Perhaps some of our readers have seen a fishing net in the sea. In Bible lands they use them in a somewhat different way than the fishermen on our own shores, in “casting” and “drawing” them. But the lessons of the net are the same.
MENDING Their Nets—Matt. 4:2121And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. (Matthew 4:21). Nets with rents let the fish slip through, so they need to be mended. Seated in their boat on the lake, James and John, the two young fishermen, heard the voice of the Lord Jesus calling them to Him by name, and we read “left the ship and their father, and followed Him.”
WASHING Their Nets—Luke 5:22And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. (Luke 5:2), to make them ready for future service. The Lord used that clean net to bring a big catch of fish to the shore. Nets need to be clean as well as whole to be of use to the Lord, and the lesson would not be forgotten by these converted fishermen. Clean once for all by the blood of Christ, all true believers are, but they are to cleanse themselves from all defilement by using the water of the Word applied to their walk and ways. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word.” Psa. 119:99BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psalm 119:9).
CASTING Their Nets—Matt. 4: 18. Two more of that little group of young men of Bethsaida, Andrew and John, heard the Lord’s voice calling them as they were “casting a net into the sea.” “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men,” He said. They left their nets, and “followed Him.” There was no halting, no waiting until a more convenient day.
FORSAKING Their Nets—Mark 1: 18. When the Lord bade these young fishermen to come after Him, they gave up their work to be followers of a homeless Saviour. The “riches of Christ” are far better than the best the world can give.
DRAWING The Nets—Matt. 13:4848Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. (Matthew 13:48). This is the reward of all the fishermen’s toil. So when the gospel net is drawn to eternity’s shore, it will be joyful to find children, Sunday school scholars, and hearers, young and old, for whom many have toiled and prayed, safe on the heavenly shore, not to die like fish, but to live with Christ and serve Him forever.
ML 10/08/1967