Monday, February 9, 2004
Monday, February 9, 2004
When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were
beginning to break.
(Luke 5.6
NRSV)
Fishermen must be all alike. Someone has said that the only thing that casts doubt on the miracles of Jesus is that they were all witnessed by fishermen.
The disciples had been fishing all night and had caught nothing. They were not fishing for a hobby. This was their livelihood and it was serious business. The towns around the Sea of Galilee had names that reflected fishing's importance to their economy and daily life. Tarichaea, one of the villages, meant "the place of salt fish" probably a town where people were employed in packing and exporting fish to Rome. Bethsaida meant "fish town" at least four fishermen who followed Jesus came from this town, and most of the town's men were employed in the fish business. After bringing in the day's catch, fishermen still had to mend and wash their nets, repair and maintain the boats, preserve the fish, and bargain with local merchants to sell or trade the catch. It was a very tiring job. The fishermen had been fishing all night, because the fish come closer to the surface of the water at night. During the day, the sun's rays penetrate the surface of the water, driving the fish into deeper depths. "Cleaning their nets" probably indicated that they were finished with the day's catch, ready to go home.
These fishermen were tired and they were frustrated. They had toiled all night and had nothing to show for it. It's like the salesman who has gone for days without a sale. It's like the lawyer who cannot attract clients. They were discouraged, disheartened.
Jesus' request must have seemed strange to them. Jesus asked them to go back out in their boats into the deeper waters and let down their nets again. This didn't make much sense to them, but notice what happened--THEY OBEYED, and they caught a boat load of fish.
Dear Jesus, help me to trust and obey you. Amen.
