A Trained Professional X: Teach a Man To Fish

This is the ninth post in a series about people's vocations or work in the Bible. On deck (pun intended) is a fisherman. Many of the first disciples Jesus called were fishermen. Although there are few references in the Bible to those of this occupation, they are nevertheless brought into prominence by the record of those Galilean fishermen, like Peter, "The Big Fisherman," who left their ship and nets to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18,19; Mark 1:16,17). Among the characteristic features of those who lived off the sea, the following. They usually lived together as a community.

The Fish Gate at Jerusalem implies an adjacent fish market, with stocks of fish supplied chiefly through Tyrian traders who imported it (II Chronicles 33:14; Nehemiah 3:3; 12:39; 13:16). Because of the distance from the fisheries of Phoenicia and the climate, fish sold at Jerusalem would be salted or dried by the sun. Fish from the Lake of Galilee would be fresher. Fishermen were strong and tough.The strenuousness of their work ruled out the weak and lazy (Luke 5:2).

They were usually gruff in manner, rough in speech and in their treatment of others (Luke 9:49, 54; John 18:10). They were loud burly men’s men. Before they were tempered by Christ's influence, fishermen James and John had the nickname "sons of thunder"(Mark 3:17). Further, their exposure to all kinds of weather made them resilient and fearless. They were accustomed to bear with patience the most trying circumstances. Toiling for hours without success, they were always ready to try once more (Luke5:5; John 21:3).These traits, and others, made them successful "fishers of men" (Matthew4:19; Mark 1:17) but familiar with failure also.

These were the types of people Jesus chose. Not the beta effeminate cuckolded men we now see in churches. Men have morphed into something not wholly Biblical in our churches. Somewhat Biblical but not wholly biblical. Filled with some grace and love but no spine, strength of character or resoluteness. There is a difference between meek and weak. Meek means you can but in grace choose not to. Weak just means you can’t. Jesus’ disciples were eventually meek. Robust, strong but reserved. Many of today’s churchgoing men are just weak.

The disciple/fisherman’s earthly occupation was a parable of their spiritual calling. It was so with David the shepherd who became "the Shepherd of Israel". Paul the tentmaker was used by God for making people into tabernacles or Holy of Holies (naos / ναός) for the Holy Spirit.

When referring to the fish caught and traded in there are some theological/spiritual things that should be noted. While there are many references to fish in the Bible, no specific kind of fish is distinguished by name not even in Jonah. The ‘whale’ is referred to as ‘great fish’. Fish are under man’s dominion and only classified in reference to their ritual distinctions. Clean fish have fins and scales and unclean fish which lacked them. Israelites could eat fish properly so-called (Leviticus 11:9;Numbers 11:5,22; Job 12:8; Psalm8:8; Ezekiel 38:20). Therefore, the catfish, being without scales, could not be eaten by the Jews (Deuteronomy 14:9,10) for ritualistic reasons not moral ones.

The prohibition against eating fish without fins and scales in ancient Israel is because they are believed to have been for health reasons, as many aquatic creatures without fins or scales are bottom feeders and may have been considered more likely to carry toxins or diseases. Some theories suggest that scales may make fish less susceptible to parasites. Additionally, these laws may have had a symbolic or ritual significance, reinforcing concepts of purity and holiness although not clearly stated.

The Galilean fish were abundant and of great variety. Together with bread they formed the customary or traditional food of the population which is why we so often see Jesus and disciple eating this combination. (Matthew 7:10; Luke11:11). Basically, a high fiber, lower carb, high protein diet (keto).Even the resurrected Lord and His disciples consumed grilled fish (Luke 24:42; John 21:9).

In Exodus the destruction of their fish was a heavy blow to the Egyptians whose rivers, canals and lakes teemed in fish. Many were dependent on the provision on their supply (Exodus 7:18-21; Numbers 11:5; Psalm 105:29; Isaiah 19:5).In ancient times the fish was worshiped as the emblem of increase or fertility. The Philistines (sea people) and Assyrians practiced the worship of Dagon, half-man half-fish. Such idolatry, however, was divinely forbidden (Deuteronomy4:18).

Interestingly, on the walls of the catacombs the early Christians Jesus wasre presented(symbolically) as a fish, because the five letters of this word in Greek provide the initial letters of the five words, "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior” or Ichthys or the uncial/uppercase version "ΙΧΘΥΣ" (Ἰησοῦς Χρῑστός Θεοῦ Υἱός Σωτήρ)

Figurative use of fish also has a place in Scripture. Our Lord likened the kingdom of heaven to a net, cast into the sea, which gathered fish of every kind, good and bad (Matthew13:47). In this Parable of Drawing in the Net, Jesus compares the angels separating the righteous from the wicked at the end of this world to fishers sorting out their catch, keeping the good fish and throwing the bad fish away.

For the actual task of fishing spear hooks and lines were used (Job 41:7;Amos 4:2; Matthew 17:27). While various kinds of nets were employed, the dragnet was the chief instrument for catching fish (Habakkuk 1:15) which is why the disciples were unable to pull the net into the boat in John 21 it was so effective at catching large numbers of fish. In this story the disciples had fished all night but caught nothing. Jesus instructed them to cast the nets on the other side of the boat, and they drew in 153 fish. When they return to shore with their catch, Jesus is waiting for them and has cooked some fish for them to eat. The spreading of nets signified the desolation of Tyre and the use by Syrian fishermen even until today of this ancient site for the spreading and drying of their nets is a striking instance of fulfilled prophecy (Ezekiel26:5, 14).

Fishing is a preferred illustration used for taking souls in the Gospel net, not to be destroyed but to be saved alive like believers. Peter, the fisherman, knew that when he caught fish in the Lake of Galilee that they were alive, but taken out of their natural element they quickly died. But the souls he was to catch were dead in sin, but came into possession of eternal life as soon as they were landed on the shore of salvation (Matthew4:19; Luke 5:5-10).

So, I guess it is fitting that the One who created the sea and all that is in it in Genesis, delivered some of His expansive and powerful messages from a fishing boat. Jesus, the One who uses His own as fishers in an immense sea of humanity. They are men performing a task, which requires all the patience, sturdiness, tenacity and skill provided by the likes of a fisherman.