Two Boatloads of Fish
His birthplace had a nickname: “House of Fishing.” His father was a fisherman. He was completely familiar with the smell of fish. The sale of fish put food on his family table. He knew about storms. His father told stories. He knew about late nights on dark water and the search for fish. He knew about work. As soon as he was able, he was working the nets with his father. His muscles quickly developed. He learned to read the wind and clouds for weather changes that made fishing better. He quickly learned which weather signs meant stay off the lake. Fisherman knew things like this.
His father was a gifted teacher. He learned the lessons of fishing well. Soon, he was as good at the catch as his father. As he grew, he became even stronger, than his brother and later his father. With his skills grew his pride. His enthusiasm for fishing brought success. His strong will kept him on the water when others stayed ashore. His growing impulsiveness brought catches of fish few others could make. He took chances often. His brash behavior often put him and those who fished with him at risk. Still, his natural leadership made following him easy.
It was easy to say this man was a skillful fisherman. It would also be correct to say the success of this man had made him proud. Not so proud he was difficult to live with. His ego was not so large that he did not make a good friend. There was only one person who really suffered from his pride and ego. Him. His skill and success made him self confident. He was certain he could handle any situation. If his muscle did not solve the problem he reasoned; he could figure out the problem. He seldom asked for help.
Time passes quickly in every life whether it is apparent or not. This “Big Fisherman” as he became known, soon found he had memories of growing up as the son of a fisherman. He remembered catches of fish, storms which came up quickly and unexpectedly. He had memories of close calls. Of arriving at shore safely and of a few other times when there were capsized boats and long periods in the water. He may have told you he took fewer chances after he married. He tried. Still, he had not grown out of his impulsive nature.
There was another aspect to the nature of this “Big Fisherman.” Life on the big lake wasn’t easy. Fisherman had to be realistic about life. He was no exception. It was not easy to deceive him. He expected evidence and proof before he would consider believing anything. You couldn’t exactly call him hardheaded. No-nonsense would be better.
Spending time on the water kept him from idle gossip. Yet he could not help but be intrigued by the stories he heard of the man from Nazareth. He didn’t believe some of the stories. He could not ignore the account of this man driving out a demon. The man was from his home town, a fishing village on the shore of the big lake. He kept his boat in the harbor there.
When his mother-in-law became sick, he found his no nonsense outlook on life greatly challenged. The man had actually come to the “Big Fisherman’s” house. Learning about the mother-in-law’s illness, the man from Nazareth at the request of his family had gone into the room where she lay sick. Moments later the big fisherman was astonished to see his mother-in-law carrying a tray of fish to serve those in the house. He could not refute she had been sick, but he could not believe this carpenter had anything to do with her miraculous recovery. He was just a woodworker from Nazareth. It was one of the most ordinary places he knew.
He was not prepared for what happened. It was another night on the lake. Unlike most nights, this one was different. He had tried every place where fish could usually be found. He had used all of his experience to coax a catch from the lake. This time there was nothing. It did not happen often to the “Big Fisherman.” He was tired and frustrated. His taxes to the Romans were soon due. Usually he did not mind that fisherman never had much money. He needed it now. He knew he would have to wait till the next evening for a chance at the next catch. He was ready to go home for some sleep.
Sleep would not come. Peter tossed and turned. He knew it wasn’t only the empty nets from last night. The words of his wife kept returning. “Peter, you are becoming such a cynic. You doubt everything. Sometimes, it seems you doubt me.” That’s all she said. Her words went deep. Peter was still thinking of them as he tried to sleep.
Unable to sleep Peter rose and went back to the boats on the shore. Then the carpenter showed up. He was teaching the people. People were coming in large numbers to hear the Nazarene. The “Big Fisherman” was surprised when the man came down to the shore and stepped into his boat! He asked him to put the boat out from shore. The voice of the carpenter carried his teaching across the water and onto the shore of the big lake where the large crowd of people listened. Since Peter was still in the boat, he clearly heard every word.
When the carpenter had “healed” his mother-in-law, he greatly doubted it was a miracle. This man was from Nazareth. Nothing good came from Nazareth. Now he could not escape the words of this man who taught from his boat. Peter found himself listening to the man the demons in Capernaum had called, “The son of God.”
But when the “Carpenter” told Him to put the boats out from shore over deep water to fish, Peter’s skepticism came back in an instant. Yet, out of respect for the man, Peter called him “Master.” Then Peter made sure the “Master” knew this was a futile exercise, “We fished all night last night and we caught nothing.” Clearly implied in this answer was the skepticism Peter felt about this idea. Again, out of respect, Peter said, “Ok…if you say so…we’ll fish again.”
The memory of what happened next never dulled for Peter. The rest of his life he could remember details. First, they weren’t in the best spot for fish. Just deeper water out from where the “Master” stood. While he could never explain fully, the moment he and his crew let the nets into the water, they filled with fish. Not a few, as Peter looked, he saw the nets fill so full he could see the seams begin to rip. In his entire experience as a fisherman, he had never seen more fish in the net. He realized something needed to be done quickly. In joy and fear, he shouted for the men of the other boat to come and help.
It was not long before both boats were filled to the gunwales. Long after Peter remembered thinking, “The boats are going to sink!” Never in his entire fishing experience had he seen so many fish. He looked out across the diamonds of sun light sparkling across Lake Galilee. This catch had come during the day. They had let the nets down in a place they never fished. Now there were two boatloads of fish! He was grateful the “Master” had told him to go out to the deep water near shore. This allowed them to get the boats ashore without capsizing. He realized he was in a miracle.
When the boats were safe on shore. Peter looked up. There was Jesus, watching him. The skeptic in Peter evaporated in an instant. He saw Jesus for who he was…Lord of the Universe. With fear in his heart Peter called out, “Jesus, leave me, I am completely unworthy to be in your presence.” The answer Jesus gave him comforted him the rest of his life, “Don’t be afraid!” Peter never forgot that day. Two boatloads of fish were undeniable evidence. Strong willed skeptical Peter believed. Jesus was the Savior of the World.