Bible Thoughts

May 9, 1999

"Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing"(John 21:3).

Jesus Christ had been crucified. He had arisen from the grave and was manifesting himself to those who would testify as to his resurrection. The disciples had not yet fully understood all of the changes that would take place in their lives. They were yet to be taught and guided by the Holy Spirit in fulfilling the work that God had for them. It was appropriate that they would be called "fishers of men"(Matthew 4:19). What great works they would perform for the Master!

While they waited for Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the affairs of this life must be given attention. As several of them were together, Peter said, "I go a fishing." The others said they would "also come with thee." Piloting the boat onto the Sea of Tiberias, they fished all night and caught nothing. As the dawn of another day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore. He asked them if they had anything to eat. When they replied in the negative, Christ instructed them to "cast the net on the right side of the boat." What happened? They filled the net with a "multitude of fishes."

The third appearance of Jesus had now taken place. He had told them what to do to catch fish. They would satisfy their hunger and witness the power of Jesus Christ. Following the instructions of Christ enabled them to have what they could not find for themselves.

Taking care of the affairs of this life is part of the responsibility of the Christian. These disciples were fishermen. They depended upon food from the fish, as well as a means of bargaining for the other material items they needed for their physical welfare. It was a logical step for them to go about their regular schedule in order to live. There is certainly nothing wrong, in itself, in what they did. The Lord even blessed them by filling their nets with fish.

The disciples needed help from the Lord in order to catch the fish. All disciples, in every age, need the Lord and His word in order to survive. The greater the trust and the more dedicated(they had fished "all night") to the task, the greater likelihood for success. In truth, when one applies such spiritually, there is always success in God's sight. Christians are without hope when we do not permit the Lord to help us through life.

The disciples followed precisely the instructions of Christ. When they complied with what Jesus told them, they caught fish. One could imagine what would have occurred if Peter had challenged what Jesus said. "I don't believe that will work," Peter could have answered. Or, "the other side is far more attractive and appealing; I believe there are more fish on the other side" might have been said. The disciples did not try to reason away the words of Jesus Christ. They accepted, by faith, the instructions of the Lord and reaped the results.

The disciples were blessed because of the confidence they had in Jesus Christ. Not resorting to a lot of human reasoning, they complied. Their trust in the risen Son of God led them not only to comply with what he said about catching fish, but they would spend their lives in fishing for men. Using the gospel of Christ, they would fervently speak the words of truth to that generation. Their confidence in the promises of Christ would lead them to give their lives for this one who said "cast the net on the right side." Where are you casting your nets?

Out of the past...Ben was spending the night at Leander's house one time. They ate breakfast the next morning. Leander said, "Now Ben, that's the last of food I got in the house--not enough for dinner--let's go fishing." Ben said, "No, Leander, lets get out here in the neighborhood and see if we can't get a job to buy some groceries for Mattie and the children." Leander said, "There's not a job to be found--I've just combed the neighborhood. There isn't any work. If there was, I'd be doing it. Lets go fishing." Well, reluctantly he went fishing with Leander and they had a little cut-down model T or something like that--they'd made a truck out of it. They went to fishing--Leander went to catching big blue bream and Ben said he paddled the boat for him--he couldn't enjoy that fishing--said he could just see his sister Mattie at home--Leander's wife and children with nothing to eat. About the middle of the afternoon Leander said, "Well, let's go--we got a bunch of fish." He said they had a crocker sack full and there was no law against the limit and the size. They stopped downtown in Trenton. Leander had his poles on the truck and they knew he had been fishing--so they come over to see what he had caught--there was that crocker sack of fish. Some of em wanted the best and they'd buy em. Some traded him groceries, some sweet potatoes, and other things for fish. And he stood right there and sold and traded off all of the fish except what he wanted to take home. So they took em home, dressed them, Mattie fried em for them--she fried up a nice bunch and he said they were hungry. Leander said, "Now, Ben, you see it don't do a bit of good to sit down and worry. The Lord will provide for you. See, there was no work for us to do and we went fishing. See, here we've got fish for supper, some left over for tomorrow(--told how many dollars he had in his pocket and how much groceries along with it--)not a lot of use to worry." Ben said he couldn't say anything. Nice to be that way, isn't it? Leander was a fisherman.

Note: This is an example of a man who learned to use what he had(in reasoning and skills) to provide for the needs of his family. He did not worry about his next meal, as his brother-in-law did, because he knew he could do something to provide for himself and his family. What he had he used. Most Christians have much more going for them than they realize. (Material from proposed book Preaching in Tents, an account of the preaching experiences of Byron Conley. As nearly as possible, these are the words of brother Conley as related to me during discussions with him before he died.)

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