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This is part of a series of posts based on the Churches Together in England publication one light: one world. If you click on the link you will find the biblical texts. This post of the same name covers the purpose of this series.
Luke 5: 1 - 8
Oh dear, oh dear. A long passage, terminating in an ecumenical non-sequitur. Presumably the fish represent potential converts and we're supposed to summon our ecumenical partners, should we strike lucky!
This passage is not about evangelism. It is about economics. These are fishermen. If it hasn't escaped your notice, fishermen are interested in catching fish. Why? Because fish are valuable.
Here is a man who has the power to magic large numbers of fish from nowhere. But this same man has something he values more than fish. This is a story about discipleship, not evangelism.
The partners help with the catch, do they understand what is going on? Partners join in a common enterprise, even though they might do so for radically different reasons. This does not mean they cannot be trusted. It does mean it is important to understand why they are involved.
This story shows the benefits of Jesus are not restricted to the followers of Jesus. More important, it shows why the fishermen chose to follow Jesus.
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