Fishers of men
In Matthew 4:19 and Mark 1:17 we have accounts of Jesus telling His disciples to follow Him and He will make them fishers of men.
During the time Jesus spent with His disciples, He taught them techniques and insights for fishing for men. He taught them how to bait and how to watch and wait for when to set the hook. When He was arrested, crucified, and buried, the disciples were fearful, uncertain, and insecure.
They were fishing without a guide in unknown waters.
We see Simon say, “I’m going fishing” in a familiar place (Sea of Galilee.) He was doing something he was familiar with— he knew how to fish. This was something he could do that made him feel like he was in control.
The disciples fished all night and caught nothing. Their energy, expertise, and effort only resulted in empty nets.
Jesus stood on the beach and knew right where they were, what they were doing, and that they had no fish.
When life is disrupted and we are disappointed, He sees, He cares, He has a plan.
“And He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.” John 21:6
There are two things I want to point out about this.
The first thing is that God’s timing is the right timing. It was morning, which was not the normal time for fishing. His time is not the typical time.
The second thing is that God chooses the right place. The right side of the boat was the place appointed.
God has prepared people to be caught.
They cast, He caught. The catch was abundant and full. On the beach, there was a fire with fish already placed on it.
