Fifth Sunday After Epiphany
Sunday Morning Worship, February 9, 2025
Sermon: Put Out Into Deep Water
Accompanying Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Put Out Into Deep Water

Good morning and welcome, everybody. I’m Mrs. Zebedee, and I want to share a wonderful story with you. I can’t invite you in because we’re just so busy in there. It’s small, and it reeks of fish right now, so I’ll come out here and visit with you.

I have a wonderful story to share with you. God is so good. You see, Zebedee and my sons John and James both went out to fish as usual. It was late at night, and they didn’t catch anything. 

Here’s the problem with this catching fish thing.  You would think that there would be plenty of fish and we would make lots of money.  We don’t.  Caesar claims ownership of the lake and everything in it.  That means the best fish goes to Caesar and all his minions and followers.  We receive no money for it.  The next level of fish that Caesar may not be interested in is sold at Market.  We don’t get much, but it helps.  We eat whatever we can’t sell. 

It was devastating when I heard the news that there had been no catch the night before. Meanwhile, this new upstart Rabbi, Jesus, came down to the lake. He preached while everyone cleaned their nets. 

The next thing I knew, Simon was putting his boat out into the water.  Why go now?  I wondered.  Simon and his crew threw their net out and then suddenly signaled for Zebedee, James, and John to join them.  The fish filled up the boat! I thought they were going to sink! They managed to get back to shore while I returned home to prepare for the fish cleaning.   

Zebedee arrived home very late. When he finally returned, James and John weren’t with him. When I asked him what was happening, he said James and John had left. 

James and John are gone?  And Simon left his family, as well?  What are we going to do, Zebedee?  You are not getting any younger.  You can’t do this on your own.

Zebedee told me not to worry. God has provided.

Zebedee, you don’t get it. You cannot do this fishing by yourself.

My wise Zebedee told me that I needn’t worry.  God had provided.  He opened the door, and I went outside.  The town’s townspeople were cleaning fish, getting them ready to market, and preparing Caesar’s share.

Oh my.  That’s when it hit me.  God had provided for us.  Zebedee will eventually be able to take on some new younger employees to help him with the fishing.  In the meantime, we have fish and more to spare! 

What an amazing day! I hear that Jesus preached a wonderful sermon. I wish I had been there to listen to it. He revealed his power over what Caesar claimed to own. He also provided what the three men needed so that they could follow Jesus. We had enough fish to keep us going.   

I was overwhelmed, and Zebedee was excited. We decided to pray in celebration of being released. 

Whenever we want to pray, we go to the Psalms, and here’s one that we prayed that day:

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
    which cannot be moved but abides forever.
² As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
    so the Lord surrounds his people
    from this time on and forevermore.
³ For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
    on the land allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous might not stretch out
    their hands to do wrong.
⁴ Do good, O Lord, to those who are good
    and to those who are upright in their hearts.

Psalm 125:1-4 NRSVUE)

All glory and honor be to God.  Amen.