An Extraordinary Fish Story

Mark 8:11-12

The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.”

Pastor Ron Musch
Lighthouse Regional Church (Concord)

Years ago I was in Greece renovating a ship that would take relief supplies to the poor. We ran out of money for repairs and fuel, and our food provisions were low. In the middle of our need a major earthquake struck. We rushed to land to offer blankets and to help sort through the rubble. Shortly afterwards the harbor master ordered us off the ship due to safety reasons. We moved to a heavily damaged and empty beachfront hotel in Kinetta, Greece. For months we fasted and prayed for a miracle of provision and for the nations.

In November of 1981 it happened. We were gathered for morning prayer when someone shouted that fish were jumping onto the beach. Everyone ran to see thousands of fish leaping out of the sea. The captain tossed one of them back. That fish instantly turned and jumped back onto the rocky shore just in front of our hotel! We counted them all and there were 8,301—over one ton. We hurried into several towns to buy all their salt, asking if anything like this had ever happened before. It never had. Word was spreading that “this is a sign… God is among these people.” It was a miracle for us and a sign to them. Afterwards over 3,000 people knelt on the streets to give their lives to Jesus.

Like the disciples in Acts 4, I ask God to display His wonders so people would meet Jesus. You see, Jesus was grieved not because the Pharisees were seeking for a sign; it was why they were asking for a sign. They wanted to use the sign to further argue with Jesus. Like our miracle of the fish, God longs to display His wonders which will provide for our needs and result in hearts turning to Jesus.

Lord, give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message, as you stretch out your hand to us in healings, miracles and wonders done in the name of your holy servant Jesus.