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Unfairness, Gossip, Rubber Chickens & Fishing Nets - Biblebob Goes To Middle School Ep. #121
Unfairness happens, but when Jesus tells fishermen how to fish, the unfairness of fishing all night for nothing turns into one of the greatest fish stories of all time.
Bob Kuebler
9/17/20263 min read
A Rubber-Chicken Fisherman
Unfairness, Brokenness & Empty Nets
Luke 5:4-10 NKJV
“When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.””
John 21:3-14 NKJV
““Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.”
The disciples went fishing and did all the right things but still came up empty.
Key points:
1. They made adjustments - they didn’t try and lift the nets into the boat, they brought them to shore. That’s practical and real life physical adjustment, but just because it’s physical, don’t miss the spiritual implications. God parallels the physical and spiritual to give us greater depth of understanding.
2. Peter went from being a fisher of men to become a feeder of sheep.
3. In the beginning the disciples couldn’t handle what Jesus gave them. They were too immature and inexperienced. After spending three years with Jesus and seeing all that He said come true - including His death and resurrection, they now had the faith, trust and belief to accept the fullness of Christ.
The fish could represent the harvest of people brought into God’s kingdom. The net breaking could represent the disciples not being ready for all of God’s power to be given to them.
The broken nets and sinking boats could represent the disciples efforts before they fully knew Jesus. The unbroken net is the disciples fully accepting Jesus. Where are you today? Are you a broken net or a fixed net? Have you been broken enough to accept the fullness of Christ?
Develop a hunger and thirst for spiritual maturity. Things come faster when you focus on them.
People may tell you to study more, try harder, run faster jump higher and do better - those are things you can do in the flesh. Depending completely on your own efforts will cause your net to break sooner or later. If you trust in the Lord with all your heart, God will show you how to use a net that won’t break.
What makes up a net that won’t break?
A. Open your heart
to God.
B. Humility
C. “My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalms 73:26 AMP
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