The events of today’s gospel reading take place just down the shore from the fishing village of Capernaum. You can still go to Capernaum today. If we hurried and were lucky with our flights we could probably be there by the end of today or by tomorrow morning. The Capernaum Jesus knew is still there: a little fishing village on the shore of Lake Galilee with the remains of a fourth century synagogue built over the synagogue where Jesus taught. And close by a church and inside the remains of a small first century house. From writing carved into the stone it is clear that this house has been used for Christian worship from the very earliest days. From when it has always been known as ‘Peter’s house.’     Many scholars happily accept that this is indeed the house where Simon the fisherman – who later became Peter, once lived.

If you travel south from Capernaum along the Galilee shore towards Gennesaret    you come to a sequence of steep inlets. According to NT Wright  the Bishop of Durham a number of these inlets form very effective natural amphitheatres. He knows because he’s tried it out. ‘If you get in a boat’ he says ‘and push out a little from the shore you can talk in quite a natural voice and be heard clearly by anyone on the slopes of the inlet.’

So we have the setting for today’s reading. A real-life setting in a real world that we can still see today. Fisherman in Galilee – they still fish at night. Fish are more likely to be caught at night daylight fishing is a thankless task any Galilee fisherman will tell you that.

So it’s morning and there are Simon and his friends - eyes gritty and drifting shut for weariness. Fish are more likely to be caught at night but not last night. They’ve nothing to show for their hours of labour. They long for sleep but there’s still work to be done. Despondently they sit on the shore washing nets. But before long they’re not alone. The new rabbi – the one from Nazareth arrives at the lakeside and around him an crowd gathers.

Now this rabbi is no stranger to Simon. One Sabbath a little while back He was in Capernaum teaching in the synagogue. And Simon had invited Him back to His house just across the street. Simon’s wife’s mother was ill and Simon suddenly had the confidence that this rabbi was just the one to pray with her. And how effective His prayers were! One minute she had a high fever the next she was bustling over the fire baking bread for them all. And the rabbi had stayed and as news spread others visited Simon bringing unwell friends and relatives for prayer. And Simon’s mother-in-law was by no means the only one to make a quick recovery.

Jesus the rabbi moved on from Capernaum after that. But today He is back and Simon isn’t surprised He’s drawn a crowd. They remember His last visit. So Simon and his friends sit on the shore washing nets and Jesus from Nazareth stands on the beach teaching.  Rabbis usually teach in synagogues on a Sabbath. But this rabbi’s effect is such that He has drawn a crowd on a working day. So large a crowd that Jesus approaches Simon the fisherman He has met once before and commandeers his boat to speak to the people gathered on the sides of the inlet.

And all the while Simon listens as he works. No baskets of fish are to be seen.  Their failed night is obvious. After a while Jesus finishes teaching. Earlier Jesus asked Simon to put out a little from the shore. Now can imagine Simon wading in to bring him back. But as Simon arrives Jesus says instead, ‘Why don’t you put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch?’

You can imagine the looks exchanged between these hard-working no-nonsense fishermen who’ve just come off a hard and fruitless night-shift. If they’ve caught nothing at night there’s not much point trying in broad daylight. Why on earth would they listen to this rabbi who evidently has no knowledge of their trade? They’ve just spent the morning putting away all the gear.

Except that – well Simon knows this a Rabbi a little. And He hasn’t forgotten what happened the day he came to visit. ‘Master’ says Simon, ‘we have toiled all night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net.’ - ‘Nevertheless at Thy word.’     

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The story is told of Blondin Who in the 1860s used to tightrope-walk across Niagra Falls. Across he’d walk a balancing pole in his hand all the way over and then back. By which time quite a crowd would have gathered. But he wasn’t finished. Next he’d pick up a wheelbarrow and wheel it the 1000 feet distance across and then back. Then as the crowd watched he’d pack the barrow full of bricks and repeat the feat.

Arriving back safely he’d turn and address the crowd ‘who believes I can carry a man across?’ he’d shout.

‘We do!’ would come the reply. After all a barrow full of bricks probably weighs more than a man.

‘Right’ he’d say, ‘who will get in?’

*           *           *

Belief and faith are not the same. Belief is thinking Blondin can carry a man across the Niagara. Faith is getting in the wheelbarrow.

‘Put out into deep water,’ says Jesus ‘and let down your nets.’

The command seems senseless but Simon has seen enough of Jesus to trust Him not only to believe but to have faith. ‘Nevertheless at Thy word’ he says.    

And the results are astounding. Before they know it their nets are so filled with fish            that they begin to break. Sensing that he a mere human being is now somehow in the very presence of God Simon stutters, ‘Get away from me I am a sinful man.’

‘Don’t be afraid;’ says Jesus, ‘from  now on you will be a fisher of men.’ ‘So they pulled their boats up on the shore,’ says Luke, ‘left everything and followed Him.’

Now that’s jumping in the wheelbarrow. That’s entrusting Jesus with their life and future. And that’s Jesus’ constant challenge to those of us who want to be His disciples.

‘Don’t be afraid.  I have a task for you. Come and follow Me!’

“Do you believe and trust in God the Father who made all things?”   That’s what baptism candidates are asked

“Do you believe and trust in His Son Jesus? Do you believe and trust in His Holy Spirit?” I believe and trust in Him comes the reply.

Jesus’ challenge to each one of us today is the same and as it was to Simon.

Do you not only believe in Me do you trust in Me? Will you entrust your life to Me? Not fear for the future but trust Me in all that happens .

‘Do not fear’ says Jesus ‘Trust Me . Follow  Me.’