In John 21, the Bible tells the beautiful story of seven disciples, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, in a boat, fishing all night. A man (Jesus, but they didn’t know that yet) calls to them from the shore and asks if they have caught anything. When the disciples replied that all the efforts of that night had brought them nothing, the man tells them to try casting their net on the right side of the boat. They do, and their net is immediately strained with 153 large fish! At this point, they realize that it is Jesus who was calling to them. So, while six of the disciples wrestle the bulging net back to shore, Peter grabs his coat and jumps in the water to make his way to Jesus. Then, Jesus cooks them breakfast on the beach.
This event illustrates some wondrous truths about Jesus– his love for his disciples, his humanness even in his resurrected body, and his power over creation. But, for these fishermen in the boat, this moment must have also recalled previous fishing trips where Jesus made an appearance. For example, in Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 1:16-20, Jesus calls first Peter and Andrew (who are casting their nets), and then James and John (who are mending their nets) to follow him. He promises that they will become “fishers of men”. Then, Luke 5:4-11 tells of another time they were fishing at night, and Jesus was with them. They again caught nothing all night long. Finally, Jesus told them to let down their nets into the deep and they caught so many fish that the nets broke, two boats were filled, and the boats even began to sink. Again, Jesus reiterates that from now on they are going to “catch men”.
Therefore, by miraculously filling their nets, Jesus reinforces the metaphor that he first introduced when he called the four “fishermen” to follow him and “fish for men” –a wonderful metaphor for all of us involved in the endeavor of going into all the world with the gospel. For Christian ministry you need skilled, willing servants (the disciples were skilled fishermen), proper tools and equipment to share the Gospel (the net), support to get you to your site (the boat), and Jesus, to direct, re-direct, and ultimately supply the eternal results (fish).
As in this Biblical example, there is much hard work involved in ministry (Peter was working so hard that he had removed his coat). There is perseverance through long nights of “catching nothing”. Oh, how many full time Christian missionaries and ministers have spent the majority of their adult working lives toiling and casting in a sea that seems to be devoid of fish! But then, there are the miraculous moments when Jesus comes and fills the net to the breaking point. I am struck as I read this passage that Jesus just says, “Oh, you’ve caught nothing? Then, put your net on the right side.” These men had been fishing all night with no catch. I am sure that they had already tried all sides of the boat. Nevertheless, when they obeyed the Lord, the seemingly empty sea suddenly yielded a great haul of fish. But, these fish were there all the time. They probably spent the first part of the night avoiding the net. Then maybe they came closer, they were curious. Finally, when Jesus called them to jump into the net, there they were. (How is that for a beautiful picture of the ministry of the Gospel?)
This blog is a place where I hope to share with you ministry insights that I have learned in over 30 years of “casting my net”– some successes, and some failures. It is where I hope you will also share with me your insights. And, ultimately, when Jesus calls us back to the shore, whether you immediately jump out of the boat and rush to Him, or you labor along hauling the fish, I look forward to seeing you at breakfast.