012520 – Matthew 4. 12-23
THIS REGION is ruled by HEROD Antipas, he is the CLIENT-KING of the ROMANS. He is their NINNY.
NO ONE likes him very much…or the ROMANS for that matter.
Yeah, so HE gets…the ROMANS get…and a lot of us BARELY SURVIVE.
They TAX this, they tax that…EVERYBODY has their hands OUT…
You know – they even tax “THE FLAX” used for the NETS…and the WOOD for the boats?
FISHING is “the most common OCCUPATION” for those of US living in the villages of Capernaum and Bethsaida.
That is why MOST people LIVE here.
The FISH are AS abundant as their taxes!
People in THESE PARTS understand FISHING more than we do FARMING.
Everybody HERE seemingly is “INTO” fishing…from the OLDEST to the YOUNGEST…we can’t get enough…
And, we ALL have our STORIES to tell.
Lots of stories…
Did you know THIS IS the lowest freshwater lake on Earth? It IS. Ask ANYONE, they’ll tell you!
We have about 18 different SPECIES of fish that live in the Sea of Galilee.
Of that number, ONLY about TEN are PROFITABLE for us.
These ten can be divided into three COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT groups.
One group is the “BINNY” also known as the “BARBELL.”
Its three species display “BARBS” at the corners of the mouth; hence, its SEMETIC name “BINY,” meaning “HAIR.” It is a GOOD CATCH and can weigh up to about 15 pounds.
HAULING in those all night long is good for the ARMS…you know…
The next group is called “MUSHT” which means “COMB” in Arabic, because its five species display a “comb-like DORSAL FIN.”
The last group is the “KINNERET SARDINE” which resembles a small HERRING.
From “ANCIENT DAYS” this fish has been preserved by PICKLING. People cannot GET enough of these – they love ‘em.
Yeah, THIS is pretty much a NORMAL DAY. OUT fishing all night…
It was a GOOD night. (Ka’ ching!)
You have to get “the CATCH” to market while the fish are still FRESH.
The EARLIER the better.
BEFORE the heat of the day is BEST.
Then get a little SOMETHING to eat.
A NAP sounds good!
Just another…WORKING day.
If you want to EAT, you have to fish.
Can you believe it MY boat is taxed?
MY LICENSE is taxed. THE PROCESSING is taxed. EVEN ACCESS is taxed. Fish are TAXED.
Day after day after day. TAXES. The ROMANS get rich. ANTIPAS gets rich.
HECK, even the TAX COLLECTOR gets rich. And what do WE get?
The SMELL of fish. And SWEAT. LOTS OF sweat! They will probably TAX that NEXT. It’s NOT EASY work….that’s for sure.
CALLOUSED HANDS checking the netting… STOWING away the EQUIPMENT… The quiet INWARDNESS and AWKWARDNESS of men working together IN silence…
Everyone’s got A JOB to do. Focus on “GETTING it done” and MOVING on…someone SAY something?
A SUDDEN disruption…A VOICE breaking the silence… Definitely, a Galilean ACCENT…
Looking up … into the direct SUNLIGHT and seeing no one…that morning SUN can be blinding! Oh, hey, Rabbi!
LEARN from YOU, Accompany YOU?
HANG OUT with YOU, BOND with YOU? ABIDE in you? Respond, imitate, FOLLOW? Is THAT what you are asking?
And WHAT- give ALL THIS UP?
I’m IN.
You don’t have to ask me twice! What about my BROTHER over there?
Sorry about the smell and the sweat…
You know OUR PARTNERS down over there…they might be INTERESTED, too!
You never KNOW when or where OPPORTUNITY is going to knock!
The chance of a lifetime, I tell you…
WALK-away, you bet!
I’d be crazy NOT TO! This going to be EPIC!
Fishing for PEOPLE, hey? Now there’s a new one! Forget the BOAT…forget the NETS.
Fishing for people…so I do KNOW about fishing…for FISH…but for PEOPLE?
A DISCIPLE, hey?
A disciple WHO fishes! Hmm…
This is going to be INTERESTING! Something different, something novel, something challenging…
I am SO not going to look back!
Amen.