Hear the word of the LORD, you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: 'He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.' Jeremiah 31:10
Props: Conch Shell
You are being called.
It’s the middle of Monday morning. You’re in your office amidst the hustle and bustle of people rushing down the hall. You’re late to a meeting. Your report to the boss is due in 20 minutes. You have to pick up your daughter after school and take your son to basketball practice. You can hear the traffic on the street below. Someone is honking. Another shouting. You pause, and your eye rests on the memorabilia at the corner of your desk. You pick up the conch shell you found that morning a few days ago on the beach at low tide, and you put it to your ear. And suddenly you are there. The waves are crashing onto the rocks, the gulls are flying, the smooth sound of the water develops an in-and-out rhythm that calms your soul, as the sea calls you back there.
There’s something about the ocean. That’s why this time of year, the highways become parking lots with people headed for the water----oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, waterparks. If it’s water, we’re headed there. David Sutton in his poem “Water Music” talks about “the music of not going anywhere/that quiet water makes against the land.” The sounds, the smells, the feel of the breezes. They are memories that call us back and evoke feelings of calm, joy, peace. Listening to the sounds of the sea makes us smile.
[pass the conch shell and allow people to listen to the sound it makes]
What is your “memory place”?
We all have a “primal memory.” In psychology, primal memories are those that are not just images, but visceral memories that engulf us in an experience and trigger a biochemical reaction in our bodies, minds, and souls. These “primal memories” are often our “earliest” memories –those we may not be able to visually or consciously remember, but those that have been implanted from infancy. They are sensory and soul memories that lack verbal expression. They lie deep within us and arise --often subconsciously—to affect our daily life.
It’s a bit that way when you listen to the sounds of the sea, isn’t it? You can’t quite put your finger on it, but the sea has a way of calling you home, a way that touches your soul.
Déjà vu.
Have you ever experienced déjà vu before? A memory that feels oddly familiar? One that takes you back to a place you’ve experienced long ago?
When you experience people, or tonalities, or food that remind you of your home where you grew up, you feel the flush of “primal memory.” [Tell your own story here of what you remember . . . For example, some of my “primal memories” are in West Virginia. If I’m in someone’s home, and they make that special dish of pinto beans and corn bread –voila! I’m back in my grammas kitchen in West Virginia. I smell that distinctive Old Spice cologne my father used to wear. Presto! A memory with him is triggered, and I’m back there again, 5 years old with my father. . . . You get the idea. Make it personal . . . ]
Déjà vu.
We all have a primal place in the depths of our soul too that reminds us who we are and whose we are. It’s a rooted part of us, a very old place inside ourselves that identifies us as a child of God. And it goes way back to the garden, when we were as humans “spirit-breathed.” God put the divine mark inside of us, a “brand,” if you will, that reminds us we are “God-made.” And once you are “God-marked,” you always belong to God.
When you see a baby, you feel in your soul that this bundle of joy is “heaven made!” But if you stop for a moment and be silent, listening to the slow beat of your heart, you will also feel that memory inside of you too that says, “I am God-made.” YOU are God-made!
We all have a primal need for God because our home is in God. And there are times in our lives, when things get especially hectic, that we need to listen to that small, still voice of God calling us back. Calling us home. Because God always calls us, always calls God’s people, to “come home.” God always comes for you, especially when you are most lost.
In our scripture today, in the story of Jesus’ call to his first disciples, Jesus moves from Nazareth to Capernaum, where he will live by the Sea of Galilee for duration of his ministry. Jesus loved the sea. Jesus loved the music of the water on his soul.
More than any other passage perhaps, we see in this one, Jesus the Shepherd. He is the Lamb of God, but he is also the Shepherd who leads God’s people home.
In the familiar passage in Isaiah chapter 9, the prophet tells us, “The land of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali were once disgraced, but the future will bring honor to this region, from the Mediterranean eastward [on the road by the sea] to the land on the other side of the Jordan, even to Galilee itself, where the foreigners live.”* This passage is restated by Matthew as Jesus makes his home in Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (Otherwise known as the Lake of Genneseret).
The Sea of Galilee is a freshwater lake fed by the Jordan River. Today in Israel, it is called Yam Kinneret. Capernaum was its primary harbor. The “Way of the Sea” was an ancient road that went from the Mediterranean to the Sea of Galilee through Capernaum. It was one of three major traveling and trade routes through the region which exported great numbers of fish as far as to Egypt and Rome. One could say that Galilee was “on the way to everywhere.” A major city, Capernaum boasted more than 15,000 inhabitants. Neighboring Bethsaida (house of fish) was also a thriving city, as well as 7 other cities on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. On its northern shores, hot springs attracted the sick. The sea’s shores sparkled with colored stones and small shells. The sea yielded vast amounts of muscht (tilapia or St. Peter’s fish), sardines (tiny fish), and shellfish (sold to the gentiles).
But the region has a history too among God’s people. Simon bar Jonah the prophet was from Bethsaida. But more important, it was here that the tribes of the northern kingdom were said to have been deported 700 years before.
The prophet Ezekiel says:
For thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land.…”
Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah all spoke of the day that God who would come to seek the lost sheep of Israel and bring them home again. Jesus is the shepherd who will restore those sheep –and among them will be many gentiles: “The Sovereign Lord declares-- he who gathers the exiles of Israel: ‘I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered’” (Isaiah 56:8).
It’s clear that Jesus saw this as his mission. In fact, later in Matthew, Jesus would say, “I have come to seek the lost sheep of the House of Israel [the fallen northern kingdom]”. This is the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, where the sheep were scattered.
During the Assyrian deportation, many of the tribes of Israel intermarried, and were integrated into the Assyrian culture. Those who were not wiped out were forced to forego their faith. Jesus’ mission is to go in God’s name to call God’s people back again to faith. And with them, many gentiles would come to God as well.
The tribes of Israel were once 12. Jesus will call 12 disciples, one to represent each of the tribes that he will seek to reunite. When Jesus dies for the sins of all people, all people will from there onward be united with God, those of the 12 tribes, and all gentiles (foreigners) as well for whom Israel was to be a light for them to find God.
One of the most famous parables of Jesus ministry is a parable about a lost sheep. It is one that echoes throughout Jesus’ mission. Wherever God’s people are, God will seek them until all have come home.
Come home. God is seeking YOU! God is calling YOU . . . Come home. I know you can feel it this morning, that call of the sea to “come home.”
Whenever you feel lost . . . .
Whenever you feel unsure . . .
Whenever you’re not sure of your way . . .
Whenever the light has gone dim from your eyes . . .
You can be sure of this . . . . God is seeking you, calling you, as Jesus called to the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus is calling to you still today, “Come home! Come home!”
One of the books that captured the heart of our parents’ generation is Ann Morrow Lindbergh’s Gift from the Sea. It’s a book that should capture the heart of every generation. In this book she she meditates on the various shells she finds by the sea, provoking memories and introspection about the state of her life. For Ann, the sea calls her to a place of truth, allows her to see realities about life through the blinding inhibitions of everyday busyness, and summons her to “Deep and Wide” living.
The sea calls for us all. With the sound of the sea, we are reminded of God’s presence… God’s sovereignty and strength that rushes over us with a sense of calm and beauty even when we feel most overwhelmed by the things of the world. And we are reminded of Jesus’ mission –and it comforts us. For we know, no matter what we do or how far we’ve strayed, what has happened in our life, or where we may trip up, Jesus will always be there to seek us, to call us home again.
This Sunday is Father’s Day. What memories bring you home? Are they memories that bring you smiles? Memories that bring you sadness? Today, let the Father’s voice resonate in your heart. May Jesus’ voice remind you of a time when you created in God’s mind and cradled in God’s loving arms. Open your heart. Remember your primal memory when God put God’s mark on YOU: G--O--D. Grand Organizing Designer. G—O—D. Each one of your souls is stamped G—O—D. Grand Organizing Designer.
You are designed by the Divine.
Come Home. Come Home.
*Good News Bible translation. “On the road by the sea” NRSV.
Based on the Story Lectionary
Major Text
Simon (called Peter) and Andrew, James and John (Matthew’s Witness)
Jesus Calls His First Disciples from Those of John the Baptizer: Andrew and Simon Peter; Jesus returns to Galilee (Bethsaida) and calls Philip and Nathanael (John’s Witness)
Minor Text
Genesis (The Story of Jacob’s Ladder)
Isaiah 9
Psalm 66
Psalm 34
Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee of the Gentiles (Capernaum) after John the Baptizer is arrested, and he Calls His First Disciples:
Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee and Calls His First Disciples: Simon and Andrew, James and John (Mark’s Witness)
Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee (Luke’s Witness)
The Acts of the Apostles (Chapter 5:12-42): The apostles teach about Jesus, and many come to Christ; they are spared death by the appeal of Gamaliel (of the School of Hillel)
Matthew’s Witness: Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee and Calls His First Disciples
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles…” [reference to Isaiah 9:1-2] …”the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned.”
From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea –for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
John’s Witness: Jesus Calls His First Disciples and Begins His Ministry in Galilee
[After Jesus had been baptized by John in Bethany across the Jordan], the next day, [John] saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.”
And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi,” “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is the Anointed One). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas (Peter).”
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, “you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Image Exegesis: By the Sea
But there will be no more gloom for those who are now in anguish. In the past the land of Zevulun and the land of Naftali were regarded lightly, but in the future he will honor the way to the lake, Galilee beyond the Yordan (Jordan), Galil-of-the-Goyim (foreigners). Isaiah 9:1-2 (The Complete Jewish Bible)
Metaphors of this Call Story:
- Sea / Fishermen
- Ladder (Jacob’s)
- Fig tree
- Peter
- Lamb of God
- Nets
- Son of Man
The story of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry contains a surprising amount of images and metaphors. These are significant, because they give us clues to Jesus’ mission and his identity as the messiah for the Jewish people, for the gentiles, for the lost sheep of Israel! And these metaphors are deeply rooted in the Hebrew scriptures and in Jewish tradition.
After Jesus spends time in the wilderness, he is ready to begin his ministry. And the first thing he does is call his first disciples. In the Jewish tradition, the extensive training to be a master rabbi ends at age 30. It is only then that one is permitted to take disciples. In Jesus’ 30th year, he does this. In the story for this week, Jesus calls his first four (or six if you include those from John’s gospel): Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, and Nathanael.
But first Jesus moves from Nazareth to Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. Matthew’s and John’s stories are significantly different in time and place that all of this occurred; but not different in that Jesus called his first disciples in conjunction with his move to the sea.
In Matthew’s account, Jesus moves to Capernaum in response to John’s arrest (John the Baptizer). In John’s (the gospeler’s) account, it’s clear that some of Jesus’ first disciples were originally disciples of John’s (the baptizer).
Whether Jesus called Simon Peter and Andrew (and James and John) standing with John the Baptist by the Jordan, or fishing by the Sea of Galilee is not so important. What IS important is that Jesus calls a group of people together who will surround him in his mission, and he begins that mission in Galilee of the Gentiles, leaving Nazareth and relocating to Capernaum.
Now, if one were leaving Nazareth, one might think the rabbi would go to Jerusalem, the center of Jewish life. But Jesus goes to Capernaum in Galilee, a bustling seaport city filled with foreigners. It’s a central trade route, multi lingual, “blue-collar,” fishing industry capital, and filled to the brim with injured and sick who flock daily to the hot springs along the coast of the Sea of Galilee.
On the other hand, what better place to begin his ministry of healing and preaching. And indeed, what better place –the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, and the place where the “sheep of the lost house of Israel (the northern kingdom)” were scattered and integrated among the gentiles. Jesus would never complete convert Capernaum. In fact, near the end of his ministry, he would be frustrated, because Capernaum remained essentially a city of unbelievers. However, he would make the city his home for the duration of his ministry.
Some of Jesus’ disciples were from Capernaum, some from nearby Bethsaida (the house of fish), others from Magdala (the fish processing city), Bethphage (house of figs), and other cities along the Sea of Galilee (Nathanael was from Cana). His 12 inner core disciples (12 most likely for the 12 tribes of Israel) were a diverse group of unlikely consorts –fishermen were the first!
The Sea of Galilee was a beautiful place, lush with greenery, fruits, and fish. Because of its location between mountains on each side, it was prone to sudden, violent storms that would blow from the Golan Heights in the east and last approximately a half an hour, and then the sea would return to a mirror-like calm.
The sea as a metaphor is a powerful one. It was from the deep that God created the earth and humankind. It represents the beginning of existence. The popular conch shell was used as an ancient musical instrument, and as a horn for sailors. Many of the Hebrew stories involve the crossing of the seas. God’s power over winds, storms, and seas is legendary. Jesus himself would later cross over on the water, and would calm a storm on this same Sea of Galilee. If the wilderness is a time of struggle with God (see prior exegesis), then the sea as metaphor represents the power and sovereignty of God –and of Jesus as the Son of God.
Jesus’ mission to restore and unite the 12 tribes of Israel –and bring in the gentiles to God would make him clearly the Shepherd of Israel –the messiah. For in the Hebrew scriptures, God promises to search for the sheep who are scattered. This immediately would bring Jesus into conflict with the Pharisees, who saw themselves as the “shepherds” of Israel.
Jesus starts his ministry much as John left his off –with a call for repentance! Similar to Jonah’s message years before (the prophet was also from Galilee), the call for repentance precedes the promise of restoration. The millennial belief (see Micah 4:3-4) was that all people would return to God and receive the abundance of God’s blessings: and “every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree.”
The fig tree as metaphor has a rich history. The fruit of the land –its fruit blossoms before its leaves. That Jesus sees Nathanael under a fig tree and then calls him the only righteous Israelite (not Jew but Israelite) is a metaphor for the coming of these times.
“Now I will sing to my well-beloved a song….of the vineyard” (Isaiah 5:1-2)
The fig tree is the symbol of Israel. To sit under the fig tree would mean Israel is favored. It was a sign of the re-gathering of the Jews back into their land. When the “summer is nigh”, it meant the time has come for the restoration of Israel through the Messiah. Jesus knew he was speaking the language of the Jews, waiting for the end times to come.
Jesus lived in a very apocalyptic time period for the Jewish people. Nathanael would have been one of those waiting, praying under the fig tree. It would be those like him who would be the hope of Israel.
“I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness.” (Hosea 9:10)
Jesus is also the Son of Man. He is the Son of Adam and represents the human race. In Aramaic, he would be called “the human being” or the “human one.”*
Jesus is also the “ladder.” Recalling Jacob’s ladder, the sullam is the connection between God and humankind. As Jesus is the messiah in the lineage of David and Jacob, he is the “way” into heaven, the divine communication, the Word, the link of the covenant. His incarnation is the mediator between God and God’s lost children of Adam. Just as Jacob realized he was in the presence of God, so did Nathanael!
As Jesus calls his disciples to himself (his representation of the 12 tribes), he is symbolically getting ready to call to all of God’s people, those who have intermarried and those who have been lost to the faith. On behalf of God, Jesus is getting ready to call all of God’s people home.
*Jewish Encyclopedia