When you think of fish, you always associate them with the water that they live in. There are freshwater and saltwater fish all over the world. There is only one fish that is known all over the world that does not live in water and that is the little fish symbol that is used to represent the Christians that believe that Jesus Christ was and still is the son of the almighty God. It is an interesting story about how this fish symbol came to be recognized all around the globe.

During the time of Jesus Christ, over two thousand years ago, Jesus was said to have performed at least two miracles concerning fish. One miracle was when he was said to have fed thousands on five loaves of bread and two fish. It might seem like an incredible story, but for those who lived during that time it was not really a surprise to see Jesus perform such a miracle as they had seen him perform many before and after.

The second miracle involving a fish was when Jesus and his disciples had to pay some taxes and Jesus supposedly sent Peter to the water where he cast his hook into the sea, caught a fish, and in the mouth of the fish was a con that was used to pay their tribute in the town of Capernaum. It would be nice if we all could come up with our taxes this way.

After the death of Christ, it was very difficult in many instances to be known as a Christian and this is where the symbol of the fish came into play. Christians wanted to be able to identify each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, but at certain times and in certain places it could mean death to be identified as one. This is when a secret symbol was used to know someone was a fellow Christian without ever saying a word.

When one Christian would meet someone, he would draw a half arc in the sand with his foot and if the person he was speaking to made a connecting half arc, it would make the symbol of a fish. This is how they could know that it was safe to speak of Christian things without risking being identified.

Today Christians in most countries can openly display their fish symbol in many ways. You might see fish jewelry, vehicle bumper stickers, or many other items. Christians have other symbols they use such as the cross, but the fish is still recognized and revered as an outward showing that they believe in Christ.