image from Ted’s Sports
A fellow teacher who struggles with anemia posted this on Facebook, “Why am I so exhausted after only teaching two days? Oh boy.” I understand; I taught also. But a more significant anemia is the spiritual one that so infects American Christianity. We lack energy and motivation for the things of God. We care, but not deeply. We serve, but not joyfully. We give, but not sacrificially.
The antidote may be found in a fishing story, with a result similar to the attached pic. In Luke 5, Peter, a fisherman by trade, had labored all night, and got skunked. Jesus, a carpenter by trade, then instructed Peter how to fish. Peter knew Jesus could build a boat, but likely felt quite confident that he knew more than Jesus about what to do in a boat. But to humor this radical rabbi, Peter put out from shore and dropped the nets.
He got into so many fish he had to call his partner’s boat over, and even so, both nearly got swamped by the load. As a fisherman, I’d have latched onto this awesome fishing guide. However, Peter recognized this Jesus was beyond human, and cried, “Go away from me, I’m a sinful man.”
Peter saw the reality of Jesus’ divinity, his transcendence, his otherness. Peter’s own humanity couldn’t handle being that close to that kind of being. Think of running 220 volts through a 12 volt circuit—Peter’s circuit was about to blow and he knew he couldn’t handle it.
That alone would be a great lesson, but it doesn’t connect yet to spiritual anemia. Jesus then told them to not fear, and gave them a mission—to become fishers of men. Just moments before, Peter wanted nothing to do with Jesus. But when confronted with the combination of Jesus’ divinity and his love, he left his nets and his boats and everything. And played a key role in changing the world.
Question: could our spiritual anemia result from two forces: a safe, insipid view of Jesus? As a friend. A good teacher. A wise man. Do we ever allow Jesus to intimidate us with a hint of his glory? Do we have a hint of that biblical fear that comes from realizing his transcendence? I suspect, if we saw Jesus more clearly, we’d more eagerly sacrifice all we have and are to be part of him. Like Peter.
Then, once we get Jesus, we recognizing our holy calling. Jesus used terms that Peter understood, to fish for people. But maybe think of it as a more common term today: that we be influencers, to make people aware of God and what he can do, how they can know him. I suspect that mission can give us the energy we need. We gain a purpose that transcends ourselves.
Kick Starting the Application
Examine your own view of Jesus. Has he ever intimidated you with his holiness and transcendence? Why or why not? Is there something in your life that you fear he might change? What could change your attitude, like Peter’s, from fear to passion?
Do you have an overarching life purpose, that transcends a profession or hobby, to serve Jesus? How can you enhance that?