The Miraculous Catch of Fish
One of Season 1 of The Chosen's most dramatic scenes is the miraculous catch of fish is originally found in three of the four Gospels.
And when a story appears that many times in the Bible, it must be important.
The Miraculous Catch of Fish
Several things had to happen before the miraculous catch of fish.
Here’s the story according to the fifth chapter of Luke.
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were 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 fish for people.”
11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
(Luke 5 as found in the NIV)
The Miraculous Catch of Fish Teaches Peter to Act in Faith
Unlike other renditions of this story found in Matthew and Mark, Luke implies that Peter owned his boat. Owning your own boat as a fisherman would have been a sign of wealth and success in ancient Israel. If the boat was Peter’s then we can safely guess that he was a very skilled and successful fisherman.
So it shouldn’t be very surprising to see that when Jesus told Peter where to fish that Peter would be doubtful. Especially considering the fact that he’d been fishing all night long. Nonetheless, Peter did as he was told and found his nets were closed to bursting with fish. Not only that, but they almost sank two boats because of the size of the catch.
Peter, who already had a miraculous experience when Jesus healed his mother-in-law, obviously felt shame for doubting Christ. But Jesus was forgiving with Peter and called him to a higher work.
The Miraculous Catch of Fish Teaches Peter to Follow Jesus
It was after the miraculous catch of fish that Jesus called some of his most well-known and influential apostles.
Primarily Peter.
Jesus would teach and perform miracles until His death and resurrection and these fishermen, called to be fishers of men, would lead His Church and continue to spread His teachings afterward to anyone who would listen.
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