steady<\/em>. It might not always be a five-second decision\u2014it might be a day or two of reflection\u2014but when He calls, we must act. We must let what we know shine through in our lives, just as Jesus did, so that more people may come to know the good news.<\/p>\n

        We know Jesus. We trust in Him. And we act. Peter declared, \u201cOn Your word, I will cast the nets,\u201d and he did. It\u2019s not uncommon for us, too, to know what we must do and then hesitate. But Peter combined trust with action\u2014and that was because Jesus paid the ultimate price.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        He left everything behind<\/strong><\/p>\n

        Do you know who left behind all the best things ever just to be with us? Jesus. He left the heavens\u2014He, the Son of God\u2014to be by that lake, healing people and providing for them, even when not everyone was willing to listen. He paid the cost of redemption for you. Redemption means being saved from sin and hell and being welcomed into God\u2019s family. As Luther said in his catechism, redemption wasn\u2019t bought with silver or gold, but with His precious blood\u2014so that you know you belong to Him.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

        Nevertheless, He never regretted it or looked back. He never denied us. Jesus left everything behind to come into the world because He is the Firstborn. He came to fish souls out of the devil\u2019s grasp, to rescue us from the terrors of death, and to place us in the boat of salvation, giving us eternal life.
        \nJesus left everything behind so that we might have everything.<\/strong> As Jesus made that sacrifice for you, think about the cost of holding back from fully trusting Him. He is calling you to leave behind anything that would keep you from experiencing the fullness of His love.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        The reward<\/strong><\/p>\n

        We\u2019re talking about the cost of discipleship, but can we talk about the reward too? Of course we can. It\u2019s not as if we\u2019re toiling to earn something; Christ has already given and promised it to us. \u00a0Our hope isn\u2019t found in what we leave behind\u2014it\u2019s found in what lays ahead.<\/strong> We look forward to life without end. We look forward to opportunities to connect. We look forward with hope because, even though the world may bring wars, problems, and more, we are secure in the hands of the one who fished us to His sea of love. you still walk in hope and in the assuredness that the same Word that told Peter to throw the net is the Word that tells you, \u201cFollow Me.\u201d We look forward; therefore, we leave things behind.<\/p>\n

        Here’s an important reminder in this connection: We have left things behind and we are following Jesus, like Peter and the disciples did. But this road is not light and straight. Peter, for example, left everything behind, and later on, he denied Jesus. He needed forgiveness and restoration.<\/p>\n

        As we follow Him, He showers us with His blessings\u2014the forgiveness when we fail, and the promise of eternal life. The same Peter, who left everything behind (worth 69 million dollars, maybe) to follow Him, later denied Him and then was restored by forgiveness. The same holds true for us. Sometimes we promise Jesus that we\u2019ll follow Him and dedicate our lives to Him, only to stumble and fail because we are weak. But His forgiveness is there, along with the blessings He bestows and the crown of eternal life\u2014which is what we truly seek.This is a reminder of human frailty and Jesus\u2019 presence and power. Jesus is there to lead us in overcoming our moments of weakness, and the grace available for restoration offers additional comfort and guidance.<\/p>\n

        And a beautiful thing that happens when we answer Jesus\u2019 call: we will catch men alive.<\/em><\/strong> Did you see that in the text? You might not, because it got lost in the translation. But when you go to the Greek text, you see that Jesus tells Peter he will \u201ccatch men alive.\u201d Can you see the beautiful play on words that Jesus is doing here? As fishermen, Peter and the disciples were used to bringing fish from life into death. Now, as fishers of men, they will catch men alive\u2014drawing them out of the death of sin. For this is what the Word does: it kills and makes alive. We will fish people into life in the Kingdom.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Conclusion<\/strong> – Do you remember in John 21\u2014after Jesus was resurrected and before He ascended\u2014He performed another miraculous catch? He told the disciples to cast their nets, and they came back with 153 big fish. What about another 30 slides on that? Just kidding, that\u2019s a topic for another sermon. But just before He went to heaven, Jesus gave them this extraordinary gift of 153 big fish. How much was that worth? We don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

        What we know is that the precious gifts he left for us strengthened their faith and our faith, to follow Him, to know him, trust him and act in faith. These, not all currency in the world can match.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Additional resources<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        CATCHING MEN ALIVE<\/strong><\/p>\n

        Confessional Lutheran theologians generally understand Luke 5:1\u201311 as having both a specific<\/strong> and a general<\/strong> dimension in its call:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Specific Call to Apostolic Ministry:<\/strong>
          \nIn the immediate context, Jesus calls Simon Peter (along with James and John) after a miraculous catch of fish. When Jesus tells them that from now on they will be \u201cfishers of men,\u201d this is seen as a special, apostolic calling<\/strong>. The apostles are commissioned to be the primary witnesses of the Gospel and to have a unique role in proclaiming the Word and establishing the Church. This particular call is understood as setting apart those who would hold the office of ministry, entrusted with teaching, preaching, and shepherding the flock.<\/li>\n
        2. General Call to Christian Discipleship and Vocation:<\/strong>
          \nAt the same time, confessional Lutheran theology affirms the doctrine of vocation (Berufung), which teaches that every believer is called by God to serve Him in their everyday life. While not every Christian is called to the ordained office of ministry, all Christians share in Christ\u2019s call to follow Him, trust Him, and live out the Gospel in their daily activities. The miraculous catch of fish also symbolizes how Christ works through ordinary people\u2014transforming a routine occupation into a means of participating in His redemptive mission. In this sense, \u201cfishing for men\u201d becomes an image for every Christian\u2019s responsibility to witness to the Gospel in the context of their own life and work.<\/li>\n
        3. Integration of Both Aspects:<\/strong>
          \nConfessional Lutheran theologians emphasize that while the call to apostleship (as seen in Luke 5) is a particular office with its own responsibilities, the broader invitation to follow Christ and bear witness is extended to all believers. The passage invites all Christians to respond with the kind of faith and obedience that transforms ordinary life into a platform for God\u2019s work. It teaches that, by trusting in Christ\u2019s promises\u2014even when the outcome seems humanly impossible\u2014believers become active participants in God\u2019s mission, whether through ordained ministry or through the everyday tasks of their vocations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          In Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n