The Catching of the Fish

Introduction

There are multiple miracles in Scripture that have to do with fishing. I love to fish. Every time I do, I think of the stories in God’s Word that are about fishing. The Greek word for fish is ichthus. We learn that the symbol of the fish would later become a symbol of Christianity.

The symbol is called an ichthus (pronounced "ickthoose"), which is a Greek word for "fish," and is spelled by those five Greek letters that often appear on that symbol. Ichthus, in the original language, is spelled lota Chi Theta Upsilon Sigma. Those five letters stand for five words that confess our Lord: "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior." An acrostic is an arrangement of words in which the first letter of each line ordinarily combines with others to form a word or words or the alphabet. Ichthus stands for Iesous (Jesus) CHristos (Christ) THeou (of God) Uiou (the Son) Soter (the Savior).

We see in Luke’s Gospel a passage that helped propel the symbol of the fish in identifying Christians. This is an important aspect of our calling as Christians. I assure you that you will be able to identify in some form or fashion to this passage, even if you do not like to fish or you are allergic to fish!

Luke 5:1–11 NIV84

1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Lake Gennesaret was another name for the Sea of Galilee. It is also known in the New Testament as the Sea of Tiberias. In the Old Testament, it was called Chinneroth. It is 12 miles by 7 miles and about 700 feet below sea level. It is in the shape of a harp, which is what Gennesaret means. It was a beautiful place to visit and explore this summer as I visited Israel. I would love to go back and spend more time there. Notice in these first few verses the crowd that was following.

The Crowd Following (vs. 1-3)

At this time of in the life and ministry of Jesus, the word had spread about this man from Nazareth. The crowds came around for several reasons, just like folks come to church today.

The Sinful

Sometimes, the crowd consisted of people feeling guilt from their sinful lives. If we think about it, we would all fit in that category. The Bible says, Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 NIV84

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Sometimes we recognize our sin and we think that coming to church will help us feel better. We think that being in the right place, we will overcome the guilt of sin. Perhaps there were some in this crowd that felt they could come and hear this religious man with this religious teaching and they might find relief from their guilt.

The Sensational

Others followed Jesus to see the sensational things He did. Luke 4:36-37

Luke 4:36–37 NIV84

36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.

The people heard about the sensational things Jesus had done and they were drawn to see all that was going on. We are like that as well, aren’t we? We are drawn to see the things out of the ordinary. However, some folks came for the substance that Jesus taught.

The Substance

The word for “listening” that we have in verse 1 is the Greek word akouo. I see that it means comprehending and listening for understanding. I hope that you are part of the crowd that comes to hear the Word of God to gain insight from it. My prayer each and every week is that will indeed take place. Hebrews 4:12

Hebrews 4:12 NIV84

12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

In our study from the parables of Jesus in Mark, we learned from Mark 4:14

Mark 4:14 NIV84

14 The farmer sows the word.

We know that the intention of that word sown is to grow, mature and produce more seed-bearing fruit. People in the time of Jesus were hungry for the word of God. True believers today are also hungry for the word of God. The crowd that followed Jesus represented each one of these areas.

The Catching of the Fish (vs. 4-5)

When Jesus finished teaching, the Bible tells us that there were two boats there and the fishermen were cleaning their nets. To be effective, the nets had to be clean and not contaminated. So whether they caught fish or not, they had to be cleaned. My brother-in-law lives in Manteo, North Carolina. Of course that is a village on Roanoke Island which is surrounded by water which he likes to remind me that is filled with fish. He is meticulous about washing his boat and fishing equipment every time he goes fishing. It is a great practice of great fishermen. Jesus gets on the boat to teach but after teaching he gives Simon a command.

The Command

The command is simply, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” What would you do if the Master had told you to do this? Jesus said to go deeper and initiate a catch. Oh that we as a church would have our eyes opened to this! Too often we as a church are too shallow. We are too close to the surface of reading God’s word and we don’t go deep enough. We are too shallow in our in our service to others that we only do what will get us by. We are too confounded in our on ways that we don’t take time to adjust to the ways of the Master. We all have a net to lay down. We have to decide if we are going to lay it down in shallow water or if we are going to go deeper. Isaiah 37:31

Isaiah 37:31 NIV84

31 Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above.

The deeper the root, the more the fruit! Our Lord though is specifically telling Simon to go out to deeper water. When we get out where the water is over our head, we have a tendency to trust the Lord more, right? However, when we are called to do so, inevitably like Simon, we will offer a counter.

The Counter

Master, we’ve already done that. We have washed our nets. We worked all night, dropping the nets down and pulling them back up; dropping the nets down and pulling them back up. Over and over and we caught a big bag of nothing.” I can’t help but wonder if Simon got that look from Jesus. You know what I mean, “like really, you are going there?” Simon changes his tone, “but because you say so, I will let down the nets.” I am reminded here that our obedience sometimes needs to be greater than our belief.

Isaiah 50:10 NIV84

10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.

Sometimes, we have to trust the word of Jesus and obey His command, even when the water is deeper than we are tall; even when the darkness is too dark; even when we do not believe His way is best.

The Comprehension

Simon came to the conclusion in his mind that Jesus was right. When he did so, the comprehension of trust and faith took place. Notice the call of faith.

The Call of Faith (vs. 6-10)

Simon Peter and the others did what Jesus said to do. They let the nets down. After a night time of fishlessness, in the middle of the day their nets were so full they had to get help from the other boat. They took on so many fish that two boats loads were more than they could handle. A seasoned man of the sea like Simon Peter recognized this and realized that it was not a fluke but the hand of God.

The Recognition

The call of faith comes when we see the recognition of who God is! It is a holy moment when that happens. And when one sees the holiness of God, they are reminded of their sinfulness.

The Response

Simon Peter’s response was to bow down and worship. Simon Peter recognizing the holiness of His Lord said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” The recognition of the holiness of the moment and the response to the holiness of God lead Simon Peter to make some readjustments.

The Readjustment

Simon Peter went from worshiping his thoughts, his expertise, his excuses, his selfishness to worshiping the Lord by falling on His knees. Oh that we might catch just a glimpse of that moment. A man’s man, strong, capable, hard-headed yet readjusting his attitude and responding to the call of faith. Everything is a point of teaching for Jesus. He gently says, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” An existing fear is calmed simply with the spoken word of Jesus.

The Cost to Follow (vs. 11)

Verse 11 tells us there is a cost to follow Jesus.

Luke 5:11 NIV84

11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Simon Peter, James and John came to a crucial point in their faith that you and I have to do as well. We first accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Accepting

Matthew 19:11 NIV84

11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.

Jesus gives us the word, but if we don’t accept it as being His word, we will never make Him first.

Believing

The cost to follow means believing.

John 3:36 NIV84

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

Confessing

We also have to confess Him as Lord.

Romans 10:9–10 NIV84

9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Yet we are called to one more step.

Discipling

You and I, just like Simon Peter, James and John and then later on the other disciples and apostles, are called to disciple others. Jesus told Simon, “From not on, you will catch men.” There is no other greater calling than to share the love of Christ with others. Some are called to be preachers, some teachers, some missionaries, but as Christians, we are all called to be disciples. The question remains, how’s your fishing going? Are you identified as one of the followers of Christ?