For two thousand years, Christian theologians have been telling their congregations about the miracles Jesus performed to strengthen people’s faith. It turns out that some of these events may have a completely understandable scientific explanation that is being tested. The four evangelists whose works form the New Testament describe the miracles performed by Jesus Christ before and after his crucifixion. Only one of these (the feeding of the five thousand) is mentioned in all the canonical Gospels.
In the first three (synoptic) Gospels, Christian tradition highlights 11 miracles. There are seven more in the Gospel of John, three of which intersect with events described by the evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Only one of the four Gospels describes miracles.
One miracle was repeated by two evangelists, but according to them it occurred at different periods of Christ’s life. This is the so-called big catch. According to the Gospel of Luke, Christ taught the people near Lake Gennisaret (Lake Tiberias or Sea of Galilee).
After the sermon, he offered Simon to fish with nets, but he refused, citing his fishing experience and the fact that they had not caught a single fish the day before. Upon repeated request, the fishermen nevertheless cast their nets and “caught many fish, even their nets were broken.” The landing was so great that two boats began to sink under its weight. This is how the first apostles Simon (Peter) and Andrew were called.
The Gospel of John describes a similar event on the same Sea of Galilee but at a different time after the crucifixion. Seven disciples of Jesus tried to catch fish but failed. In the morning, the resurrected Christ asks for a fish they do not recognize, and upon hearing the refusal, offers to cast the net again. He even advises that it is better to do this on the right side of the boat.
The catch exceeded all expectations, the fishermen could not get them all out of the water. The disciples realized who was advising them and rejoiced at the resurrection. According to John, this is the third appearance of Christ to his disciples.
A group of Israeli scientists who have been monitoring changes in the Sea of Galilee ecosystem for a long time presented their explanations of the episodes that attracted great attention. An article containing the results of their research was published in the journal Water Resources Research.
The Sea of Galilee is the world’s lowest freshwater lake, with a coastline averaging 213 meters below sea level. The maximum depth is approximately 45 meters and the approximate area is 165 square kilometers. Both depth and area vary greatly throughout the year depending on precipitation and water consumption.
The authors of the new study analyzed changes in the conditions in which fish were found in this lake. They lowered temperature sensors and devices that measure oxygen levels at different depths, taking into account wind speed and direction. Additionally, scientists summarized residents’ oral stories about fish kills and compared them to similar events described in scientific studies.
Particular attention was paid to events taking place far from Israel, in Lake Erie (USA-Canada) and at the mouth of the Neuse River (North Carolina, USA). In both cases, it was possible to establish the cause of death of the fish, acute oxygen deficiency in the water. Researchers found that the Sea of Galilee is naturally layered: with a cold lower level with low oxygen content and an upper, warmer, oxygen-rich layer where fish live.
Sometimes water from two levels merge, creating too little oxygen for fish to survive at any level of the lake. They die and come to the surface. This doesn’t happen every year. One of the study’s authors has been observing the lake for 34 years, and during that time a relatively large slave death has only been observed twice. The researchers simulated conditions under which the event was possible.
An early spring is required, when benthic plants near the coast bloom profusely. Fish come with this bait. At the same time, if nothing happens in the atmosphere above the lake, local residents hunt as usual. However, during this period, sometimes strong winds rise in the lake and bring water with low oxygen content to the surface. At that moment, the fish eating near the shore does not have time to swim anywhere and dies.
Scientists stated that the fish died almost instantly. For a person on a fishing boat, it is an undeniable miracle that it looks like a huge door slowly rising from the depths to the surface.
Source: Port Altele
