Performance In Christianity series
The Big Fish Story– Performance of Jesus
A huge catch of fish – the common profession of men who live by the coast is to fish. It is an honorable and humble profession, and it was the profession of several men who followed Jesus. Looking at this narrative of Jesus performing yet another miracle or act of God shows us yet again, His divine Power and Sovereignty. How ironic it is that Jesus came back again to the fishermen to reinforce His calling at a time when their Faith was low.
John 21:1-11, outlines the written account of events in this manner. The timing or historical setting is after the Crucifixion, the glorious resurrection, and His revealing to the faithful. Luke gives a more magnified view; however, John provides us with significant details as well. Peter got up that night and said to the brethren, let's go fishing, and they caught nothing (John 9:4). In John 21:4, Jesus came to the shore of Gennesaret where they were fishing, but they didn't recognize Him, He called out to them and asked about the catch, but they had caught nothing. Jesus then gave them direction, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find." Are you fishing on the wrong side?
The meta-narrative in Luke 5:3 further details this incident by describing the activity of Jesus using the beach as an amphitheater to preach to the crowd from the surrounding towns of Galilee (Luke 4:43). In verse 5:2, the fishermen had stopped fishing and were cleaning their nets when Jesus got into Simon Peters' boat and gave direction to "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught." So we have two directives, fish on the right side, and launch into the deep. The effectiveness of following directions lead to the actualization of the miracle, the harvest was so large that one boat is too little to hold the harvest. The acts (miracles) of Jesus were demonstrated for the benefit of the ecclesiastical body called the Christian Church (John 20:30-31).
Luke 5:4-11
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto [their] partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw [it], he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so [was] also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
The LORD my Fortress, Jehovah Mauzzi (Jeremiah 16:19), we thank You for our strong standing of Faith. We praise You for our inspired understanding of divine direction and appropriate application. We decree and declare blessings upon those who obey Thy Word, so that; by reaping the harvest despite our sinful nature, we bring blessings to the Kingdom. Now, for the Kingdom and the Glory of God, we petition, with anointing in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior, Amen.
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