4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” 11 When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him. [Luke 5:4-11, NRSV]
9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. [John 12:9-14, NRSV]
Raphael, The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, 1515
Over a cup of the favourite brew, a question was raised: Why are there two stories of the miraculous catch of fish, one in Luke and the other in John, that sound similar and yet seem so different? In Luke 5, it appears in the midst of the section where Jesus was calling disciples and making apostles. In John 21, however, it is a post-Resurrection appearance portrayed by John in a highly symbolic manner.
- Two similar and yet different versions of miraculous catch
Both stories share a few common features: a miraculous catch of fish after a fruitless night of toil; a breaking yet unbroken net; Peter at the head, accompanied by the sons of Zebedee; a reference to Peter’s penitence and reassurance. And yet, the differences are quite pronounced as well. In Luke, Jesus is in the boat while in John, Jesus directs Peter from the shore. In John, it is an allegory of success of the apostolic mission, while in Luke the emphasis seems to be on attachment to Jesus and a special call to Peter.
By way of time-line, we believe that the episode in John’s Gospel is more accurately placed. That means in the historical context, it was part of the Resurrection appearances. The minor problem for Bible experts is that, as a Resurrection narrative, it is strangely attested in John alone but absent in all the Synoptic Gospels. In the case of Luke, the explanation is not so hard to find. It is accepted that Luke’s theology requires him to place the resurrection appearances in, or near, Jerusalem (not Galilee). But since this episode of the post-resurrection miraculous catch of fish actually took place in Galilee, he is compelled by his theological lens to exercise editorial licence to include it at the front of his gospel, in the context of Jesus calling disciples which was around Galilee. In that case, one may find Luke’s narration of Peter’s stunned reaction and admission of sin in Luke 5:8 as being more explicable as a consequence of his famous triple denial that he was in any way associated with Jesus or even knew him at all.
- But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (5:8). Conviction of sin is not a natural or usual follow-up to a miracle. In Peter’s case, Luke is suggesting that in the presence of the Holy One, one is liable to be stunned and in awe, resulting in falling plumb to the knees and admitting one’s sinful inadequacy.
- C.F. Evans in his major commentary titled “St Luke” of the PTI New Testament Commentaries series opines that “the conviction of sin in the one who is to become the chief apostle is appropriate at the opening of a section where the dominant note is that Jesus calls not the righteous but sinners to repentance (5:32), and Luke has used the story for this purpose”.
- The Lord directs the catch (John 21:1-14)
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has often spoken of finding the true meaning of hope in people living in situations the world would see as hopeless.
- “The poor know the frustration of dreaming and working hard with not much result. They are betrayed by persons and institutions. But in their raw poverty, what is left for them is their humanity. They remind all of us that being human is our true and only wealth.”
Of the Scripture verses that rekindle hope in him, Cardinal Tagle’s prominent go-to passage is John 21:1-14.
- “When I have labored hard and long but still end up not catching anything, I know the risen Lord is close by, watching passionately and calling my attention so that he could direct my action.”
This reflection of Cardinal Tagle has raised our very own spirit and offered us much encouragement in an otherwise bleak horizon in mission and ministry. It is consoling, he says, to realize that mission and ministry are Jesus’ work.
- “My role is to work hard under his direction. The catch will be his, but I must be there with other collaborators to see the miracle, to haul the net to shore, and to declare ‘It is the Lord!’”
It is thus, that the Cardinal finds that “a seemingly hopeless situation becomes a space to return to my humble role and to witness to the true Lord”. He highlights the lesson in John 21:1-14, in which the Lord directs the catch, as a message of hope for the church community as well as for individuals.
- The three conditions of a miracle (Luke 5:1-11)
In his spiritual commentary titled “The Gospel of Luke”, William Barclay suggests that the careful reading of Luke 5:1-14 reveals a list of three conditions for a miracle to work and to be acknowledged.
- First, we need the “eye that sees”. “We need the eye that really sees. Many people saw steam raise the lid of a kettle; only James Watt went on to think of a steam engine. Many people saw an apple fall; only Issac Newton went on to think out the law of gravity. The earth is full of miracles for the eye that sees.”
- Second, we need “the spirit that will make an effort”. Peter and friends were tired out, having worked the whole night and catching nothing. It was frustration on top of exhaustion. But Jesus said it, so Peter, tired as he was, was willing to try again as he was directed by Jesus. “For most people the disaster of life is that they give up just one effort too soon.”
- Third, we need “the spirit which will attempt what seems hopeless.” The best time for the fishermen to be hard at work is at night. For Peter and friends, that time had passed; it would be quite pointless to labor now in the day time. And yet, at the suggestion of Jesus, Peter was willing to try again. He acted in faith. “Too often we wait because the time is not opportune. If we wait for a perfect set of circumstances, we will never begin at all. If we want a miracle, we must take Jesus at his word when he bids us attempt the impossible.”
Copyright © Dr. Jeffrey & Angie Goh, April 2018. All rights reserved.
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