The Fish Net

By Ron Thomas

     When Jesus began His ministry, He begun with a fish story (of sorts). Not really a fish story, but an occasion where experienced fisherman worked all night and was preparing to return, having caught nothing. Jesus sees the men returning and they were somewhat downcast as a result of an empty night. The Lord then told them to take their nets and cast them over the side for a catch; somewhat doubtful, they do. Amazed at the catch, Peter presents himself to the Lord humbly (Luke 5:8). This, as far as Luke presents, is the beginning of Jesus’ mission to the Israelite nation.
    When John finishes his gospel, we are again at the lake and, again, Jesus tells the fisherman to cast their nets over the side for a catch. They do so and the catch is great (John 21:1-8). At the beginning of the Lord’s mission He taught His disciples how to catch men; the net used was going to be two parts. First, it would be the message of the Lord taught and, second, it would the message of the Lord lived. Some, unfortunately, are better able to teach than live. In such cases, the net has “sprung a leak”! Let us be sure to patch nets in order that we can teach and live the gospel.

- Ron Thomas preacher for the Sunrush Church of Christ, Chillicothe, OH. He may be contacted through the congregation's website. http://sunrushchurchofchrist.com/