THE RIGHT SIDE

In the Gospels we find the story of the disciples of Jesus going fishing on the Sea of Tiberias. This was after Jesus had been crucified. Peter said to the other disciples who were with him, “I am going fishing.” “There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee (James and John), and two others of His disciples were together.” That makes seven fishermen. “They fished all night and caught nothing.” They were experienced fishermen.

Just as vanity and pride can so quickly enter the heart so can failure and despair. The fishermen saw a figure near the shore as they were coming in and did not recognize it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They said, “No.” Most fishermen might talk about the ‘one that got away’ or some such thing, but they simply said, “No, we got skunked.”

Jesus said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They did as Jesus said and brought in so many fish their boat could not hold them all.

Much failure and despair is because we have not chosen ‘the right side’ of an issue. When we chose correctly and obey in faith, it may mean, as it did for the disciples, “And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats.” 

“Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Jesus