Fishing....

Fishing......

  When I think of fishing, I think of casting in a line with one hook to catch one fish...that is just the way We have done it...from catching a brook trout to a salmon, to a larger ocean fish...

In the New Testament, they talked about netting fish and catching many fish, not just one at a time...

This is not researched theology, just some thoughts that occurred to me lately...

1.Fishing was a way of life, a vocation for some...

Matthew 4:18
[ Jesus Calls His First Disciples ] As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

Matthew 4:19
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”


2. Jesus used the story of Jonah as a picture on His own death and resurrection...
Matthew 12:40
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

 3. Not all fish were good, maybe some were not edible...
Matthew 13:48
When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.


4. Fish illustrated provision, blessing, abundance..
Matthew 14:17
“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

Matthew 14:19
And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

Matthew 15:34
“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

Matthew 15:36
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.

Matthew 17:27
“But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.

Mark 6:43
and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.


Luke 5:2
He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.

Luke 5:6
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

Luke 5:9
For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,

Luke 5:10
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 fish for people.”

Luke 11:11
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?

Luke 24:42
They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

John 21:1
[ Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish ] Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:

John 21:3
“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

John 21:5
He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.

John 21:6
He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

John 21:8
The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.

John 21:9
When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

John 21:10
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

John 21:11
So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.

John 21:13
Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

5. Fish was a normal food.  Not a delicacy..  As seen in the lunches used , meals eaten...

The disciples went from catching some to none to an abundance...I can just see them before Jesus, fishing , mending nets-probably daily, going about their daily routines..of making a living ....then along comes this Man, telling them he would send them out to "fish for people"...did they go out of curiosity or were they compelled In their hearts and souls?  This was a totally new vocation, leaving everything behind...did they question, consider, ponder or just go?

Over and over fish are used as an illustration. It provided the tax money, it provided food from a little to thousands with leftovers...the to the last....fish already cooking on the shore, prepared for them to partake after an empty night..the abundant catch on the "right" side of the boat...so abundant with 153 large fish and no breakage of the nets...

Was that a picture of their new vocation?  There were fish waiting to be caught, people waiting to be told, service to be done ....so abundant ....and the net not broken...His purpose not thwarted....victory......

The you go on into the book of Acts...and thousands were netted....brought into the fold....on and on down through the ages...those fishermen still at work, pulling in those nets...fishing for people...

So just thoughts...along the path....

Thank You for providing for my salvation, my reeling in to be caught in Your unbroken net ...help me to be the fisherman I need to be...in fishing for the people you have prepared...to be caught...


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