Are your nets broke?

Luke 5:1-8

   1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

There was a man who had spent a fruitless day fishing. In desperation he picked out three fat fish at the local market. "Before you wrap them," he said to the clerk, "toss them to me, one by one. That way I'll be able to tell my wife I caught them and I'll be speaking the truth."

Fishermen must be all alike. Someone has said that the only thing that casts doubt on the miracles of Jesus is that they were all witnessed by fishermen.

The disciples had been fishing all night and had caught nothing. They were not fishing for a hobby. This was their livelihood and it was serious business. The towns around the Sea of Galilee had names that reflected fishing's importance to their economy and daily life. Tarichaea, one of the villages, meant "the place of salt fish" probably a town where people were employed in packing and exporting fish to Rome. Bethsaida meant "fish town" at least four fishermen who followed Jesus came from this town, and most of the town's men were employed in the fish business. After bringing in the day's catch, fishermen still had to mend and wash their nets, repair and maintain the boats, preserve the fish, and bargain with local merchants to sell or trade the catch. It was a very tiring job. The fishermen had been fishing all night, because the fish come closer to the surface of the water at night. During the day, the sun's rays penetrate the surface of the water, driving the fish into deeper depths. "Cleaning their nets" probably indicated that they were finished with the day's catch, ready to go home.

These fishermen were tired and they were frustrated. They had toiled all night and had nothing to show for it. It's like the salesman who has gone for days without a sale. It's like the lawyer who cannot attract clients. They were discouraged, disheartened.

Jesus' request must have seemed strange to them. Jesus asked them to go back out in their boats into the deeper waters and let down their nets again. This didn't make much sense to them, but notice what happened--THEY OBEYED, and they caught a boat load of fish.


Father God we ask that you would help us to be more obedient and to listen to what You have to say.