After Jesus taught the people in the towns, many were eager to hear more, and followed Him as He walked to other places. One day they came along the shore of the lake and there were two fishing boats not being used, as the men were washing their nets.
Jesus stepped into one boat, which belonged to Simon Peter and asked him to push it a little way into the water, and He taught the people from there, so all could hear. It is not told here what He then said, but of a great miracle afterward. He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”
A draught meant what we might call a “haul”, or a “catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net.”
A True Miracle
The net was let down. Then those men who had worked all night and caught no fish, had a very great surprise; so many fish came into the net that it broke, and they called for the other men to come with their boat to help, and they filled both boats with fish. The boats began to sink with the weight, but they brought them to the land.
Some have thought that because it is a lake of many fish that the net happened to take in what is called a “school” of fish. But Simon who knew the waters well, knew it was a miracle. He knew that the fish had come by the word of the Lord, the same as by His word He had cured disease and done other wonders. The other men, who also were fishermen, knew it was a miracle, and were greatly astonished.
The net was not strong enough to hold, but the supply of God was most abundant; if Simon had better followed Jesus’ words, “Let down your nets” instead of only one net, perhaps no net would have broken; at least the Lord did not fail His part in giving.
Simon at once realized that the One who could bring those fish into the net was far greater than a teacher, or “Master,” as he called Him; he knew He was the Lord from Heaven.
The Effect on Simon Peter
Do you know what Simon then thought about? His sins. He may not have been what we might call a great sinner, but he at once felt that he was not fit to be near this mighty Holy One. He fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
He knew he deserved that the Lord should go from him, yet he wanted to be near, and seemed to feel that He would show him mercy. And notice the kind answer of Jesus, “Fear not.”
Then Jesus told him, “From henceforth thou shalt catch men.” We know Jesus meant by that for Simon to tell others of Him.
We will feel as Simon Peter did about our sins, when we realize in our hearts that the Lord Jesus is the Mighty Holy One, whose word has such power. We must confess Him as our Lord, as Simon did, to know His answer, “Fear not.”
Further Meditation
1. Why did the one net the disciples used break?
2. All of us have been “half-obedient” at one time or another. We have grudgingly done part of what we were told to do. What were the results? What other people in the Bible “half-followed” the Lord? What does the Lord tell us happened with them?
3. When thinking about this chapter you may find Following Christ by A. Barry to be a great encouragement to wholly follow the Lord.