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| Artist: Augustin Tünger, 1486 |
Of all of Jesus’s miracles, none is quite as unusual as the one found at the end of Matthew chapter 17. It is both fantastic and practical: Peter finds himself needing funds to pay taxes, and Jesus instructs him to go to the sea, cast in a line, and bring out a fish. Jesus prophesies that this fish will have money in its mouth equal to the amount needed. Peter then follows Jesus’s instructions and finds everything to be as the Savior foretold.
Nothing left to chance
This unusual miracle gets little attention, but there are many important lessons that can be drawn from it. The most obvious of these is that nothing is left to chance. Just think of all of the variables involved in the scenario: Peter could have visited any number of fishing spots at which any number of other fish could have bitten, but he caught the one fish that happened to have money in its mouth. And it was just the right amount of money to pay what he owed! Clearly, all of the variables were in God’s hands, and the outcome was pre-determined. If God could provide means for Peter in such an improbable way, what miracles could He perform in your life?
The symbolic meaning
As one looks deeper into the symbolism of the story of Peter and the fish, another lesson emerges. In this interpretation, water symbolizes emotion, creativity, and thought (the invisible world inside of us). To illustrate this concept, think of standing on the beach. Within a few feet of the surface, the water becomes opaque. We know that the water is full of animal life, but it can’t be seen. We only become aware of it when a fish leaps from the water or when we reel something in on a line. In the same way, our eyes only perceive the physical world (represented by the land), and we only become aware of the thoughts and emotions of others when they are physically manifested. In addition, we are often unaware of our own deeper thoughts and feelings.
So, if the sea represents the mind, what does the fish represent? Think of what comes forth from our thoughts: inspiration, revelation, and creative impulses. These things swim around deep in our subconscious mind until they finally bite on our line, and we draw them out.
If the fish represents insight or creativity, it makes sense that it would have money in its mouth. Usually, God provides for us by giving us the creative genius we need to earn an income. In a time of financial need, the Lord can give us the ingenuity or inspiration to generate additional funds. In a sense, He sends us a fish with money in its mouth.
Extending the metaphor
The concept of a fish representing inspiration can be extended to several other New Testament events. For example, think of the story where Peter and his associates fish all night but come up empty-handed. Afterward, Jesus told Peter to cast his net on the other side of the boat, and, when Peter complied, he drew up an enormous catch. Sometimes we, like Peter, search our minds for insights, and find nothing. Then Jesus tells us to cast our net on the other side. He might say something like this, “Instead of focusing on the problems at work, take some time to think about ministering to others.” When we turn our thoughts in this direction, suddenly we are filled with new ideas and inspiration.
The same concept can be applied to Jesus’ miracle of multiplying the loaves and fishes. We might feel called to take on a big project but haven’t figured out the details yet; we only have a few small fishes that aren’t sufficient to feed the proverbial multitude. Then Jesus prompts us to go ahead with the project any way, and as we do, our creativity is multiplied. All of the unknown details suddenly fall into place.
Finally, think of the time when Jesus walked across a stormy sea to meet His disciples in their boat. If water represents emotion, then this event teaches us that Jesus had gained ascendency over His own emotions. He was not limited by fear, and He did not let His feelings cloud His judgement. Peter, on the other hand, sank in the sea because he had not yet learned to master his emotions.
Given these examples of the water/fish motif in the New Testament, it is not surprising that a fish is often used as a symbol for Jesus. He is the source of all enlightenment, whether we realize it or not. In His own words: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy...” (Doctrine and Covenants 11:13)
