Cast Your Net

They had been fishing all night, but to no avail. While at sea they remembered the many lessons that Jesus
taught them and the amazing events that took place during Jesus’ ministry. Now their Lord was gone and the uncertainty of their own future filled them with sadness.
In the early hours of the morning the disciples hear a stranger on the shore saying, “Children, have ye any meat?” They hopelessly replied, “No.” “He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes” (John 21:5,6). To the disciples’ surprise, the net became so full of fishes that they were unable to pull it up. The net was full of 153 large fishes and yet the net did not break.
Seeing this miracle, they recognized the voice from ashore as the voice of their loving Master, Jesus. They were filled with happiness and joy. There is a wonderful lesson in this story. The disciples frustratingly toiled all night, but were unable to catch any fish. However, with the help from Christ, they were able to catch an abundant supply of fish in an instant.
Jesus told them to cast their net on the right side. The right side was more shallow and near the shore—an unlikely side to catch any fish. However, Jesus was standing on the shore and the right side became the side of faith. When the disciples labored with Christ, and His divine power mixed with their human effort, success was guaranteed. Often we frustratingly toil with problems and cares in our life. By our own efforts we try to sort out all our worries and forget that Jesus Christ is standing close by and eagerly waiting to help. Jesus says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7). When we desire to do God’s will, God will bless our efforts. We can trust our lives in His hands and find blessing and strength.
Ly Lan Nguyen