More than a Miracle

The story of Jesus, Simon Peter, and the great catch of fish is a story with multiple layers of meaning- as all the best stories are. It is the story of Jesus calling Simon, James and John. It is the story of a miraculous catch of fish. And it is a story with political implications.

Once while Jesus was standing beside the Lake of Gennesaret and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to burst. So they signaled their partners in the other boats to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’s knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were astounded at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who are partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him. Luke 5:1-11 NRSV

Stories and texts have layers of meaning. Some of which we immediately observe and some that take time to notice. Sometimes context that was obvious to the original hearers is not obvious to us. You may have mostly thought about this text as being about the calling of the first disciples. We read this as a text that encourages, requires us even, to evangelize. How often have you been charged to be fishing for people? While that’s not wrong, there’s more going on in this story.

I have always sympathized with Simon in this story. As someone who spent plenty of years working overnight, I know exactly how tired one is by daybreak. I know how one cleans up their workspace to be ready for the next night’s work. And I know how frustrating it is when someone, someone who slept all night the night before, comes along with a cheerful morning request. “Just put out a little bit from the shore so I can speak to the crowd”. Jesus, not too long before had healed Simon’s mother in law (Luke 4:38-30) so perhaps Simon felt he owed Jesus this request.

But then, Jesus asks him to do more. Go to the deep water and put out your nets. I can only imagine there was some eye rolling by Simon. The professionals had been out all night. There are no fish around. Jesus may be an important teacher, but he’s no fisherman. Going out into the deep water and letting down the nets, was not a simple task. These boats were good sized, 27 feet long, 7.5 feet wide.¹ It took a crew of 4-5 people to work the boat and the nets. The whole crew would have been needed to let down the nets. It’s not just Simon who is missing out on sleep, it’s the rest of the crew also. It’s not easy to get enough sleep when you work nights.

Nevertheless, they go out. And they catch fish. A lot of fish, more than a good night’s catch. This is more than a good day of sales at the fish market amount. Try to visualize how many fish are needed to “burst” these big nets. How many fish are needed to fill and sink two boats? Things are getting scary and dangerous now. No wonder Peter is frightened. This is, in fact, frightening.

Usually Jesus’ miracles are not frightening. They can be dramatic. They can be astounding. But typically people are not afraid. In awe, yes. Amazed, yes. But Simon Peter is afraid. So afraid he asks Jesus to go away. This is not like Jesus’ other miracles. Could something else be going on?

The fishing industry in Jesus’ time was not an independent free market. Fish were a valuable and important commodity. Because it was important, the Roman Empire controlled the industry. Rome managed, and taxed and controlled the business of fishing. Herod, the king, controlled who could fish where. Rome claimed ownership of the lake and the lake’s contents. There were taxes on the product and tolls on transportation. As with other goods, the few elites had the best access to the best fish.²

I wonder if this miracle is also a direct counterclaim to the Roman Empire? Rome claims ownership of the fish. Jesus says otherwise. He is in charge of the fish, in a powerful way that Rome cannot match. Rome regulates and controls those who fish. Jesus gives them access to fish without charge. Throughout the gospels, and in the early church, to say Jesus is Lord is to assert that Caesar’s claim of Lordship is false. Jesus actively and directly counters the Empire’s claim of dominion and domination. No wonder Peter is scared! No wonder he tells Jesus to go away! ³

Jesus tells them to not be afraid and that they will be catching people. Why? Why does Jesus want to catch people? Is it what he taught in the Synagogue in Nazareth?

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Jesus has some more to say after this. And all of it gets him run out of town.⁴

Why are Simon Peter, and James and John called to catch people? Are they pulling people out of the sea of despair? Out of the sea of oppression? Out of a sea of scarcity and fear?

In Jesus’ time and throughout the centuries, following Jesus has often been a risky business. Jesus proclamation of the good news upsets the powerful. It upsets the comfortable. It can be scary work.

How do we respond when Jesus says to us, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”?

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee_Boat ↩︎
2. You can read some about first century fishing, here and here ↩︎
3. By the way, the only other place in Luke’s gospel where people ask Jesus to leave after a miracle is in Luke 8:26-37 when Jesus sends the legion of demons into a herd of swine³. This story also has political overtones. The tenth Roman legion had swine as their mascot. This story may be both about a miracle and political commentary about who is actually in control.The Lectionary will cover this story in June. ↩︎
4. Luke 4:14-30 ↩︎