Connecting Point: The Big Catch

In my 40s I started to go back to fishing as a hobby, something I really enjoyed in my youth. There’s something about being at a mountain lake or stream that captures my attention, the tranquility of enjoying God’s creation and of course the many beautiful species of trout here in Montana are a great catch.

Fishing was a mainstay for 1st Century Jews and continues to be one of the prominent occupations in coastal regions today. Luke gives us insight into Jesus’ ministry as He built a connection with a fisherman’s family.

“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 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. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ 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.’ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 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,” (Luke 5:1-7).

Keep in mind just before this event, Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law who was deathly ill. We learn from Luke that at this point Jesus is starting His search for disciples, those who would follow him as protégés the next few years. One key mark of a disciple is found in the text: obedience. After a bad day fishing Simon not only listened to Jesus but immediately obeyed Him despite getting skunked earlier, he gave no excuses or complaints.

Here are some great points to remember. One: Jesus lived connected to people. He wasn’t removed from them. This is part of the reason that Jesus’s ministry was effective, He literally cared for people, never living above them but walking beside them. We too can apply this mindset in our lives as disciples today of Jesus. Do you purposely try to live connected to others?

Two: A fisherman’s life wasn’t easy, in fact, it was messy. How many in this audience love to clean fish? I love to catch them, but cleaning fish isn’t my favorite experience. Now I do say this metaphorically since life is like fishing, it isn’t always easy, and life is messy. As we read about Jesus, we find Him to be down to earth and real with people, that’s what separates Christianity from other world religions. Our Messiah, our God lived in the trenches and compassionately reached people.

Three: Humility is always received well by Jesus. After this enormous catch of fish on an unlikely day, Simon and his counterparts were humbled. Simon’s response was, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (vs. 8). Jesus assured them to not be afraid because He was inviting them to be part of something bigger, to be “fishers of people.” Again, we see the Gospel message unfolding, Jesus is teaching others that the soul is of utmost importance and He’s the answer for our parched soul.