Three Epiphanies

 EPIPHANY

An epiphany to the ancient Greek was a manifestation, a striking appearance. Today an epiphany is considered an aha! moment where a new insight or clarity of thought comes upon a person. There is an element of surprise to an epiphany. An Epiphany doesn’t just happen, pre-work -sometimes years of study, work, or searching are required before a discoverer experiences an epiphany.

An Epiphany is a feeling of enlightenment that positions one in a new headspace and/or heartspace.

 

In Christianity an Epiphany is a realization that Christ is the Son of God; the aha! moment is a new insight into the nature of God. The scripture texts in the Season after Epiphany provide examples of the manifestation of God: the wisemen seek and find the infant Jesus – Emmanuel (God with us), at Jesus’ baptism the Holy Spirit comes and God’s voice calls “you are my beloved and in you I am well pleased”, and Jesus’ powers are witnessed in the turning of water into wine.

 

This morning’s scripture from Luke is one of Epiphany. Jesus’ showcase of power wasn’t simply a miracle of providing a large catch of fish on a day when there were no fish to be had. It was an event that caused the disciples, Peter in particular, to recognize the transcendent and name Jesus as Messiah.

The experience of Epiphany positioned Peter in a new headspace and heartspace. It was such an aha! moment that he and his colleagues left their nets and followed Jesus.

 

As I reflected on the story of the calling of the fishermen to be disciples, while focusing on the idea of epiphany, I noted that there are ideas in the text to spur epiphanies for readers like us. This morning, I highlight three truths from the text that when taken to heart will transform and change a person’s life.

 

 

Epiphany #1 – EVEN WHEN BUSY, BE OPEN TO THE MIRACULOUS

The disciples are hard at work. It was not an easy task to be part of the fishing industry on the Lake of Gennersaret. Writing about Jesus and his part in the movement to transform the food economy, pastor T. Wilson Dickinson, describes the squeeze put on fishermen. The elite had control of the seafood economy. Fishermen paid an imperial official for the right to fish in the emperor’s lake– a fishing license so to speak. Then after the catch was brought to shore, the fishermen paid a toll or a tax on what they had caught. Fishermen were marginalized labourers working in an oppressive economic system. To pay to be on the Lake, meant that one needed to work hard and have a catch big enough to pay both the license fee and the surcharge on the catch.

On this particular fishing day, after catching nothing, how could the disciples be anything but disheartened? It would be reasonable for them to worried about paying their bills, feeding their families, keeping their jobs. It would be understandable for if they were considering side hustles to make a few denarii: patch a few nets, repair a dock, deliver someone else’s catch. They were busy making ends meet to provide for their families, when Jesus arrives.

 

Peter, whether needing a distraction or so done with the pressures, decides to take a huge risk and takes Jesus out in the boat. Maybe that day Peter had an inkling to hope in this Jesus who had been traveling to the small towns around the area. Although busy, there was an openness to change the script for the day. And what a script change - Once again, Luke is inspired by his favourite stories, the prophets Elija and Elisha, and the miraculous provisions of food provided in times of or in places of scarcity. The big haul of fish is representative of the abundance of God and God’s kindom.

Now if you were one of the fishermen on the boat, and you witness the great catch, what would your first words be? If you only experienced a miracle you would ask something like, “how did you do that? How did you know?” Peter had an epiphany brought on by the miraculous, the power of Jesus, recognizing Jesus’ power Peter forgot about the fish and how important a big catch was, and focused completely on Jesus.

EVEN WHEN BUSY, BE OPEN TO THE MIRACULOUS

 

Epiphany #2 – EVEN WHEN YOU THINK YOU ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH- GOD SEES OTHERWISE

Jesus gets into Peter’s boat on a day when the fishermen couldn’t catch a fish. There were no fish stories to be told. No fish to share for supper. This though is the least of Peter’s self-esteem woes. Peter’s encounter with Jesus has given him a profound awareness and sorrow of his sinfulness – an unworthiness. He says, Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man. Peter’s expression is also an epiphany of the power of Jesus. Jesus does not go away but stays. Peter’s full epiphany is that sin does not disqualify him from being in Jesus’ presence or disqualify him from God’s invitation to be more.

 There is a poster in church hall that reminds those who see it that – Noah was drunk, Abrahm was too old, Isaac was a daydreamer, Moses stuttered, Joseph was abused, Sampson was a womanizer, Jonah ran away, Elijah was suicidal, Job went bankrupt, David had an affair, Martha worried, Paul was too religious, Lazarus was dead. --- all things that humans consider make one not good enough. Yet, all were loved by God, all were given invitations by God to work for God’s kindom. Whatever busy-ness was going on in their lives, each was open to the miraculous, because each said ‘yes.’

EVEN WHEN YOU THINK YOU ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH- GOD SEES OTHERWISE

 

Epiphany #3 - EVEN JESUS NEEDED HELP

In the story Jesus needed to borrow a boat. Jesus is popular and the size of the crowds are pushing on him, so Jesus climbs into a boat and asks the skipper – Peter - to put it out a little way from shore; Peter does. Jesus needs helpers – the crowds are getting too big to handle all alone. This story in Luke, although centred on Peter, tells of three others who helped Jesus in bringing in the miraculous catch. They are told, do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people. They too had epiphanies for they say ‘yes’ to the invitation and become the first disciples to follow. In future stories in Luke, more help is needed and 70 more are sent out in pairs to work for Jesus – sharing the Gospel, the Good News, doing miracles and healings. By the time of Acts, even more helpers are recruited. In each instance those experiencing the power of Jesus, hearing God’s invitation,

left what they knew – everything – and worked in the kindom of God. Their headspace and heartspace had been transformed and that changed their whole lives.

EVEN JESUS NEEDED HELP

 

My prayer is that these three truths from the text will be reflected upon and taken to heart.

Even when busy, be open to the miraculous.

Even when you think you are not good enough – God sees otherwise.

Even Jesus needed help.

And in taking these to heart, may your headspace and heartspace be transformed, changing your whole lives.