By: Robert Serreyn
Question? I am pretty sure that there is some significance between the words that Jesus said “Let down your Nets”, and Simon saying “I’ll let down the Net” mentioned in Luke 5:4-6, But I just can’t put my finger on it, any help that you could offer would be appreciated?
Luke 5:4-6 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. (5) And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. (6) And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
Answer: Yes, actually there is.
TAKE NOTE that Jesus told Simon WHO as we know him in the New Testament as the Apostle Peter (Matthew 4:18, 10:2, John 21:2, Acts 10:18) to let down his NETS not just a net.
The significance here I believe is this… Jesus was testing Peter.
Jesus said… let down your nets. PLURAL
Peter begrudgingly stated… nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. SINGULAR
And consequently in Verse 6 THE NET BROKE..
I believe the object lesson here for us is that THE FISH represent Blessings & Rewards that the Lord has to offer. The BROKEN NET in my opinion represents the loss of those Blessings and Rewards.
Peter is like some christians today WHO begrudgingly serve the Lord, If Peter would have only let down ALL of the nets as Jesus said instead of a single net how many MORE fish would have been caught, only the Lord knows.
Now compare Luke 5:4-6 with John 21:11 where Peter DID OBEY the Lord and the outcome was GREATLY BETTER.
The same is true for the christian, How many MORE Blessings and Rewards we could have IF ONLY we would let down ALL of our nets of faith in serving Christ and not be LIKE PETER letting down ONLY one net.
As we ponder upon this, Let’s take a little advice from the Prophet Samuel who told Saul that…
1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
In Conclusion:
In verses 7 through 9 we find out that Peter ONLY after he saw ALL the fish that had been caught what a mistake he had made and realized that he SHOULDN’T HAVE questioned the Lord’s guidance.
Luke 5:7-9 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. (8) When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. (9) For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken.
SADLY, many of us (including myself) ARE just like Peter, we only realize AFTER the fact, We walk by sight rather than by faith as we should.
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH