GET OUT OF MY SPACE!

A sermon by the Rev. Dr. James G. Kirk

Harundale Presbyterian Church

Glen Burnie, Maryland

February 8, 2004

Text: “Go away from me, Lord.” (Luke 5:8)

First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Briefly, this story from Luke is all about space. Jesus enters Peter’s space, creates his own space in order to teach the crowds that are gathered, goes on to transform Peter’s, James’ and John’s space and then tells them that they are henceforth going to work in Jesus’ space. What does that all mean? We begin the story with Jesus standing on the shores of the lake of Gennesaret. Luke, being the good historian he is, uses the correct name for the lake. It’s also called the Sea of Galilee or the Sea of Tiberius, but essentially it’s not a sea at all. It’s a large lake in the northern part of Israel, adjacent to the Golan Heights. It’s also the lake that feeds the Jordan River and is today an important water supply as well as a good source of fish. Today, visitors are invited to see replicas of the boats that Jesus would have seen in his day and to savor the fish that his disciples would have caught.

At any rate, the crowds are pressing in on him and Jesus notices the fishermen cleaning their nets, having just spent the night time fishing. Jesus goes over and commandeers one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon Peter. That’s the point where Jesus enters into Peter’s space. He tells Simon to go off shore a bit and begins to teach the crowds that have been pressing on him. In other words, Jesus enters Peter’s space and then with Peter in the boat creates his own space in order to teach the crowds.

Now some people have made a great deal about how flexible Jesus is throughout his ministry. He’s never tied down to a particular venue for his teaching nor does he limit his teaching to only one form or another. Rather, he uses the moment at hand to its fullest in order to get his point across. This is one way of saying to us that we shouldn’t limit our worship to just 10:30 a.m. on Sunday morning or of thinking that we have satisfied our need to serve Christ by going to church one day a week. It would do us well to follow Jesus’ example and use each moment and every occasion to do God’s work wherever and whenever we find ourselves. Consider that where and whenever we are are really God’s space and not just our space.

The story continues. Jesus finishes talking to the crowd and then tells Peter and the other fishermen to take their boats into the deep water and cast their nets. It’s at this point that he transforms Peter’s, James’ and John’s space. Remember that when Jesus first noticed them they had just brought their boats in from a night’s fishing. We now find out that it wasn’t too successful, since they contend with Jesus about the usefulness of their going out again. “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” It’s at that point that Jesus transforms their space, since their nets now are so filled with fish that they have to signal their partners to come and help them haul them in, to the point that the boats began to sink.

“In a lecture on ‘The Renewal of the Inner City Church,’ Jim Wallis told a group of pastors true stories of declining inner-city churches that had, by the grace of God, rediscovered their mission and begun to thrive. I was inspired,” says William Willimon, “but in the conversation afterwards one pastor after another criticized Wallis’ speech. They accused him of looking at the church through rose-colored glasses. One even implied that he had lied.”

“That evening,” Willimon told Wallis that he was appalled by the group’s reaction. “I wasn’t,” he said. “That’s the reaction I always get from mainline, liberal pastors. They are amazed when God wins. Scared to death that Easter just might, after all, be true.” (William H. Willimon, “The Christian Century,” January 27, 2004, page21)

That’s the truth we have to keep reminding ourselves of every day of our lives. We do know the Easter story. We do know that God’s still in control of God’s universe.

We do know that God wins. We do know that no matter how much we go against God’s will God stands ready to move us in strange and wonderful ways the moment we turn in obedience to the risen Christ. God stands ready to transform our space to God’s glory and honor.

Peter did as Christ told him to do and set out in the same waters that the night before had left him barren. Yet, Christ transformed his space from barrenness into bounty to the extent that they were about to sink before they made shore.

Then Peter does something unexpected. Now bear in mind that of all the gospel writers Luke gives Peter much better press than Matthew, Mark and John. Some have said that Luke wants to paint him with a good brush, since Peter’s going to lead Luke’s missionary drive in the Book of the Acts. At any rate, when Peter sees all of the fish he falls down on at Jesus’ knees and essentially tells him to get out of his space!

Much of what we do during the day has to do with space. We begin the day by getting out of bed, which is probably one of the most secure spaces we have. We then go about the house which is a space we also know quite well. Some people who have difficulty with their sight function quite well in their homes because they know the space so well. When we go outside we also do well as long as we know where we’re going. It’s when we enter into new space that we get anxious and are glad to reach our destinations. Our daily routines are spaces we know well. Disrupt those routines and the spaces become more stressful and tedious.

We let people into our space or literally keep them at arm’s distance. People disturb us when they encroach upon our space if we haven’t invited them. Notice how you’ll occasionally take a step backward when someone gets too close to your space. In Revelation Jesus tells us, Behold I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door I will come into you and eat with you and you with me.” There Jesus invites himself into our space just as he invited himself into Peter’s space. Obviously Peter had second thoughts about wanting Jesus in his space.

Carleton, Martha, George and Bob, today we ordained and installed you as Elders. Essentially you are responsible for the spiritual welfare of this congregation. Are you going to tell Jesus to get out of your space? Or, Denise, Deanna, Kathy, Tracy, and Sandy, today we ordained and installed you as Deacons. You are responsible for the sanctuary during Sunday’s worship and are to care for the sick and shut-ins. Are you going to tell Jesus to get out of your space? Or, Sara, Michael and Stan, you are responsible for the physical up keep of Harundale’s structures. Are you going to tell Jesus to get out of your space? And what about Terry, Shiela and Nancy who are responsible for singing God’s praises, are you going to tell Jesus to get out of your space?

No, Jesus will say to you what he said to Peter, James and John: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” That’s what happens when Jesus transforms our space. That’s what Jim Wallis meant when he said how people are amazed when God wins. That’s what Easter’s all about, God winning, and the sooner we start living like the Easter people the sooner we’ll be about the business of catching people. So, let Jesus enter your space, then let him transform your space and you’ll find yourself working in his space. To God be the glory!

Thanks be to God,

Amen