What is obedience and how would you paint it?  Images below water when viewed from above become distorted.  And, as this painting depicts, images above water when viewed from below are distorted.  In this scene, the viewer is below the water surface – much below it.  The fish are the only objects underwater as well and they are clear and not distorted.  Above the water surface is most of the boat, the bright sky and an object so distorted that it can’t be made out.  That object is obedience!

John chapter 21 describes a moment when a small group of Jesus’ disciples are fishing all night, but caught nothing.  These were experienced fisherman – fisherman by trade.  They had done everything fishing wisdom says to do, so logic says there is no catch to be had.  The disciples didn’t recognize Jesus’ voice calling from the shore even though they had lived alongside Jesus for 3 years.  Who was this stranger telling them what to do – correcting the experts on a fishing vessel from the shore?

At least 4 of the men in this boat were present in Luke chapter 5 when a miraculous catch of fish defied the rational physical fishing explanation.  I believe these men obeyed immediately and fully this time casting their net as instructed – obedience.  Yes, that distorted object at the center of the painting and specifically on the right side of the boat is the fishing net thrown in obedience.

There were so many fish, that the men struggled to bring it in and there aren’t even 30 painted here, so it is as if the viewer is inside the school of fish with most of group behind or below.  Perhaps it’s viewed from even the perspective of a fish itself!

What is evident is that these fish were already placed in alignment with God’s word and direction before the net was cast.  The men still had to make the decision to obey to cast their net – they had to listen, and immediately take action to be in obedience.  If the net was cast to the left side of the boat, no fish would have been caught.  If the fishermen grumbled and delayed, they wouldn’t have caught any fish.  Delayed obedience is disobedience.

The distortion of water even though it is clear divides one side from the other with no middle ground.  Above cannot be below, left cannot be right, wrong cannot be correct.