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May 1, 2023
Cast Your Nets
My beloved one, do you need a miracle? Peter was a fisherman by trade and needed a fish miracle. He had fished all night and caught nothing. He needed more fish. If you’re a fisherman, you need to catch fish to make a living. What do you need more of? Does it seem that sometimes no matter how hard you work there doesn’t seem to be enough paycheck at the end of the month to meet the need? Isn’t that what’s happening at times? You and Peter have something in common, you both need a miracle. How frustrating for Peter! He’d fished all night and caught nothing. (Luke 5:1-11) What about you? Where is the point of YOUR need?
Peter was in need, but Jesus was right there and stepped into his situation. Invite Jesus to step into your situation today! He will step into your situation, right where you are, and He will turn it all around working it out for your good and His glory. (Romans 8:28) Peter was mending his nets when Jesus appeared. He was maintaining what wasn’t working for him. Think about it. Those nets had not caught Peter a single fish, and yet he was sitting there putting all his effort into maintaining what wasn’t working. Are you maintaining what isn’t working, putting all your energy and effort out yet things are not getting any better?
Jesus was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the crowd was pushing in on him to better hear the Word of God. He noticed two boats tied up. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets. He climbed into the boat that was Simon’s and asked him to go out a little from the shore. Sitting there, using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the crowd. (Luke 5:1-3) When he finished teaching, Jesus said to Simon, “Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch.” Simon said, “Master, we’ve been fishing hard all night and haven’t caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I’ll let out the nets.”
It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch. (Luke 5:5-7) Jesus told Peter to let down his nets plural – more than one – for a (financial) miracle. Peter only put down the one-singular net. It wasn’t one of the nets Peter had spent all night cleaning. It was apparently one that Peter had not used that night. Probably it was a rotten, useless net that he had not taken care of whether he cleaned it or not. That’s why when the miracle came, the rotten net broke!
Simon Peter had a net-breaking, boat-sinking miracle! When he saw it, he fell to his knees before Jesus in repentance. “Master, leave. I’m a sinner and can’t handle this holiness. Leave me to myself.” When they pulled in that catch of fish, Simon and everyone with him were overwhelmed. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee’s sons, and coworkers with Simon. (Luke 5:8-9) Jesus said to Simon, “There is nothing to fear. From now on you’ll be fishing for men and women.” They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets, and all, and followed him. God has a miracle with your name on it! Whatever you need He will supply! (Philippians 4:6-7, 19)
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