How is Jesus actually relevant to me and the things I care about?

Church seems so pointless to so many people!

We meet every week, we do some religious stuff… …and maybe it feels like it has no connection at all …to what we really care about during the week.

Right at the start of Luke’s Gospel, he said he’s writing an orderly account of the Word of God… of the teaching about Jesus… …of the things that really happened to him—

And Luke’s then told four chapters of stories about people receiving God’s Word …and responding in different ways: Zechariah, Mary, the shepherds at Jesus birth, John the Baptist, the religious leaders, people in synagogues hearing Jesus preach.

Some responded to Jesus’ Word with joy and trust. Others were angry or just not bothered. Which raises this question: Why should I even care? Why would I bother coming to hear God’s Word?

How is Jesus actually relevant to me and the things I care about?

Well, there’s three things this story says to answer that question today:

1) Jesus steps into your life and speaks into all of it (vv. 1-3)
2) Jesus’ Word is what gives your vocations value (vv. 4-7)
3) Jesus uses useless people (vv. 8-11)

The first part of the story is:

1) Jesus steps into your life and speaks into all of it

Hear again how the story starts in vv. 1-3:

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

So, there’s a load of people over here crushing together all to hear Jesus share God’s Word. Like a massive crush of Oasis fans.

But, Simon and the other fishermen aren’t bothered. They’re not part of that crowd. They’re trying to get on with their lives, right? They’re busy doing their jobs—cleaning their nets. Like trying to get to a work meeting, and you have to walk past the O2 arena when the crowds are filling the street outside.

Do you see what Jesus does? He deliberately steps into their boat. The workplace of the fishermen who were ignoring him.

And this is how we live most of the time: as if God is a side topic, and a pretty boring one irrelevant to our work, our time, our relationships, our decisions.

Which is to treat God as if he doesn’t exist at all. Because—think about it—if he’s really there, really the creator, really our Father in heaven. Then he’s massively relevant to everything. And it is offensive to ignore him.

And ignoring the creator doesn’t make sense because:

2) Jesus’ Word is what gives your vocations value (vv. 4-7)

Just look at vv. 4-5:

And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

Jesus tells Simon what to do, and Simon can’t see the relevance. Simon is the fishing expert. Simon is one who’s been working all night. What does Jesus know or care about fishing?

Jesus cares about fishing in every way—because he cares about Simon!

1 Corinthians 7:17 says this:

let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.

God has called you to live the life you have:
—he’s called some to be single, others to be married
—he’s called some work as employees, others as employers
—he’s called some to be parents, others to be children

Every role you have in life: citizen, wife, child, worker, tenant …God called you to it because he cares about you …and your life, your work, the things you do matter to him.

And as the creator, he is the one who gives blessing or makes us wait in patience.

We don’t have any control over whether our efforts flourish in life. One person barely does anything, and is head-hunted for the job of their dreams. Another person works exceptionally hard, and only just scrapes by.

The reality is, we have to give up the idea that we are in control. That’s what Jesus teaches Peter in vv. 6-7:

And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

They worked all night and achieved nothing.

Now during the day —with one cast of the net— their boat is overflowing.

And the only difference is Jesus’ Word. That’s it.

Not only is Jesus entirely relevant to every aspect of your life… …he is utterly in control of it too.

Whether your latest venture or idea succeeds or fails… …hangs on the tip of his tongue: it’s his say so.

Jesus steps into your life and speaks into all of it

God has called you to the life you’re living. He’s placed you in the situation you’re in. And he has a purpose for you there. A plan for you. You are valuable to him. You matter. Your work matters. Your relationships. Your interests.

and Jesus’ Word is what gives your vocations value

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you’re in control… …or of wasting away trying to take control. Your vocations are valuable, even when they feel fruitless, because God values everything you do. His Word gives your effort meaning and purpose.

Jesus is in control, and everything happens on his say so. And what Jesus says is the third point of this passage:

3) Jesus uses useless people (vv. 8-11)

Please look at vv. 8-11:

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Simon, who is also called Peter, is shocked and horrified at this display of Jesus’ power.

Because Peter realises—rightly—that he is not in control—God is.

And he suddenly gets scared, because Peter knows he is a sinful person —so how will God use that power?

You know what it’s like when someone is really angry with you. And literally every possible way they think they have power they started using to try and attack and destroy you.

And we fear that is exactly how God will behave toward us. That is what is driving Peter’s fear here.

But the great news is this: that is not what Jesus is like. Because, Jesus uses useless people

Peter admits to Jesus he’s a sinner, he recognises he’s flawed and bad.

And what are Jesus’ first words in response: “Do not be afraid”!

In other words: Jesus has forgiven him. He is in a good mood with Peter.

And, what’s more, Jesus having this power doesn’t make Peter’s work worthless… …he invests Peter with even more value and responsibility:

“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

And that is what Jesus says to you today: Your life—in its entirety, all of it—matters to God he cares about every part of it, because he cares about you.

And he is in control, through his word. You work, you put in effort… …not just in your job, but in your relationships, in your neighbourhood.

And whether that work catches fish or yields nothing completely depends on what God says.

But, he doesn’t use that power to negate your value or to punish you for your mistakes.

No, he says “Don’t be afraid” …he loves you, he’s in a good mood with you

And he gives you even more purpose and value …to catch other people with this great news …to be someone who speaks God’s Word to others, so they can know Jesus’ love too.

So, How is Jesus actually relevant to me and the things I care about?

Well, Jesus steps into your life and speaks into all of it
Jesus’ Word is what gives your vocations value
and Jesus uses useless people

So, this week:

let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.

Go to work. Parent your kids. Love your mum. Help the community. And do so trusting that God really does love and value you. And go tell others this Word, because Jesus is relevant to them too.