Ichthus - the Sign of the Fish.

How many accounts of Jesus’ ministry have the backdrop of the Sea of Galilee?  

An inland sea so vital to the lives and livelihoods of many people throughout the ages.  Although Jesus was raised in a village roughly 18 miles from the Sea of Galilee and in a household where work was with hands and tools and not nets, it was to this Sea that he went to gather together the men, including fisherman, who would be his close companions for his years of ministry.

The New Testament has very familiar stories from this setting with fish playing the supporting role in many of them:-

Peter’s disbelief at Jesus’ instruction to let down their nets at a time a day when fish were not caught, only to have a bumper catch.   Followed by his anguish and Jesus’ words to him ‘Do not be afraid from now on you will fish for people. Luke Chapter 5 vs 1-11.

The miracle of the loaves and fishes where some small fish played their part in feeding a multitude of people, gathered to hear Jesus teach. Matthew Chapter15, Mark Chapter 8, John Chapter 6.

The final of appearance of Jesus to the disciples recorded by John in Chapter 21 when Jesus echoing actions and words from his calling of the disciples helped them to a bumper catch of fish as he prepared them to carry on his work of teaching and healing.

As we have moved into the period of the church’s year following Pentecost and Trinity many of the scripture readings at our services are from the Acts of the Apostles or St Paul’s letters to various cities where the Good News of Jesus was being spread - firstly by the twelve (disciples) and then cascaded by those they converted to ever more and more people.   It is in Acts Chapter 11 vs 26 that we learn that the disciples were first called Christian.

But with spread of Christianity came persecution, arrests and executions.  Fear drove many Christians to worship in secret and it is believed that they started to use the Sign of the Fish as a means of identifying fellow believers.  When meeting a person for the first time, one would scratch half the image on a wall, a rock or in the dirt and if the other person understood what it was, they would complete the symbol. 

Why is it called an Ichthus? It is the old Greek word for fish and each of its letters has been given a meaning.

In Greek the word is ΙΧΘΥΣ.     Ιησους (Jesus)  Χριστος (Christ) Θεος (God) Υιος (Son) Σωτηρ (Saviour).

Sadly, today persecution on the grounds of faith is still present in our world, often linked to prejudice against culture and ethnicity or driven by fear from other established religions.  Followers of Christianity and followers of minority faiths are especially targeted in the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and parts of Africa.  As in the early days of Christianity, many must follow their faith in secret and open worship comes with the fear of betrayal, violence and often murder.  As more and more people globally are expressing their support for tolerance and voicing their opposition to any form of prejudice please include in your prayers all who are victims of religious intolerance.

Prayer.

O God, you created all people in your image.

We thank you for the astonishing variety of races, faiths and cultures in this world.

Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of friendship, and show us your presence

in those who differ most from us, until our knowledge of your love is made perfect

in our love for all your children; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

And a post script:

Would the sign of the fish still work today when meeting someone for the first time?  Oddly enough it can.

A couple of years ago on holiday in North Devon I was walking along a cliff path and a young couple stopped to say hello and for a chat. To my astonishment the young woman suddenly asked me if I was Christian. I said ‘yes’ and ‘how did you know’.  It was because I was wearing my Ιχθυς earrings.