At the start of Jesus’ ministry, He came to the Sea of Galilee and called Peter to become a “fisher of men.” It’s believed Jesus stood at the location where seven underground streams of fresh water flow into the sea attracting fish to this area as well as fishermen.
After Jesus resurrection the disciples went back to fishing at the same location Jesus called Peter. However, after fishing all night they caught nothing. The disciples were fishing as usual, but with great anxiety and fear that the Jewish authorities would come after them and face the same fate as Jesus not to mention worrying about their future. When we ‘fish’ from a place of worry, anxiety and fear it shows a lack of trust in God and we come up empty. We are called to follow not by sight but by faith.
At early morning Jesus was at their ‘fishing hole’, but unidentified by His disciples. Jesus told them to throw their nets to the right side of the boat and you will have a catch. (John 21:6) Upon their faith and obedience they caught 153 fish. (21:11) The large catch was to show His disciples they had nothing to fear. Like the previous three years Jesus would provide for their every need. We too can be assured that God will provide for our every need.
It is said by Jerome, an early church father, there were 153 species of fish in the Sea of Galilee. This of course goes back to the disciples being fishers of all men, no one was to be excluded. Like the first disciples we too are called to cast our nets by faith and in obedience for drawing people into the Kingdom of God regardless of ethnicity, gender or background.
Pr. Bob Snitzer
By the Way:
Sunday 8, 9:00 Morning worship. Sermon: Run in Fear. 1 Kings 19:1-18
