Most Christians know the significance of fish to Christianity. Fish played a vital role in all aspects of Jesus ministry. From the disciples he chose to follow him to the many miracles Jesus performed. Fish, along with Lamb, Beans, Olives, Cucumber, Dates & Bread were all on the menu at the Last Supper.
One of the most famous accounts of fish in the Bible is depicted in the photo above. Which I allude to in A Flicker in the Water. The disciples had spent the whole night fishing on the Sea of Galilee without any luck. At daybreak on the shoreline waiting for them as they pulled their boats back to shore was a man who they did not yet recognize in the early morning light. It was Jesus. Peter a fisherman by trade had already tied his nets to the boat when Jesus told him to lower them then go out to the deeper water and cast his nets on the right side of the boat.
Peter was reluctant to do what was asked of him. Telling Jesus, “Master we have fished all night and caught nothing but if you say lower the nets I will lower the nets.
Peter & the rest of the disciples were astonished when fish immediately started filling their nets. So much so their fishing boat nearly capsized.
A grateful but humbled Peter told Jesus. I am a sinful man.
As I noted in A Flicker in the Water. The Sea of Galilee is actually a landlocked freshwater lake which sits 700ft below Sea Level.
Winds from above spiral downward causing a swirling effect on the water below creating giant waves. This was the place where Jesus not only walked on water but also calmed the stormy sea.
Today the Sea of Galilee is used as a reservoir for Israel providing the country its drinking water. And it is still a good reliable sustainable fishery.
Bass, Catfish, Carp & several different kinds of Tilapia are the lakes main types of fish.
There are countless other references to fish in Jesus time. One of them not as well known took place when Jesus not wanting to offend the church elders (which was not the norm for him) told Peter to go to the lake & cast out his line. There he would find a coin in the mouth of the first fish that he catches to pay a debt. This is the one & only miracle of Jesus that was meant not to offend.
When we celebrate Easter lets remember the added significance of fish on humanity and to the lives of believers.
Click on the link for a video.
Happy Easter
Bob
