"CAST THE NET!"

John 21:4-8                          (ESV)

"4 Just as day was breaking, JESUS stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was JESUS.

5 JESUS said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered HIM, "No."

6 HE said to them, "CAST THE NET" on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.

7 That disciple whom JESUS loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the LORD!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the LORD, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off."

The disciples, or followers, of JESUS had been in a boat fishing on the Sea of Tiberias all night. Now in the days of JESUS there was no Rods and Reels, luxurious fishing boats, and electronic "fish-finders" to locate the fish that were hopefully caught.  Fishermen of old had to continually "CAST THE NET" into the water in an effort to be rewarded for their labor.  

When JESUS "revealed" HIMSELF to these disciples on this morning (they had been night fishing) they had not had tremendous success in their efforts!  JESUS asked if they had ANY fish, and they responded simply "NO"!  The disciples had followed JESUS and HIS ministry for three years, but still didn't recognize their Savior on the shore.  JESUS instructed the disciples to "CAST THE NET" on the right side of the boat and success would be found!

Now I am no educated fishing guide and do not profess to be, but just changing which side of the boat you "CAST THE NET" from seems a little oversimplified, if you ask me?  The disciples, still not knowing who JESUS was, obeyed HIS Word and their reward was ASTOUNDING!  In John 21:11 scripture indicates there were 153 LARGE fish caught!  There were so many caught that the disciples couldn't pull them into the boat, but had to drag them behind the boat to the shore!  

The disciples didn't use a different method or technique to lure the great reward into their nets!  They simply obeyed the Word of The Master to "CAST THE NET" on the right side of the boat and reaped a MAJESTIC reward!  Sometimes we get so caught up in doing things the way "we've always done them" that we can't hear the Words of The Master instructing us to "CAST THE NET" on the right side of the boat!  My prayer is my Spiritual eyes and ears will be keenly intent on hearing from Heaven and I will hear, if and when, HE instructs to "CAST THE NET"!