In Genesis 1:21 on the 5th day God created fish and on the 6th day (1:28) He created Man and gave man dominion over them. But it would appear that until after the flood man did not eat flesh. Genesis 9:2-4 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
Since then fish have played an important part both for food and of the economy. As the Lord Jesus began his earthly ministry the first two of his disciples (later called Apostles) were fishermen.
Matthew 4:18-19, Mark 1:16-17 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
In Luke 5:2-10 The Lord used fishing to show His disciples His power and what He was calling them to do: Look again at Luke 5:4-6 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
In his teachings he often used fish as an example. Matthew 7:9-10, Luke 11:11 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Twice He used fish in a miracle feeding a great multitude:
Matthew 14:17-19, Mark 6:38, Mark 6:41, Mark 6:43, Luke 9:13, Luke 9:16, John 6:9-11 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
Matthew 15:34, Matthew 15:36, Mark 8:7 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
And instructing Peter to obey those in authority he used a fish:
Matthew 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
After the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus and even though He had presented Himself to the Apostles, they seemed confused, not knowing what to do. They turned to what they had done all their lives, Fish.
John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
But the Lord was not done with them, He had a few more things to teach them.
John 21:6-13 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. … Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
Luke 24:42-43 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.
Why did Luke record this? This took place after the Resurrection, the Lord had His new glorified body, the body he now resides in heaven with. Yet he ate fish and honeycomb. John did not say the Lord ate with them but recorded:
John 21:15 So when they had dined, …
Luke recorded another event where it appears the Lord ate: (The two disciples on the road to Emmaus) Luke 24:29-30 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
Later, Peter witnessing to Cornelius Acts 10:40-41 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
It would appear that WE will be eating when we get our new bodies. 1 Corintians 15:50-54.
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